Winners Announced At National Family Business Of The Year Awards

The family business community came together once more in London in the delightful surrounds of the Royal Geographical Society in South Kensington on a beautiful evening to celebrate the contribution that family firms make to the national economy and to crown the winners of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2025.

These prestigious awards are a firm fixture in the family business calendar, as they have been since they were introduced by Family Business United back in 2012, and this year once more proved to be a magical and fabulous celebration of the contribution of family businesses to the national economy.

Events like these are special and the evening had a palpable mix of excitement, anticipation and community – the essence of being part of a bigger community, the collective sense of pride in being a family business and recognition for some families of their endeavours, for some that have extended over numerous generations. It was a great night and the fact that the sun shone as the day drew to a close helped to create a fantastic atmosphere too.

Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and with 5 million family firms employing around 15 million people in all corners of the country they make a massive impact each and every day. Incomes are generated, jobs provided and wealth created.

“But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Family businesses care and want to be seen as doing the right thing, doing business the right way. As one of the finalists commented as they departed, it has been a pleasure to be involved with these awards. The atmosphere in the room was amazing, a real vibrancy, sense of belonging and comradery with plenty of pride, passion and emotion too and although we did not take home an award it was an absolute pleasure to be in the room with so many other like minded businesses," explains Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United.

The audience assembled and the winners were announced and celebrated. Photos taken. Speeches delivered, honest, simple but poignant and certainly heartfelt – celebrating not only those in the room but as representatives of family firms across the UK, recognising that it is the broader family engagement and the teams of people that work in the businesses that help to make the business magic too.

"These awards were created to make families in business appreciate the significant impact they have, whether they are large or small, first generation or multigenerational and to recognise the collective importance they have to the economy and communities the length and breadth of the nation," continues Paul.

"Doing business the right way is what they do. And do so well. Crowning the winners was great and it remains a pleasure and a privilege to run an organisation that has these businesses at our core, businesses that make a difference and have a real sense of purpose, community, a narrative and real authenticity. We have been delighted and somewhat overwhelmed, once more, by the response and impact that these awards have had and whilst celebrating the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, are already excited about what the future and 2026 Family Business of the Year Awards have in store," he concludes.

SUPREME CHAMPION FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

The Pantry

Runners Up: UK Docks Marine Services, Shepherd Neame

REGIONAL RESULTS:

YORKSHIRE - Sponsored by Western Pension Solutions

Winner - John Good Group

Runners Up: The Ice Co, HSL

NORTH OF ENGLAND & NORTHERN IRELAND - Sponsored by TWYD & CO

Winner - UK Docks Marine Services

Runners Up: English Lakes Hotels, HMG Paints

EAST & EAST ANGLIA - Sponsored by Birketts

Winner - Jenolite

Runners Up: Rose Calendars, KFE

Midlands & Central - Sponsored by Buckles

Winner - Cleenol

Runners Up: Noble Foods, Matthews Cotswold Flour

LONDON & SOUTH EAST - Sponsored by Forsters

Winner - The Pantry

Runners Up: Shepherd Neame, Croxsons

SCOTLAND - Sponsored by Turcan Connell

Winner - Stobo Castle Health Spa

Runners Up: Apex Hotels, Redpath Bruce

SOUTH, SOUTH WEST & WALES - Sponsored by Foot Anstey

Winner - Douch Family Funeral Directors

Runners Up: HW Facilities, Wyke Farms

SECTOR RESULTS:

MANUFACTURING

Winner - HSL

Runners Up: HMG Paints, Cleenol

FOOD & DRINK

Winner - Noble Foods

Runners Up: Regal Food Products Group, Dina Foods

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION - Sponsored by Buckles

Winner - Princebuild

Runners Up: OCL

FINANCIAL & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Winner - Fraser & Fraser

Runners Up: Matthew Douglas, Cornish Accounting Solutions

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

Winner - RSP UK Suction Excavators

Runners Up: Smiths (Gloucester) Limited

HOSPITALITY, HOTEL & LEISURE

Winner - Shepherd Neame

Runners Up: English Lakes Hotels, Apex Hotels

HOMES & GARDENS

Winner - Brewers Decrorator Centres

Runners Up: Jenolite

WHOLESALE & RETAIL

Winner - Hill Cross Furniture

Runners Up: F. Hinds Jewellers, Aston & James

HEALTH & WELFARE

Winner - TFP Care

Runners Up: Douch Family Funeral Directors

PEOPLES CHOICE AWARDS:

YORKSHIRE

Winner - The Ice Co

Runners Up: HSL, Hill Cross Furniture

EAST & EAST ANGLIA

Winner - Matthew Douglas

Runners Up: Smalley Hot Tubs, Objective IT

MIDLANDS & CENTRAL

Winner - John Pye & Sons

Runners Up: Cleenol

LONDON & SOUTH EAST

Winner - Morgans Dairy

Runners Up: Brewers Decorator Centres, Chartway Janitorial

NORTH OF ENGLAND & NORTHERN IRELAND

Winner - Candour Care Group

Runners Up: HMG Paints

SCOTLAND

Winner - Stobo Castle Health Spa

Runners Up: Apex Hotels

SOUTH, SOUTH WEST & WALES

Winner - HW Facilities

Runners Up: Nomadic UK

NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS:

INNOVATION - Sponsored by Thumbcorp

Winner - The Fine Bedding Company

Runners Up: Food Attraction, John Good Group

SUSTAINABILITY - Sponsored by Barclays

Winner - The Ice Co

Runners Up: HW Facilities, Noble Foods

ENTREPRENEURSHIP - Sponsored by Rickard Luckin

Winner - The Cambridge Juice Company

Runners Up: - Croxsons, The Pantry

POSITIVE SOCIETAL IMPACT

Winner - OCL

Runners Up: Cleenol, Princebuild

COMMUNITY SUPPORT & INVOLVEMENT 

Winner - UK Docks Marine Services

Runners Up: Brewers Decorator Centres

ESSENCE OF FAMILY BUSINESS - Sponsored by Goodman Jones

Winner - Croxsons

Runners Up: Matthews Cotswold Flour, Aston & James

SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS - Sponsored by Mighty Atoms

Winner - The Becklands School

Runners Up: Jenolite, Aston & James

NATIONAL PEOPLES CHOICE

Winner - Stobo Castle Health Spa

Family businesses are at the heart of what we do here at Family Business United. Congratulations go to all the finalists and of course the winners. Enjoy the celebrations!

We cannot wait to follow the next steps in the journey of your businesses and of course, return next year to announce the winners of the 2026 Family Business of the Year Awards too!

If you want to find out more and be notified about the 2026 awards or want to find out more about becoming a judge or an award sponsor we would love to hear from you. Simply complete the contact us form and we will be in touch.

In the meantime, check out the full gallery of images from a fabulous evening here: