One of the UK’s largest commercial nurseries, Johnsons of Whixley, established over 100 years ago, has announced a rebranding to Johnsons Nurseries in a move that will secure the brand for generations to come. Founded in 1921 by war veteran Eric Johnson before being purchased by John Richardson in 1964, the now third-generation family business achieved a record sales turnover of £18.8m in its last financial year and has big plans for growth, with the rebrand defining its intention for moving forward. Graham Richardson, group managing director at Johnsons Nurseries, said: “We have used the generic term ‘Nurserymen’ as part of our branding for years, and it has been an accepted historical collective term that describes the profession and not a deliberate specific reflection on gender within the workforce." “We are proud of the diversity of our workforce and the contributions that all of our employees make.” “However, we are acutely aware of this being perceived as outdated and intend to phase out the term over time as we introduce our new brand. This is also an opportunity for us to solidify our place in the market and ensure that the quality and reputation of Johnsons products are maintained for future generations of our workforce, customers and stakeholders." “Our values remain the same as we aim to continue the legacy of professionalism and reputation that Mr Johnson and the Richardson family have built.” Johnsons was this year awarded the prestigious Plant Healthy accreditation for the third year running in recognition of its plant health quality and biosecurity practices. The scheme, which is backed by Defra, aims to improve biosecurity in the UK horticultural sector, focusing on UK ornamental and horticultural businesses and organisations, from nurseries and retail outlets to public gardens. The firm was included in the York Top 100 Businesses for the 6th year running, placing at number 26 this year. The annual report is produced by The Press, with partners York St John University and City of York Council. A trusted landscape supplier to the amenity sector, Johnsons provides plants and trees to a wide range of projects across the UK with recent projects including a five-star luxury hotel, Grantley Hall, a leisure and retail complex, Thorpe Park in Leeds, and the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.

John Good Group, a purpose-led group of businesses, which put people, planet and performance at the heart of its operations, is pleased to announce the construction of its new Head Office in Hull, set to be completed in early 2024. Founded in 1833, the sixth-generation family business has deep roots in Hull and a longstanding commitment to the local community. Passionate about the area, the company is eager to continue its growth and contribute to the local community while preserving its rich heritage and legacy. The new office aligns with the company's FastForward plans, which focus on growth and expansion whilst maintaining a strong focus on People, Planet, and Performance. The construction of the Head Office utilises sustainable materials, reinforcing the company's commitment to its Planet pillar. Sustainability has been at the heart of the new office build, even down to the boardroom carpet being made from recycled fishing nets. The new office will also feature several chargers to encourage employees to choose electric cars and participate in car-sharing initiatives. This eco-friendly infrastructure demonstrates the company's dedication to reducing its environmental impact and a greener future. This aligns with the recent announcement that John Good Group is operationally carbon neutral, with a commitment to further reduction plans. Designed to inspire collaboration and innovation, the new office space will serve as a hub for business activity and community engagement. It will provide a state-of-the-art environment that not only motivates the current team but also attracts top talent to the John Good Group. The new Head Office will be home to the John Good Group central services, Good Travel Management, and DAN Shipping with space to accommodate the company’s ongoing growth and success. Adam Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of John Good Group, says, “The move to Quarry House is an exciting one for the John Good Group and its people. One of our major ambitions is to be a company that offers its people the best opportunity for personal and professional development, and to help achieve that, you need a great working environment." "We have a very capable and growing team at the John Good Group and they all deserve a first-in-class place to work. The new location will help us retain and attract talent and act as a hub for our businesses and customers." "When you add a superb new office, into the beautiful grounds at the Hesslewood Business Park, you’ve really got the perfect combination and it will be a place we will proudly call home. Moving day can’t come soon enough!” The office will be strategically located at Hesslewood Office Park, a prime development owned by Brooklands Property Holdings. Established in 1957, Brooklands is a reputable, privately-owned property development and investment group, that provides exceptional services in the industry. This strategic location ensures a strong collaboration between the two companies, aligned in their shared commitment to excellence. Debbie Barbor, Chief Executive Officer of Brooklands Property Holdings, says, "We are delighted to see the John Good Group continue their journey at Hesslewood Office Park with the construction of their new Head Office." "They are dedicated to sustainability, community engagement, and growth which resonates with our values at Brooklands. We are excited to support their transition and provide a space that encourages innovation and collaboration, allowing the John Good Group to flourish whilst enhancing their contributions to the local Hull community and beyond." John Good Group's new Head Office reflects its commitment to the people of Hull, the environment, and its ambitious plans for the future. As the company prepares to move into this state-of-the-art facility in early 2024, it can embrace the opportunities and growth that lie ahead.

