English wine has been an incredible success story over the last decade. There are now almost 900 vineyards in England with production set to double in the next 2 years. England's winemakers produce world-beating sparkling wines and their still white, rosé and red wines are increasingly winning awards at international competitions with an emerging, unique, ‘English style’ of wine. Paul Andrews went to meet Simon and James Hawkins who have set up in business together selling English wines exclusively. Not all siblings find it easy to work side by side but this is clearly not the case for Simon and James who have worked together for many years on different projects and now have come together again and are building their business and their brand very successfully. They started out as publicans together, running a pub called The Halfway Bridge in Sussex for about 16 years before going their separate ways and then coming back together to set up Hawkins Bros in 2015. James has always been interested in wine and his passion for English wine began in Petworth when a neighbour planted a small vineyard. “I was interested in the vineyard and the prospect of vines growing in Sussex so started helping out in the vineyard, and then three years later the first harvest came and after five years the first wine produced won an international gold medal,” explains James, “and that’s when I really caught the bug for English wines.” His interest was at the time that many other English wine producers were growing their presence and making strides into the international arena, many of them family owned like Nyetimber and Ridgeview for example. The English wine revolution was starting. The sector continued to grow and back in 2013 a friend suggested that an English wine shop should be created, and one duly opened in Cowdray Park. James was hooked, developing the business at a great location which ran successfully for a couple of years. Throughout the same time, Simon had maintained his interest in running pubs but when he sold the last pub in 2015 the brothers decided that it was time to join forces once more and Hawkins Bros was established. They set up their English wine shop at Secrett’s Farm Shop just outside Guildford in The Surrey Hills and offer free local delivery of their selection of beautifully curated English wines across Surrey, and free next day delivery to the rest of the UK. As Simon continues, “We specialise in small boutique vineyards, we personally know all our winemakers and their stories. We've tasted, and love, all the wines that we sell and our journey continues. We have just opened a second shop in Petersfield and run an English wine pub, The Cricketers in Steep too. Our journey continues but English wine is at the very heart of all that we do.” The brothers work well together with complimentary skills but at the heart of their success is their shared purpose and love for English wines. They saw the potential of what is now a globally, recognised force in wine production and created a real niche for the business, something that has served them well. As well as working with vineyards across the country to list their wines in store, they have also worked with vineyards to create their own range too, now selling five wines under the Hawkins Bros label. Simon and James have a vision of growth and a business that is underpinned by a strong set of values – curiosity, championing local producers and integrity. They are an integral part of the community in which the businesses are based and the relationships are evident for all to see as soon as a customer enters the shop. “We have a role in the community that does go beyond being just a wine merchants,” adds Simon. “We chat to our customers and spend time with each and every one of them, listening to the things that are important in their daily lives and at the same time helping them with their choices by sharing the story behind the wines. Each vineyard has a story so there is integrity and authenticity behind each bottle of wine that we stock and it is great to be able to share these stories with our customers too.” The business is all about the wine and the stories that define them. It is clear listening to Simon and James that wine is what they are all about and the stories are an intrinsic part of the brand that they have created too. They really are on the same page, working in harmony to build a business and to shout about English wine for all to hear. As James concludes, “Whilst there isn’t a Hawkins winery, yet, who knows what the future holds!” One thing is for sure, there is a pride, passion and focus on what they do and this is a story to be told. We look forward to the next chapter in what has already been an exciting journey for the eponymous brothers. Visit www.hawkinsbros.co.uk to find out more.

