Family Business United (‘FBU’) has launched ‘The Face of Family Business 2021’, the latest campaign to put the family business sector on the map. Comprising ‘faces’ of over 200 family business members, the face truly encapsulates the true spirit and diversity of the family business sector across the UK today.
Leading family figures included in the montage include Lord Bamford (JCB), Stephen Bagnall (Bagnalls), Derrick Potter (Potter Space), John Falder (HMG Paints), Maria Whitehead MBE (Hawkshead Relish) and Jacqueline O’Donovan (O’Donovan Waste Management) as well as Joyce Onuonga, the owner of Scotland’s oldest family business, John White & Sons who are based in Auchtermuchty.
There are over six million family firms across the UK today, employing over 12 million people and as a collective body they make a significant contribution to the economy of the UK through the provision of jobs, creation of wealth and income generation, not to mention the good they do in their local communities too.
Paul Andrews, Founder and Managing Director of FBU, explained: “I have been championing the family business sector for over 20 years and 2021 sees us celebrating the tenth anniversary of the creation of Family Business United and we wanted to do something to celebrate. Family firms are the backbone of the UK economy with family firms the length and breadth of the nation. The ‘face’ represents the sector in a way that has never been portrayed before, celebrating the old and the new, together with the diversity of family business leadership too.
“The ‘face’ is a great way to celebrate the importance of family firms across the UK who over the past 18 months have shown their resilience and strength in dealing with the pandemic. Many of the individuals featured are involved with long-standing family businesses that have been around for generations and see themselves as custodians of the business for future generations, continuing making decisions for the long term, innovating and demonstrating entrepreneurship to achieve their goals.”
Paul added: “It was a real pleasure collating the ‘face’ and we really do feel that this is a positive endorsement of the diversity of the family business sector across the UK today.”
Jason Oakley, CEO of Recognise Bank, said: “As part of this campaign we are proud to support British family businesses. So many of them form a crucial part of the economy. As a truly relationship-led SME bank we are focussed on supporting successful business and helping them achieve their ambitions. SMEs need banks that understand and appreciate their needs. They need a bank where relationship managers can use their knowledge and experience to add real value. Recognise focusses on the business community and aims provide a responsive, personalised service that is much needed today.”
FBU is a global champion of the family business sector and shares insights, news, research and much more. The ‘face’ is the latest innovative campaign undertaken by FBU to put the family business sector on the map and raise awareness of the important contribution they make, each and every day. Find out more at www.familybusinessunited.com
