Annual Conference 2026

At the Annual Conference 2026, FBUK celebrated 25 years of championing the unique power of family enterprise. This landmark Conference, Legacy Meets Leadership, brought together visionary founders, next-gen leaders and sector pioneers to explore how family businesses and private firms can lead the charge in economic growth, innovation, technology and social responsibility.

Conference speakers

Zoë Arden, Fellow, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Caroline Ayling, JAA

Emma Ayres, The Bennie Group

Alexander Bradford, Bradford's Group

John Butters, Hoburne Group

Sonia Chhatwal, The Rigby Foundation

Neil Davy, Family Business UK

Alex Day, Big Give

Sarah Dean, Noble Foods

Sarah Dunning OBE DL, Westmorland Limited

Claire East, NG Bailey

Helen Ellis-Smith, Wates

Peter Erceg, Lockton

Grant Gordon, Ethos Foundation

Fiona Graham, FBUK

Catherine Grum, Catherine Grum Consultancy Ltd

Elizabeth Gurney, Lockton

Russ Haworth, The Family Business Partnership

Jack Heasman, Brewers

Matthew Jaffa, Family Business UK

Juliette Johnson, Juliette Johnson Consultancy

William Kendall, Grosvenor

Peter Leach, Sylvan Family Business Advisers

William Lees-Jones, JW Lees

Jo Milligan, EMR Group

Sarah Naghshineh, RCP Parking

Tim Nicholson, KPMG

Eoghan O’Lionaird, Wates

John Parkinson, HRGO Recruitment

Issie Peate, Wonderly

Maya Prabhu, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Lizzy Rudd, Berry Bros & Rudd

Josh Ramsey, Peter Ramsey Timber Ltd.

Sarah Rutt, Beeches Group

Dr Roni Savage, Jomas Associates

Alexandra Sharpe, Deloitte

Marcus Stuttard, London Stock Exchange

Holly Thallon Steenson, Viridian Nutrition

Neil Urquhart, Gordon & MacPhail

Charlie Wates, Wates Group

Julie White, D-Drill & Sawing

Catherine Van-weenen, L&SE

Rebecca Robins, author & speaker

Images from previous FBUK Conferences

James Reed OBE at FBUK Annual Conference 2024 — FBUK Annual Conference 2024

Sir James Wates at FBUK Annual Conference 2024 — FBUK Annual Conference 2024

James Reed, Nick Linney & fiona Graham at FBUK Annual Conference 2024 — FBUK Annual Conference 2024

FBUK 2024 Conference crowd — FBUK Annual Conference 2024

Next gen session at FBUK 2024 Conference crowd — FBUK Annual Conference 2024

FBUK 2024 Conference - Q&A, Reed — FBUK Annual Conference 2024

FBUK 2024 Conference NatWest — FBUK Annual Conference 2024

FBUK 2024 Conference Gala dinner — FBUK Annual Conference 2024

“An unrivalled gathering of thoughtful, ambitious, productive and connected family business owners.”

Alex Scott, Applerigg

“I would recommend FBUK to any medium sized or large family business. They are the only organisation specifically working for the family business sector. The annual conference is a great opportunity to meet with other like-minded companies, share best practice and hear from some leading companies about their stories.”

Charles Hodgson, Hodgson Sealants Group Ltd

Conference Sponsorship

FBUK’s Annual Conference is the flagship event in the family business calendar.

For Conference 2026 we will explore how legacy can be a launchpad for future leadership, and shape industry and communities.

For Conference sponsors it is the opportunity to showcase your brand, demonstrate your support for the sector, and network with leading family businesses from across the UK.

To find out more, download our sponsorship brochure

Download Sponsorship Brochure

Latest News

Analysis sheds new light on mid-market, scale-up family businesses

June 23, 2026

First-of-its-kind research from Family Business UK and the ScaleUp Institute has identified the number, importance and regional spread of Britain’s mid-market, scaling family businesses. According to the research, these critical family-owned companies contribute £142 billion to the economy and employ more than 900,000 people. Scaling family businesses alone generate £72 billion and support half a […]

FBUK responds to PM stepping down

June 22, 2026

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement that he will resign and set a timetable for handing over leadership of the Labour Party, Neil Davy, CEO Family Business UK said: “The last thing Britain’s family businesses need is another summer of uncertainty and speculation. The process of selecting a new leader must be swift and the […]

Latest magazine celebrates family business legacies

June 10, 2026

The latest edition of the Family Business UK magazine has been published. Coinciding with our 25th anniversary Annual Conference, this latest edition explores what legacy means to family businesses. From the insights of four very different family businesses that share more than 1,200 years in business to the cricketing legacies created by the famous Gray-Nicolls […]

Annual Conference 2026

Legacy Meets Leadership