In 1996 Chris Salisbury founded Canvasman in the tiny cellar of his Victorian terraced house in Leeds. From its humble beginnings as a one-man-band, the company has since grown to a dedicated team of expert designers, cutters, sewing machinists and fitters, now based in the charming Yorkshire town of Baildon. As well as boat covers, they design and manufacture shade sails, shop canopies, vehicle covers and much more. In fact, this business is all about the canvas so if it can be made out of canvas, Canvasman is the place to go. Paul Andrews went to speak to Chris and his wife Fran and find out more. The journey started before 1996 as Chris left school and was employed by a caravan awnings company where repairs needed to be made and he taught himself to sew before doing a deal to go it alone and the Canvasman was born. Chris loves the great outdoors, so the business was the perfect fit, allowing him to pursue his personal goals of traveling whilst repairing tents and awnings and earning a living. Jobs were completed and he was asked to do bespoke projects such as making custom sized boat covers. The business grew and eventually became too big to operate from home, so they leased a workshop before buying their first premises and as the business has grown further moved into their current home a few years ago. As well as boat covers, awnings, and outdoor garden products the business has diversified with safety beds and Pop tops to name a few. The new factory has enabled them to develop new products and provide the space to automate where they can and develop their own bespoke software programme to help manage each and every job too. Chris and his wife Fran now run the business together, with complimentary skills that enable roles and responsibilities to be shared which plays to both their strengths. Family values are firmly embedded in the culture of this Yorkshire family firm, as well as being proudly displayed on the walls for all to see, but as Chris explains, they come into play each and every day. “We manage the business according to the values and it helps us all to be aligned with a shared purpose, underpinned by a consistent and values-based approach. The values were created by Fran from a team day where every member of the team had an input so they came from within the business, were shaped and agreed and are now the values we work to. It certainly helps when it comes to working in teams and making sure that we are all doing the right thing too,” he continues. The core values that underpin this business: Caring We believe in fair and equal treatment of others. We are conscious of our responsibility to produce products that add value through clever design and longevity and are considerate of the impact that our service and products have on others and our planet. We are committed to creating an environment of inclusivity with shared knowledge, honest communication, and flexibility. Committed We are reliable and trustworthy, delivering products and service on time and fit for purpose. We make good decisions and consider how they will affect others. We set high standards for ourselves in order to achieve outstanding results. Consistent We take pride in exceeding our customers’ expectations through the quality of our service, designs, and products. We value efficiency and seek to focus on the best use of our time, energy, and resources We act on feedback and criticism to improve ourselves, our service, and our products. Curious We are creative and innovative and willing to experiment, supporting adaptability and agility in the workplace. We listen to our colleagues and clients to understand their needs so we can help them better. We have a hunger for knowledge and to learn new things and understand that continuous learning is key to improve ourselves as well as the overall performance of our team and company. Collaborative We nurture camaraderie with each other and our customers by helping people, planet, and community when we can. We value each other’s strengths and differences as key links in the chain, and we can rely on each other for support. We provide open and honest communication with each other and will listen and respect the interaction from others so that we are all connected. This is a family business that has thought through an approach that works for them with values at their heart. “We like to recruit people that fit our culture,” explains Fran, “as the culture is so important with a team our size. We like a ‘can do’ attitude and know that we can train anyone with the necessary technical skills to do their role.” Canvasman is also keen to do business the right way and has a sustainable agenda at their core. “We try to do the right thing and act in a way that is as kind to the environment as it can be,” continues Chris. “We are much more aware of our energy use than we were a few years ago and are constantly looking at ways to reduce consumption. We are pushing suppliers to make sustainable fabrics, reducing waste, repairing products rather than replacing them and making sure we embrace as many opportunities as possible, such as a grant to help with the installation of solar panels on the roof which generates half of our required electricity annually.” This is a family firm that wants to be seen as the best example of a manufacturing business that it can be and the drive is certainly coming from the top as both Chris and Fran believe that is the only way to succeed, to drive change and embrace opportunity but they are also empowering others to make their own impact and help on the journey. The embedded values and culture certainly help in this regard. As Fran continues: “We are always looking to make things better and to improve what we do and how we do it. We might be a small business but want to be a shining beacon for the manufacturing sector and somewhere that people want to come to work and enjoy their time at work too.” For Chris and Fran, knowing that their team are happy at work is important and part of their DNA. “We make great products that last and we are known for the quality and craftsmanship in what we do and having a happy