Family businesses welcome long-term vision but call for stability and action

September 29, 2026

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech at Labour Party Conference, Fiona Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Family Business UK, said: “There has been a strong emphasis on hope and optimism in Liverpool this week, and the Prime Minister’s focus on a long-term vision for the economy is welcome. Family businesses want to share that optimism, […]

When politics is uncertain, strong relationships matter

If an election were held tomorrow, nobody would win. That is the headline from YouGov’s latest MRP poll of nearly 17,000 people. Labour would emerge as the largest party with 241 seats, but well short of a majority. The Conservatives would take 130 seats and Reform UK 123. Of course, there is an important caveat: […]

FBUK welcomes National Mission on Work Experience and calls for support for family businesses

September 24, 2026

Responding to the new Work Experience National Mission, Neil Davy, Chief Executive, Family Business UK, said: “Family businesses support the Prime Minister’s call for employers to provide an additional 200,000 work experience placements. “Family firms have always invested in the next generation. Across the UK, family-owned businesses provide work placements, apprenticeships, entry-level jobs, training and […]

Rising employment costs put further pressure on family-run wholesale and retail sector

September 17, 2026

New labour market figures underline the growing pressure facing the UK’s family-run wholesale and retail sector as businesses contend with rising employment costs. The latest ONS figures show that the wholesale and retail sector had 76,000 fewer payrolled employees in August than a year earlier – the largest fall in employee numbers of any sector. […]

Business groups unite behind FBUK call to reverse BPR changes

September 15, 2026

Family Business UK has brought together leading business organisations representing more than 200,000 businesses to call on the Chancellor to reverse the changes to Business Property Relief at the Autumn Budget. In an open letter to the Chancellor, organisations representing businesses across hospitality, retail, construction, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and the rural economy have united behind […]

Treasury to call time on uncertainty for pubs and hotels

August 24, 2026

The Government has announced an independent review into how pubs and hotels are valued for business rates, a move welcomed by Family Business UK as a positive step towards creating a fairer system for businesses operating in these sectors. ‘We welcome this review as a positive step forward for pubs and hotels, many of which […]

Family businesses witnessing a bounce in UK growth prospects but caution remains over inheritance tax changes

August 7, 2026

Family businesses across the UK are reporting an uplift in confidence following the change in Prime Minister, with new data in Family Business UK’s ‘Family Business Pulse’ showing growing optimism about the wider UK economy. The latest quarterly survey of more than 530 family business leaders, conducted during the transition to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, […]

Manchester’s Moment: What it Means for Family Businesses

August 5, 2026

There was a certain symbolism in Family Business UK’s NowGen Community Roundtable taking place in Manchester on Thursday.  On the same day voters went to the polls to elect the city’s next Mayor, family business leaders gathered in the heart of the city that has become the political and economic focal point of the new […]