Family Business United Launches New Women In Family Business Community

Family Business United has announced the launch of a new Women in Family Business Community, creating a dedicated space to recognise, explore and celebrate the contribution women make to family businesses across the UK.

The new community has been established in response to a growing recognition that the role of women in family businesses is both significant and complex, yet is not always fully understood or visible.

Women can occupy multiple roles within a family enterprise. They may be owners, directors, shareholders, employees, leaders or next-generation successors, while at the same time carrying responsibilities within the family itself. In many cases, those roles overlap, change over time and can be difficult to define.

The new Family Business United community aims to explore that reality.

Understanding The Role Of Women In Family Business

The launch of the community coincides with the beginning of a new piece of research by Family Business United seeking to develop a comprehensive role map of women in family business.

The research explores the different ways in which women interact with and contribute to their family businesses, recognising that the traditional labels of 'family member' or 'business owner' rarely tell the whole story.

From those actively involved in the day-to-day running of the business to those who contribute through ownership, governance, family leadership, culture, relationships, communications and support behind the scenes, the research seeks to understand the breadth and complexity of women's relationships with their family firms.

The research is now live and there is still time for women connected to family businesses to share their experiences and insights.

Family Business United is encouraging women from across the family business community to contribute to the research, helping to build a more comprehensive picture of the roles women play and the challenges and opportunities they encounter.

Read more about the research and take part in The Comprehensive Role Map of Women in Family Business here

More Than A Community

The new Women in Family Business Community will provide an ongoing platform for connection, conversation and insight including both men and women.

Alongside bringing women in family businesses together, Family Business United will be publishing bespoke insights, thought leadership and research focused specifically on the experiences of women within family enterprises.

The intention is not to create another label or separate women from the wider family business community, but rather to create a dedicated space where issues that can sometimes be overlooked can be explored openly and constructively.

The community will look at the realities of combining family and business roles, navigating expectations, finding a voice in decision-making, developing leadership opportunities, managing ownership and succession, and understanding the often invisible contribution made by women to family enterprises.

Turning Research into Action

The research launched alongside the community will form the foundation for a wider programme of activity.

Once the research has been completed, Family Business United will publish a comprehensive report on Women in Family Business, bringing together the findings and exploring the different roles women occupy within family firms.

The findings will also be used to inform a series of events around the UK, creating opportunities for women connected to family businesses to meet, share experiences and discuss the issues that matter to them.

The ambition is to ensure that the research does not simply sit on a page, but becomes the catalyst for a continuing conversation and practical action across the family business community.

Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United, said: "Women have always played an important role in family business, but too often the full extent of that contribution remains unseen or difficult to define. When we started looking at the roles women occupy within family enterprises, it quickly became apparent just how complex those relationships can be."

"A woman can be a daughter, mother, sister, wife, shareholder, director, employee, leader, adviser and custodian of family values – sometimes all at the same time. The traditional ways in which we describe family business simply don't capture that complexity."

"The Women in Family Business Community is about creating a space to explore those experiences, share knowledge and make sure women's voices are heard."

"Our research is an important starting point, but we want this to become an ongoing conversation that ultimately helps family businesses better understand and harness the contribution of the women within them."

Have Your Say

The research is still open and women connected to family businesses are encouraged to share their experiences and insights.

Every contribution will help build a richer understanding of the many ways women engage with their family businesses and the challenges, opportunities and experiences that come with those roles.

Share Your Thoughts In Our Women In Family Business Survey

Family Business United is also inviting women to join the new Women in Family Business Community and become part of what will be an ongoing programme of research, insights, events and conversation.

Find Out More About The Women In Family Business Community

The launch marks the beginning of a new chapter in the conversation about women and family business – one that seeks not only to recognise what women already contribute, but to understand their experiences, amplify their voices and explore what the future of women in family business can look like.