team is not only good for morale and the culture of the business but helps with production and customer service too,” continues Chris, adding that: “We want to be sustainable as a business in our own right and not add to some of the prevailing environmental challenges and if by doing so, creating a nice environment in which to work, happy teams and the right culture continuing to produce great outcomes for our clients then it is a win all round.” Work-life balance is part of the culture and part of this business. There are ambitions to grow, to diversify into new products and to take Canvasman to the next level. The desire to grow responsibly is tangible and will undoubtedly happen and we look forward to seeing the continuing journey of this great family business. Watch this space – Canvasman is on the rise – a proud family business who believe in creating great products for great people. Find out more at www.canvasman.co.uk

A vision from an entrepreneurial founder is at the heart of many family businesses and that is certainly the case with the Steggles family. What started out with 10 goats has grown into a destination business with a Farm Shop, Kitchen Goats, Cheese, Skincare Products and much more besides. Paul Andrews spoke to Sam Steggles to find out more. Sam was born on a farm and it is probably true to say that farming was part of his DNA when he was born. Sam loved life on the farm which was owned and farmed by his grandfather but it was sold when he was about seven. But by the age of twelve and still with a yearning to go into farming he was given some cows and as a youngster he sold their calves, sold pheasants to the teachers at school and ultimately bought a Simmental calf which was the breed that his grandfather had farmed. As he got older, Sam completed a National Diploma in Agriculture at Harper Adams and then embarked on a role with Newquip Ltd which resulted in a job selling poultry equipment. A tragedy in the family with the death of his sister-in-law at the age of just 25 provided Sam with the push to pursue his dream. Sam began to realise that life was too short and started looking at his roots and to find a way into the agriculture sector that would be more directly involved than just selling equipment. As Sam explains, “We went on a family holiday to Cumbria in October 2009 as a family with our young baby son and we came home with 10 goats! We were living in a ‘normal house’ at the time and soon realized that we never had the space to accommodate the goats and so moved them to a friends dairy unit that was no longer being used so the goats moved to Little Ellingham and the first kid goats were born in 2010.” Sam is an entrepreneur at heart and when he sets his mind to something there is always likely to be an outcome. “I learnt how to turn the milk from the goats into cheese and started making goats cheese in the kitchen sink,” continues Sam. “The business grew as we made more cheese to meet demand and the number of goats grew from 10 to 300 in just under two years and we had the opportunity to move so moved to where we are today.” Working a ‘day job’ whilst milking goats and making cheese took it’s toll after a while and so the decision was made to sell the goats and focus on the production side. However, goats remain an important part of the business today, with a herd of Boer goats greeting customers who visit their business today. By 2019 the cheese business was blossoming and was producing tonnes of award-winning Norfolk Mardler and Wensum cheese with contracts supplying supermarkets, airlines, national pub chains and restaurants. Things were really positive and with an eye on the future Sam applied and was awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship with his aim to investigate the growth of sustainable food businesses. In March 2020, as part of the research project he headed off to Australia but soon after arrival as Covid suddenly hit he was concerned that levels of food orders for the cheese were falling significantly as customers were cancelling orders “I initially knew that I needed to get home but all flights were being cancelled, delayed or re-routed and rather than wait I got a round the world flight home to see what could be done to support the business.” Like many businesses, the pandemic was a massive challenge and for Sam it was no different. “I got home to lockdown and we had lost most of our cheese orders overnight. There was plenty of uncertainty but we think differently and were prepared to put up a fight.” Entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and during conversations with his wife, Sam soon realized that people in the community were concerned about food supplies and other essential items. So, with quick thinking and a big dose of courage, Sam saw an opportunity and ultimately this was the moment that would provide the opportunity for the business to flourish going forward. “We knew that the local community, like communities across the UK, were scared. The pandemic was causing real concern and so we took a leap and sourced products that the supermarkets were unable to, or were rationing, and created a safe place for people to shop. It all started from a small garden shed in what is now the car park, with a few trestle tables outside and some flour, pasta, toilet rolls and an honesty box,” explains Sam. By sourcing products for the local community, the family, and the business, during such uncertain times, they provided a lifeline for many, even if it was one customer at a time in the early days to comply with all the regulations and to keep people safe. As lockdown eased, customers questioned what would happen going forward and the decision was taken to make what is now fondly known as ‘The Goat Shed’ a permanent thing. Sam and Caroline stuck to their core values and set out on their ongoing journey to ‘create smiles through food, farming and family’, something that remains at the heart of the business today. As Sam continues, “For us, it is all about sticking to our values of sourcing quality, local produce, creating a safe and friendly environment and providing