Food and beverage team members from sister hotels in the Lake District and North Lancashire have been battling for supremacy in a barista skills competition. Hospitality staff from The Wild Boar, Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa and Lancaster House Hotel came together to display an array of innovative coffee preparations and latte art to judges from Matthew Algie Coffee Roastery. The idea behind the competition was to underpin the techniques the baristas have learned during their training, as well as reinforcing the highest standards and building team spirit in a fun and innovative way. As part of the Tchibo barista competition, two members from each venue were selected to create four coffees each - an espresso, a cappuccino, a latte, plus a special coffee of their choice - and present them to the judges. Four Baristas from Low Wood Bay took part, Pawel Moskala, Erdal Ali, George Taylor and Aml Nayef. They were joined by Joanne Shuttleworth and Vaclav Kolar from The Wild Boar and Hubert Jasniewski and Sean Van Aswegan from Lancaster House. Vaclav took the trophy in first place as the 2023 Barista of the year for his artistry and unique creation of a what the judges described as a sensational 'Smokehouse Coffee'. He was closely followed by Pawel in second place with his 'Smores Mocha'. Aml was hot on their heels in third with her 'Colada Coffee', beautifully presented in a pineapple for an added zing of flavour. Hannah McQuire from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues, who helped to organise the training competition, said: “The baristas were judged on creativity, presentation, the process of making their beverages and of course, above all, taste." “The standard was extremely high across the board but Vaclav pipped his rivals in the end due to the beauty and precision of his method in making the drink and the skills demonstrated as we watched." “We’d like to thank Stuart and Andrew from Matthew Algie, not just for delivering the Barista training for the group, but also getting involved in the competition to help drive quality standards. The winners will be invited for a tour of their roastery in Scotland as a result of their success in completing their training and excelling in the competition.” To find out more about jobs at English Lakes Hotels, visit here.

A student design challenge inspired by Winston Churchill and sponsored by Pentland Group is now open for entries. The challenge, which is delivered in partnership with leading design platform ARTSTHREAD, invites emerging creatives from across the globe to design the gift packaging for a bottle of Pol Roger Brut Vintage champagne. Designs must demonstrate considerations of environmental impact, as well as commercial appeal. 2024 marks 150 years since Winston Churchill’s birth and 175 years of the champagne brand Pol Roger. Churchill’s devotion to his favourite champagne and passion for creating a better world for the next generation are united in this unique design opportunity. Katie Greenyer, Creative Talent & Network Director at Pentland Brands, says: “We love supporting this design challenge because every year we see something different." "The calibre of the work is incredible, which makes it a great way for up-and-coming creatives to test out their skills, expand your portfolio and find a new route into your next creative role. I can’t wait to see what’s in store this year.” The winner will receive an exclusive tour of the Pol Roger vineyard in Epernay, France, and their designs will be available for sale as limited edition pieces. The top three entrants will be offered cash prizes of £1000, £750 and £500 respectively. All will also be considered for a paid work experience placement at Pentland Brands’ headquarters in London. Entries close on the 29th February 2024. Find out how to enter here.

Governance in family businesses plays a crucial role in determining their potential for long-term success and sustainability. Unlike non-family enterprises, family businesses are characterised by a unique set of dynamics that intertwine family relationships with business operations. Effective governance mechanisms and frameworks are essential to manage the complexities arising from this intersection. Something that really resonates with me at the heart of family business governance is the need for the establishment of clear roles and responsibilities. Clearly defined roles and delineation of duties among family members help prevent conflicts and ensure that the business operates smoothly, and also enables family members to be clear about the roles that they are being tasked with performing, and against which they will be appraised too. This is particularly important as family businesses often face challenges related to succession planning and leadership transitions. Establishing a governance framework that addresses these issues can contribute to the continuity of the business across generations. Furthermore, family businesses often grapple with the need to balance family interests with business interests. Governance mechanisms, such as family councils or boards, can facilitate open communication and decision-making processes. These platforms provide a forum for family members to discuss important matters related to the business, fostering transparency and alignment of goals and again ensuring that everyone is aware of which hat they are wearing at any particular time, and to understand when the conversations are family, business or family business related, depending on the role of each individual involved. In addition, the implementation of governance practices in family businesses helps mitigate the risk of nepotism and favoritism. Merit-based systems for hiring, promotion, and remuneration can be established to ensure that the best-suited individuals, regardless of familial relationships, are in key roles within the company. This not only enhances the business's performance but also contributes to a positive organisational culture. Governance in family businesses also involves the development and adherence to ethical guidelines. Given the intertwining of personal and professional relationships, maintaining a high standard of ethics is paramount. A well-defined code of conduct can guide family members in their business dealings and interactions, fostering a culture of integrity and responsibility. It is important that family members understand the governance frameworks and that they are clearly communicated and openly available too. Moreover, effective governance in family businesses extends to financial management. Implementing robust financial controls and reporting mechanisms helps ensure transparency and accountability. This is particularly important when family businesses seek external investments or partnerships, as potential stakeholders require assurance that the business is managed professionally and with a focus on sustained growth. In conclusion, governance is a critical component of the success of family businesses. By addressing issues related to roles and responsibilities, communication, ethical standards, and financial management, a well-designed governance framework contributes to the resilience and longevity of family-owned enterprises. Striking a delicate balance between family dynamics and business imperatives, effective governance in family businesses can be a key driver of prosperity and continuity.

