Close Brothers launches nationwide road trip of UKs family businesses

Business Road Trip 2016 runs for six weeks covering Yorkshire to the Lake District and the Midlands to London and East Anglia. Yorkshire hosts the launch of the tour on April 19th, at Rix Petroleum in Hull. Managing Director Tim Rix will provide insight into the family business, followed by a networking reception.

The tour will meet with families behind some of the UK’s most noteworthy businesses, including Aspalls Cyder, World Transport Agency, JW Lees Brewery, Shepcote, HMG Paints, Bagnalls and English Lakes Hotels.

In addition, there will be a Family Business Question Time event in Manchester (April 27), Meet the Owner Visits at JW Lees Brewery (April 28), Aspall Cyder (May 10) and WTA Logistics (May 25), plus Family Business Dinners in Cambridge (May 12) and Horsham (May 17).

In the UK, there are 4.6 million family businesses, employing almost 12 million people[1]. They turn over an estimated £1.3 trillion each year, over a third of the turnover of the private sector. In addition, the top 20 family owned firms in the UK generate turnover in excess of £49 billion.

Penny Lovell, Head of Private Client Services at CBAM said: “The importance of family businesses to the UK’s economy cannot be understated, and our Family Business Road Trip is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the essential contribution they make.

SMEs have witnessed significant change in the last year, whether a reduction in business rates announced in the Budget, or changing dividend taxation for business owners. For family firms, who boast their own unique set of financial circumstances and issues, these changes make financial planning advice even more important. Our advisers have experience in working with family businesses across generations by providing impartial and sound advice to help them achieve their long-term goals.”

Paul Andrews, Founder and Managing director of Family Business United added:
“Family firms are the very backbone of the UK economy, and we are excited to be meeting with some of the best known family businesses in the UK, as well as some lesser-known hidden gems. We want to celebrate the businesses that do so much for the country, by helping them to link up and share their knowledge and experience with other family businesses, as well as having access to advice from those who are committed to helping family businesses shine. The Family Business Road Trip is a great way for us to champion the sector and to help put some great British family businesses on the map.”

The Family Business Road Trip 2016 can be followed on twitter by using #FBRoadtrip2016