delicious, homemade food for our customers to enjoy with family and friends. The Goat Shed evolved and we sourced furniture, initially so that people could sit outdoors and when able to meet inside in person again, to furnish the Kitchen and make it a local destination and remain a hub for the community too.” As well as continuing to make award winning cheese, skincare products and running the Kitchen and the fully stocked farm shop, they continue to invest in the business and also offer a number of holiday cottages set against the backdrop of a small, working farm so that guests get to experience rural life and get to make the most of the outdoors during their stay. Innovation and ideas come readily to this business and using the space available in the barns saw a thriving festive market created. The space is now to be used for the extension of the shop with the addition of more products, a butchery counter and homeware items. Like many family firms decision making is quick and agile. “We needed to make quick decisions at the start which helped us survive the initial downturn in demand for cheese and it was this that helped create the brand and gain the support of the local community,” explains Sam, “and the community have remained loyal and word has got out and people now come from further afield to see what we are all about, enjoy the goats in the field or to stay and shop with us too.” The business is now open seven days a week and employs around 40 staff, providing plenty of opportunities too. Sam continues to look for new opportunities too and is building a business for the future. Recently a poultry business was added and they now have 70,000 chickens that provide eggs and they recently started a small herd of Simmentals. “We bought one cow and then realized it was unfair for her to be on her own so now are looking for a few more,” continues Sam with a smile, something else that is at the core of what this business is all about. From the goats in the yard to the food and the way it is served by engaged staff who clearly enjoy what they do, putting a smile on people’s faces is important to Sam. “We love what we do but need to keep the consumer in mind and make sure that they have a great experience, leave with a smile on their faces and leave wanting to come back again. We have created a real community hub and a business that affords customers the opportunity to support and shop local, in a nice environment, surrounded by nature too,” he continues. Goats and goats cheese were the start of the journey and very much part of the business today, as are the other aspects of what they do and nobody can question the commitment of a family that were close to losing the business when the pandemic hit, but a family that seized the opportunity and continue to build on the foundations that were laid during lockdown and have flourished subsequently. Growth such as this comes with strong leadership, commitment and a desire to succeed and these are qualities that Sam is blessed with. He recently decided to swim the length of Lake Geneva which took over 26 hours to complete, certainly no mean feat and a mammoth swim, raising over £25,000 for Brain Tumour Research, a great example of what Sam is all about and clear evidence that supports the fact that when he puts his mind to something little will stand in his way. Giving back and supporting the community is key to this business, demonstrating the importance of farming and supporting local as well as the importance of the connection that many family businesses have with the location and place in which they are based. A great story of a family business that had to respond to incredibly challenging circumstances but has certainly made its mark and undoubtedly will continue to do so going forward, hopefully for generations to come. Find out more here

St Maur is a premium elderflower liqueur handcrafted in the Heart of England from responsibly sourced ingredients, with flavours gathered in ancient family owned woodlands and which is gaining an international following. St Maur is the creation of William and Kelsey Seymour, Earl and Countess of Yarmouth, and produced from their farm and woodlands in Warwickshire. Paul Andrews caught up with them to find out more. Arriving at the farm on a beautiful spring day, this fledgling family business is situated in the heart of England, a quintessentially British location close to the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The perfect setting for an iconic and quintessentially British tipple too. Kelsey and William first produced St Maur for their wedding celebrations at Ragley Hall back in 2018. As Kelsey explains, “We wanted a wedding that was fun but with a British family feel with good friends, good food, music and dancing and wanted a drink to make the event special too. Using the wild blossoms from the local elderflowers we created St Maur.” “We first produced St Maur for our guests on our wedding day, to mix as a reception drink in a royale style cocktail with English sparkling wine, to celebrate with us with a glass of something uniquely special. We wanted a drink that would capture the spirit of that lovely day. Drawing on old family recipes handed down on my Mother’s side we created St Maur, and we named it after the Seymour family heritage which goes back to the Middle Ages. We gave it the colour of love,” explains Kelsey. As William continues, “We made St Maur to share, to cherish the moment and make it a memory, for a halcyon summer’s day spent with those we love and those we love to be with. St Maur invokes the essence of good friendship, happiness, and enjoyment. So, wherever your love takes you, and whatever your love brings you, we want you to share in the spirit of St Maur too.” The seeds had been sown for what is fast becoming an internationally renowned drink. Unmistakable from the pour, floral with citrus and notes of red fruit, St Maur balances on the palette with a long, pleasing finish. Delightful when sipped on its own and supreme in a variety of cocktails, St Maur is perfect for an English Martini and ideal for creating probably the best Hugo drink