Eight hardy colleagues from JCT600 have once again donned their hiking boots in the name of charity, completing the 80-mile Dales Way to raise funds for automotive charity partner BEN. Earlier this autumn, the team took on the challenge of walking from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, to Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria – a five-and-a-half day hike, requiring a total of 200,000 steps and burning an average of 17,000 calories. The intrepid team comprised: John Tordoff, chief executive; Nigel Shaw, financial director; Richard Hargraves, managing director; Tracey Newton, people director; Graham Thacker, operations director; Andy Bateman, customer experience director; James Parker, chief information officer; and Ben Creswick, managing director of the group’s vehicles leasing division, JCT600 VLS. The walk was part of the BEN’s Benathlon Challenge which encouraged automotive businesses to exercise for a whole month, and was also an opportunity to fundraise for the charity which supports anyone in need who has worked in the industry. The JCT600 team has succeeded in raising £8,500 for BEN so far and donations can still be made here Richard Hargraves said: “BEN plays a vital role in the automotive industry, helping individuals from our sector when they need it most, and it’s vital that businesses like ours do all we can to support their work." “With many colleagues having previously taken part in fundraising activities, from hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks to a 500-mile walking, running, cycling, swimming and rowing challenge to tour all of our 50-plus dealerships, we felt the rigours of the Dales Way should be added to the list. Passing through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, it is a truly spectacular walk – even in torrential rain! Thanks to everyone for their support in helping us raise £8,500 for this fantastic charity.” BEN is dedicated to supporting anyone who works or has worked in the UK automotive industry, plus their family dependents. As well as supporting individuals in crisis, for example, by providing free life coaching, the charity also works with companies in the sector, helping them to promote the health and wellbeing of their people. JCT600 has grown from a single dealership into one of the largest privately owned businesses in Yorkshire. With over 50 dealerships from Yorkshire and the North East to Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, the group represents 23 of the world’s leading car marques and has a team of 2,300 colleagues.

