Yorkshire Family Business Day - Tuesday 7 February 2017
A day of recognition for family businesses; the backbone of the Yorkshire economy and so often the bedrock of their communities.
Yorkshire family businesses come in all sizes, from all sectors and from all over the region. Some of these firms have been in existence for hundreds of years, passing from generation to generation, with their longevity the result of good governance, innovative family ownership and a focus on the long term that has resulted in them becoming the bedrock of communities across the region. Others may be younger in age, but share similar values and are building forward-looking family firms of the future.
Studies in the past decade have shown that around 65% of all private businesses in the UK are family controlled and that family businesses in the UK account for around 25% of UK GDP, over 45% of UK employment and generate significant tax revenues for the Exchequer. It is also recognised that a large proportion of the UK’s wealth is held within family businesses and that the family business sector is therefore a force to be reckoned with.
Family firms across Yorkshire represent a significant proportion of all UK family businesses and these firms today are a far cry from the ‘ma and pa’ image of small lifestyle businesses that are often portrayed in the media – they are big employers, create wealth for their employees (many of whom have had generations of the same family working in the business) and invest significantly in the communities in which they operate.
The contribution made by the family business sector in Yorkshire is significant and deserves to be recognised. Yorkshire Family Business Day 2017 is the inaugural nationwide campaign to put the family business sector on the map, organised by Family Business United, the award-winning magazine and resource centre for the global family business community that was founded by Paul Andrews. Yorkshire Family Business Day 2017 seeks to put the family business sector on the map, recognise the diversity of the sector and provide an opportunity to celebrate all things family business.
Family firms have to deal with specific issues associated with their family ownership and it is the relationship dynamics that make them special, and of course, can create unique tensions that are not found in their non-family counterparts. Family businesses that recognise these challenges, develop good governance procedures and focus on the sustainability of the business for the long term, innovating as necessary to keep the business relevant, have the greatest chances of remaining for generations to come.
Marie-Louise Hamilton of Wrigleys comments: "Successful family firms focus on the business and take a long term view. Research tells us that a significant number of family business owners are looking to retire in the next decade, so succession planning and the development of the next generation of family business leaders remains a key item on the family business agenda. Yorkshire Family Business Day 2017 is a chance to identify the resources available and to provide assistance to family businesses across the region on the next stage of their journey, as well as championing the cause and recognising the contribution that these businesses make. Family firms are the backbone of the Yorkshire economy and we hope they remain so for generations to come."
