Family firms across the UK are the very heart of the nation and, as a family firm ourselves, we are delighted to be taking part in National Family Business Day 2020.
Family firms come in all sizes and sectors and many have been around for hundreds of years. We were established in the early 1970’s by our current CEO, John Chalmers who, at a sprightly 85, still comes into the office on a daily basis. Dynamically managed now by John’s son Alex, the business follows the moral and ethical business principals set out all those years ago that drive us to ensure we are good people to do business with. As a family company we support our local communities, we create employment for local people and create wealth for the area.
We believe UK manufacturing is the future and that family firms are the engine room of the UK economy. There are over 5 million family firms in the UK today, providing over 13 million jobs and accounting for around 25% of GDP. The family business sector is a force to be reckoned with and will be a big player in pulling the economy through the current situation.
Organised annually by Family Business United, the award-winning magazine and resource centre for family firms, the event is now in its seventh year and continues to grow year on year. As Paul Andrews, founder of Family Business United explains, “This is a real day to celebrate the family business sector, businesses at the very heart of the nation and across all sectors of the economy too. Every part of life on a daily business is supported by family firms from the food and drink we consume, to the places we visit, the hotels we stay in, the homes we live in and the products that we use such as cars, hospitals and gyms. This diverse sector deserves to be recognised and National Family Business Day is a great way to put the sector on the map.”
As Paul continues, “Family firms have a story to tell, a real narrative borne out of families working in business together, creating a legacy that will hopefully endure for generations. It is this that makes family businesses special along with the underlying values such as passion, drive, integrity and desire to do the right thing time and time again. 2020 has not been the easiest of years and a day focusing on the family business sector will provide a great opportunity to show our support for the sector.”
Alex Chalmers, Managing Director of Wetherby Group comments “We are supporting this initiative as we are extremely proud to be a family run company, upholding our family values in all elements of our business operations and we firmly believe that UK Manufacturing is the future”.