If you’re involved in a family-run business, you’ll know first-hand that people who run their own businesses often become embedded in the operation – physically and emotionally. There tends to be good governance, strong leadership, and regular reviews, with a focus on maximising the business. That said, business owners don’t always pay this same attention to detail to their personal wealth. In this article, Stewart Sanderson and James Trigg, wealth managers at Brooks Macdonald with extensive experience in advising business owners, share their tips on how to manage your personal wealth like your business. Find The Time Managing your wealth is very much like running your business, with the goalposts continually shifting and requiring frequent attention. In recent years however there’s been a fair bit of distraction, with the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a ‘great resignation’ and sharply rising prices, driven by global supply chain problems and the war in Ukraine. As a result, many families have struggled to find time to review their personal finances, and dreams of charitable foundations, updating wills, travel and holiday homes remain on the to-do list. Make A Plan When the time comes to step back from running a family business, you’ll have some big decisions to make, such as whether to hand over the reigns to the next generation or to sell up and enjoy. Whichever route you choose, a structured and disciplined approach to retirement planning will help you to get there smoothly and securely. Some people consider their business as their pension, but this can be risky as often family business owners want to keep their capital tied up in the business, to pass on wealth to younger generations. Now more than ever, pension contributions are complex, with limits within annual allowances making it all the more challenging to diversify assets away from company tax effectively. An adviser can help you to explore all the available options. Have A Safety Net Of course you’ll want to make sure your business is the best it can be, but it’s important you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. As well as investing money into your business, consider diversifying across other asset classes, such as equities and bonds. Having a range of investments could help to cushion the blow to your long-term finances if your business doesn’t perform quite as well as you hope. How you spread your investments across different asset classes will depend on your attitude to risk and a discussion with a wealth manager will help you to decide the best option for you. Check The Family Silver Some family businesses overlook the investment opportunities right under their own noses – or feet; their premises. It’s possible to hold commercial property within a self-invested personal pension (SIPP) and each family member can own a share of the property in their pension fund. This could allow the company to buy the business premises where cash isn’t readily available. An adviser can advise you on the pros and cons of this strategy. Leave A Legacy Family businesses can often form a very special legacy, passed between, and tended by, multiple generations. To protect your business, so that it passes through the family intact, you must also protect yourself with insurance in case you became unable to work. You can also consider protection for other key people in the business, and have a personal and a business will in place alongside power of attorney, to ensure your wishes are followed in all eventualities. Further information – If you would like to discuss any of the above or enquire about financial advice, you can contact Stewart or James at pc@brooksmacdonald.com for a free, impartial conversation. When thinking about investing, you should always seek the advice of a qualified professional. The price of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and neither is guaranteed. Investors may not get back the capital they invested.

Family-owned and operated, Maldon-based Osea Leisure Park celebrates a Five Star rating from VisitEngland, making it the first park in Essex to receive this level of recognition for two on-site facilities, The Park and The Meadows. Osea Leisure Park has been scored by VisitEngland, as part of its quality assurance scheme, out of five levels of quality, exceeding each category, from cleanliness and services provided to physical facilities, by over 90%. Having successfully grown its offering, including its iconic pastel beach huts located on the Blackwater Estuary, quadrupling the number of staff, doubling the size of the Deckhouse bar and restaurant and building up the Meadows glamping site, Osea Leisure Park is at the forefront of tourism and hospitality. The park, which began its story pre-WW2 in 1933, was opened by Mabel Speakman to pea and fruit pickers for camping and to enjoy spending time with their families. Now, having recently celebrated its 90th birthday, it has been transformed into a leading, innovative, and community-focused business run by Mabel’s great-granddaughter Janie Robinson. The VisitEngland assessor commented: “Osea Leisure Park never stands still. A number of ideas and plans are in place for the future, and it is most encouraging to see the continual development and enhancement of the park and facilities with the management team and Owners being very much aware of the ever changing market and increasing guest expectations.” Janie Robinson, Managing Director of Osea Leisure Park says: "Since I took over Osea Leisure Park 20 years ago, it has been our mission to turn our resort into 'the best holiday park' using traditional values in a modern world." "Our team has always gone above and beyond to ensure every visitor who comes to our park makes memories that will last a lifetime. We are very proud of what we have achieved, and we can’t thank our team enough for the contribution each and every one of them has made in helping us achieve Five Star status.” Osea Leisure Park is an award-winning independent family park, built from traditional, community values and owned by four generations of the same family since inception. Its recent Five Star award highlights its efforts to push boundaries, having developed an additional 33 acres of the park to offer luxury camping facilities on the Meadows, including the Glass Houses, Emperor Pods, Royal Pods, Malvern Pods, Safari Tents, Stargazer Tents and luxury Shepherd’s Huts. The park enables holidaymakers to enjoy the perfect getaway, providing access to a range of outdoor activities including sea and freshwater fishing, the use of the beach, swimming, cycling, boating, kayaking and more. In addition, Osea Leisure Park also offers ownership opportunities for both new and used holiday homes, lodges, static caravans and beach huts, as well as Saltmarsh Point - an exclusive development of luxury lodges. Saltmarsh Point has 33 privately owned luxury holiday lodges within an exclusive enclave. A quiet and natural setting rich in wildlife, it is set alongside the unspoilt Essex coastline. A spokesperson for the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the UK park industry’s representative body, said that Osea Leisure Park could take a real pride in its achievement: “Five stars is the highest possible grade awarded by Visit England and is a valuable indicator to guests and holiday caravan buyers of the high standards they can expect to enjoy." “Visit England assessors look not just at the quality of the park’s facilities and accommodation, but also at the friendliness, hospitality, and warmth of welcome extended to visitors." “In all these respects, Osea Leisure Park is clearly at the top of the game, and the five-star grading is a credit both to the business owners and their team." “The park’s participation in the David Bellamy Blooming Marvellous Pledge for Nature Scheme, organised by the Association, also suggests that nature and wildlife benefit from the same VIP treatment as their guests. Keep up the great work!” With plans to further extend its restaurant, develop new lodges and continue to update the menu at the Deckhouse Bar to reflect seasonal and local produce, Osea Leisure Park is proud to be at the forefront of the hospitality and tourism industry, creating an environment for holidaymakers where they can make lasting memories.

