Our Network

We work with a range of different stakeholder groups who support our ambition to help family businesses create a more sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come. These include:

Family Businesses:

Members of Family Business UK range from some of the biggest, oldest and most well-known British businesses, to first-generation businesses, from across every sector of industry and commerce, from all corners of the UK.

Through our network, family businesses can connect and collaborate, expand their knowledge and be part of a movement that amplifies the voice of family businesses to policy makers, and helps ensure the sector is recognised for its role and contribution to the UK economy and communities up and down the country.

Corporate Partners:

Our Corporate Partners are critical allies of our work and play a crucial role in supporting family businesses with the challenges they face today. They help prepare them, and the next generation of family business leaders, for the future.

Programme Partners:

We have a small but growing number of partnerships with respected and reputable third-party providers of training programmes and development courses, specifically tailored to meet the needs and requirements of people who own, work in, or work for family businesses.

Family Business Advisors:

Families need advisory support from people who ‘get them’, who understand and appreciate their values and ethos, the subtleties and nuances of family businesses, and recognise that every family and business is unique, and at a different stage of its journey.

We provide access to a group of highly respected, experienced independent family business advisors, who offer family businesses senior advisory support on a wide range of governance and succession issues.

Alliances:

Since its inception in 2008, we have worked closely with the IFB Research Foundation to foster greater knowledge and understanding of family firms and their contribution to the UK economy and society. The Foundation is the only research organisation uniquely focused on understanding the UK family business sector, and is the primary source of evidence relied upon by government, family businesses, academics and researchers.

We also work closely with other bodies that support and champion family businesses, both in the UK and overseas such as European Family Business (EFB), through which we can ensure UK family business interests are represented in Europe.

Patrons and Benefactors:

We are grateful for the support and contribution made by individuals and organisations who provide financial support to our work and investment in:

  • Thought leadership and development of practical resources to support family business
  • Campaigns, such as Family Business Week
  • Family Business UK Communities, which bring together individuals within our network representing different generations (e.g. NextGen, NowGen, SeniorGen), roles (e.g. Chairs, NEDs), profiles (e.g. Non-Family Executives) and special interest areas (e.g. Sustainability, Policy)

 

SELECT A REGION

In Scotland, 83.9% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 286,805 family firms, who together employ 874,000 people.

In Northern Ireland, 84.1% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 103,899 family firms, who together employ 318,000 people.

In the North West of England, 87.7% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 462,631 family businesses, who together employ over 1.1 million people.

In the North East of England, 79.8% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 122,936 family firms, who together employ 392,000 people.

In Yorkshire, 88.4% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 365,311 family businesses, who together employ over one million people.

In Wales, 89.1% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 184,818 family firms, who together employ over half a million people.

In the West Midlands, 86.8% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 386,839 family businesses, who together employ over 1.1 million people.

In the East Midlands, 90.6% of businesses are family firms.

This is the highest concentration of family firms in the UK.

That means there are 332,688 family businesses, who together employ over one million people.

In the South West of England, 87% of business are family firms.

That means there are 454,534 family businesses, who together employ almost 1.4 million people.

In the East of England, 88.3% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 501,371 family businesses, who together employ almost 1.5 million people.

In London, 82% of business are family firms.

That means there are 854,270 family businesses, who together employ 2.4 million people.

In the South East of England, 85.3% of businesses are family firms.

That means there are 746,768 family businesses who together employ over 2 million people.