For family businesses, 2026 is shaping up to be less about chasing the next big thing and more about stewardship and protecting what matters, while preparing for what’s coming.

Walk down any high street in the UK and you’ll find them everywhere, the family-run bakery that knows your order before you speak, the engineering firm quietly exporting British expertise around the world, the hotel where hospitality is a point of pride passed down through generations. Family businesses are not a niche part of the economy. They are the backbone of it. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, "At a time of economic and political unc

An open letter to founders of businesses this holiday season. As the holiday season unfolds—filled with family gatherings, travel, celebration, and well-earned comfort it's a good time to pause for a moment of reflection.

Family businesses have long been the backbone of economies across the world, yet they often operate quietly, modest in posture, mighty in impact.

To ensure long-term success, family business boards must focus on building trust, fostering accountability, and avoiding common governance pitfalls.

As Christmas approaches, these companies show, year after year, that doing business “the right way” is not only possible but profoundly impactful.

In every British high street, from the glow of Edinburgh’s shop windows to the bustle of London’s backstreets, December arrives with a particular kind of magic.

The most successful family businesses are those that find harmony between two often competing priorities: the immediate demands of today and the legacy they hope to build for tomorrow.

The idea of a management buyout (MBO) is fast gaining traction as a viable, and increasingly necessary, alternative to traditional succession.

To thrive across generations, family firms increasingly adopt robust governance structures that balance emotional ties with professional discipline.

Professionalisation becomes not merely a strategic choice, but a necessity for survival and sustainable growth for family businesses over time.

Technology adoption is rarely just a technical decision and when generational perspectives diverge, the path to building a sustainable business for the future can become contested terrain.

UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are preparing to switch off for Christmas will leave themselves vulnerable to attack, according to new research.

Employees are expecting more clarity, more honesty, and a leadership presence they can actually read.

When a family business opens the door to investment, the questions that follow are rarely about profit alone. They are about leadership.

When a business is involved, along with money, legacy and leadership, the concepts of fairness and equality quickly become complicated.

Emotional differences and diverging perspectives among family members are among the most persistent and difficult issues to manage for family firms.

Check out some of the key tax changes for family businesses announced in the Budget

Exporting, once viewed as the preserve of corporate giants, is increasingly within reach for family-owned companies determined to grow while staying true to their roots.

Imposter syndrome, the persistent belief that one’s success is undeserved and likely to be exposed, has moved from the realm of psychological curiosity to a strategic concern for family businesses.