Despite continued pressure on costs, leading Yorkshire-based temperature-controlled food storage and distribution business Reed Boardall has put in a strong performance, seeing profits before taxation rise to £1.4m for the year ending 31 March 2023. The group, which provides storage and logistics services from its single site in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, to many of the UK’s leading food manufacturers and retailers, achieved a £5.5m uplift in profits year-on-year. In 2021-2022, a number of adverse conditions, including Covid lockdowns, a cyber-attack and spiralling fuel and energy costs, resulted in the company sustaining a £4.1m loss. Marcus Boardall, chief executive of Reed Boardall, said: “Given global uncertainty as the Ukraine conflict continues, together with ongoing inflation, pressure on our costs has been unrelenting. In such a challenging environment, the group has once again put in a strong performance, based on its longevity, outstanding reputation in the sector and the skills of our highly trained team." “We were pleased to see labour shortages having a smaller impact last year than previously, largely due to initiatives we have undertaken to ease the industry’s recruitment issues, including our ongoing investment in training and improving working practices. By the end of the financial year, we had succeeded in training over 50 new recruits via our in-house driver academy, enabling them to become qualified HGV drivers, as well as having set up a number of administration and technician apprenticeships.” Mr Boardall continues: “Having already weathered one of the toughest years in our 30-year history, we are pleased that our latest financial results show the strength of the business as we look forward to further growth. The year ahead looks positive as we continue to prove the success of our single site strategy which enables us to provide an efficient and reliable service to our customer.” Group finance director Sarah Roberts adds: “It is great news that despite market turmoil, the business is back on track with both turnover and profits increasing. Some of the positive trends we saw included higher average store utilisation than the previous year, and the recent extension to our 168,000 pallet cold store running at very high capacity." “The group prides itself for being at the forefront of the cold storage and distribution sector and we plan to continue to innovate, for example, by seeking to further reduce our carbon consumption, water usage and waste production; and by investing in new technology and practices to drive additional operating efficiencies." “Our can-do attitude, long heritage and financial strength, put us in a strong position to continue to support some of the leading names in the UK food industry.” Based on a dedicated 55-acre site operation in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, Reed Boardall has grown to become one of the largest temperature-controlled food distribution businesses in the UK. With a fleet of 200 vehicles operating 24 hours a day, year-round, it delivers 12,000 pallets of frozen food daily from manufacturers across Britain, Europe and further afield to all the UK’s best-known supermarkets. It also provides blast freezing, picking and packaging services.

A farm shop in the Meon Valley has warned geese is off the menu for families across Hampshire this year because local farmers have not been able to source traditional British festive birds. Westlands Farm Shop near Wickham has expected turkeys orders to outstrip last year because of the shortage of geese and has urged customers to place their Christmas meat order in good time ahead of the Yuletide festivities. Local farmers have struggled to supply farm shops and supermarkets with traditional British geese this year because of the largest ever outbreak of avian flu, with more than 140 reported outbreaks in England alone. Suzi Howard, Head Butcher at Westlands Farm Shop, said they have already seen a high demand for turkeys this year because some of their customers can’t order their preferred festive bird. She added: “We’ve seen brisk trade in the shop, with turkeys being the most popular Christmas meat order this year. Because we have no geese available, it is more important than ever for customers to place their meat order early to secure their Christmas lunch centrepiece." “Despite there being a higher demand for turkeys, we’re confident we will be able to supply orders to all of our customers because we source our festive birds from a local farm on Portsdown Hill - as long as orders are placed as early as possible." “This year we’ve got a great range of meat to choose from including turkey, chicken, lamb, duck, ham, beef, pork and plenty more. But please remember to place your order sooner rather than later."

Speedo’s pioneering Fastskin® LZR® Intent and LZR Valor swimsuits have entered a new dimension, with the introduction of new editions developed by Speedo’s Aqualab® research and development facility and engineering from Lamoral®️Space Tech. Utilising Lamoral’s world-leading expertise, the new suits feature improved hydrophobic qualities, allowing athletes to perform at their peak. New fabric innovation In collaboration with Lamoral, Speedo has produced its lowest water absorption and most durable water repellent suits yet. The innovative fabric coating is lightweight, providing a feeling of weightlessness. The Fastskin LZR Intent 2.0 uses a smart fusion of three textured fabric zones, along with bonded seams and compressive dual layers in targeted areas to streamline, increase power and reduce drag. The Fastskin LZR Valor 2.0 now has six times more durable water repellency, with compression that allows freedom of movement with stability and support. The new suits were developed in Speedo’s Aqualab, by a team of experts specialising in textile technology garment engineering, sports science, computational fluid dynamics, testing protocols and design. The Speedo Aqualab team has taken inspiration from space travel following on from its original LZR Racer suit, which saw NASA feed into the design of the suit that changed the course of swimming history. The choice of champions Worn by world champions such as Caeleb Dressel (USA), Emma McKeon (AUS) and Adam Peaty (GBR), since 2019, swimmers competing in Speedo Fastskin suits have broken 52% of all individual swimming world records, including 75% in 2023. Additionally, at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics 61% of gold medals and 49% of all medals were won by athletes wearing Speedo suits. Caeleb Dressel said: “Speedo – you somehow made the best a little bit better. I feel fast wearing it! When I stand on the blocks, I’m feeling confident that the suit is going to help me. It’s my own little Speedo rocket suit.” Australian swimmer, Emma McKeon, added: “The Speedo LZR Elite is very flexible and is firm in the right spots. I feel like I can really move and it seems like the water is not sticking to the suit, it really glides off. This is the best racing suit in the world, it feels fast and I can’t wait to wear it.” Simon Breckon, senior vice president at Speedo, said: “Our new development with Lamoral underpins Aqualab’s mission to push the limits of swimwear design through innovation. This upgrade is driven by science and informed by our expert athletes and club swimmers across the world. We’ve retained all the brilliant properties that make Speedo Fastskin suits the world’s fastest, but we’ve improved them – the world’s best just got even better.” The new Fastskin LZR Pure Intent 2.0 and Fastskin LZR Pure Valor 2.0 swimsuits are approved by World Aquatics and available to order from Speedo.

Family Business United is delighted to announce the launch of a new bespoke training academy for the family business sector. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains: "We are always looking to find new ways to support and add value to our family business community and respond to the needs of our members. As the world continues to evolve, the pace of change is driving the need for new skills and the programmes offered thorough the training academy and are partners will go a long way to meet the needs of family businesses." Family Business United has teamed up with a number of service providers, all of whom are family businesses to include programmes on Effective Coaching, Carbon Literacy, Sustainability, Effective Leadership, Self Awareness in Leadership and Giving Feedback to name a few. Further programmes being announced shortly tackle ways to maximise PR and communication through different media channels and marketing. As Paul continues, "Events which include elements of training and education are a key pillar of what we do to provide assistance to family firms and the new training academy will provide an increasing range of educational and learning opportunities with regards leadership, management skills training and courses for specific business needs too. The programmes will also embrace new areas of knowledge around themes such as ESG, doing business responsibly, carbon literacy and much more." "Each of the programmes seeks to enhance the skills of individuals, next generation leaders (family and non-family) and equip businesses with the skills they need to be sustainable for generations to come, and develop the necessary skills to be a sustainable business today and moving forward." "Our partners are selected not only on the basis of credibility and experience in their areas of expertise but also because they are family businesses. They already appreciate the nuances of family businesses, family dynamics and the way that these businesses think. It is important for us as an organisation that we align with businesses that share our values too and we are looking forward to building further relationships as the programme develops further." Check out the courses already available here The programmes are available to anyone working in, owning, managing or leading a family business with full course outlines, objectives and suitability included in the listings. Dr Stewart Barnes, CEO of QuoLux™ who are one of the selected training partners who already work with some well-known family business clients, is delighted to be partnering with Family Business United, adding that "“We are delighted to support Family Business United and their new training academy with our online leadership courses and look forward to working with their members.” As Paul concludes, "These courses come in various formats, online or supported with coaching and bespoke options are available for teams within family businesses to learn together. We are really excited to have launched the new Family Business Training Academy as a way to extend more benefits to the family business community across the UK." "We look forward to adding more courses to the programme and helping those working in the family business sector develop new skills, enhance existing ones and enable the next generation of leaders to continue to learn as their careers develop further."