in the world, the Hugo St Maur! Following on from the success of the drink at their wedding Kelsey and William decided to make a go of turning their creation into a business. The idea for the family business had been born and it was time to turn the concept into reality. Fast forward to 2022 and that is exactly what has happened. The family has grown, with the arrival of two delightful children, family members have been roped in and the business is growing. William is the eldest son of the Marquess of Hertford, and grew up at Ragley Hall, his family’s seat since the 18th century. The brand name St Maur comes from the surname used by his family in medieval times, but by the time Jane Seymour married Henry VIII the name had changed. Every family business has a back story, a narrative that helps define the family, the business and support the brand. Not every family firm has a back story quite as splendid as St Maur and William and Kelsey are keen to incorporate the heritage into the brand too. “The wild blossoms used to make St Maur are hand-picked, on our farm and on some parcels of land that were passed to me directly from my grandfather Hugh, the eighth Marquess,” explains William. “Many come from the ancient woodlands in the shadows of trees which grew when my ancestors were young and we have used the co-ordinates of Ladies Wood on the edge of the Ragley estate which hosts a grove where we gather elderflowers in the summer to feature on the bottle. There is also a red-legged partridge on the bottle, a bird that was successfully introduced to England in the 19th century by another of my ancestors, Francis Seymour, the fifth Marquess, and now is the brand’s mascot,” he continues. Plenty of thought and consideration underpins the very essence of the brand and how it is presented. William and Kelsey are actively involved in all stages of the business too. As Kelsey adds, “We personally hand-pick our own elderflowers from the hedgerows and woodland groves around the farm, making sure that they are picked at the prime time to provide the best flavour, which often means early morning starts. We also get involved in making the drink, promoting it at various events and shows, locally and further afield, and enjoy every aspect of our growing business.” With a move from London, marriage and the arrival of a young family, settling into a life running a farm, and at the same time launching a new business has meant a lot of juggling for them all. “It is a journey that we are totally embracing,” adds Kelsey. “We have support from my family and our friends to help and it is fantastic to see the product grow and demand for St Maur to continue to rise. Within 18 months of launching St Maur, it won a Great Taste Award, Best in Class at the World Liqueur Awards, and Gold at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards and continues to win awards to this day. We are on a fabulous journey with St Maur and it is exciting to see what the next stages in the journey will unveil,” she adds. What began with a drink for their wedding has really taken off and the world is taking notice. William and Kelsey work hard to continue to build the brand with their underlying aim to ‘bring a little drop of England’s heart with every sip’ and there can be no question that they are achieving their aim. Developing a responsible business with a purpose and desire to do business in the right way underpins what this family business is all about. “In creating St Maur we have been inspired by the past, but in starting our business we are committed to the future. At St Maur we don’t think it is enough for any business just to ‘do no harm’ any more, or merely to be socially conscious or aware. We believe our footprint should leave the world a better place, and we are setting out to build our brand to fit that mould. The world still has a lot to learn about responsible business, yet there are many inspiring leaders. It is our commitment to seek to join them,” concludes William. The heritage behind the brand crafts an additional piece of legacy with the drink itself being created from elderflowers grown in woodlands and hedgerows that were planted by ancestors and previous generations, and where William grew up and played as a child. The narrative behind the brand is truly beautiful and the entrepreneurship and drive of William and Kelsey is palpable. With wider family support this feels like the start of an exciting journey and we will be watching to see how the story unfolds. What is clear to all is that ‘each little drop of England’s heart’ is quintessentially British in nature, crafted with real authenticity, passion and a desire to share something that was created for a special family event for the wider community to enjoy. What better way to spend a lazy afternoon under the summer sun, sipping a quintessentially British cocktail that has been lovingly crafted by hand with hand picked elderflowers from the heart of the English countryside? Long may the fabulous ‘spirit of St Maur’ live on. Find out more by visiting their website here

Cladspray Solutions are a commercial spray-painting family business based in Norwich in the East of England owned by Tom and Kim Carter. Operating from Norwich they have teams available to work nationwide 24/7 to deliver cost effective solutions while never compromising standards of workmanship. Paul Andrews went to meet them to find out more. This is an entrepreneurial family firm that has worked hard from the start to achieve success as Tom explains. “It all began with me, a lad and a van and we grew quite quickly so Kim joined us as a director and we now have 15 full time employees and use a lot of sub-contractors as and when the need arises.” Tom has a good background in the sector and gained plenty of experience before setting up on his own. “I have a background in roof sheeting and cladding and erected numerous industrial units as well as having another job that used spray painting machines. We set up a business that put the two together and to be honest have not looked back. We now operate all over the UK but most of the work is centred around East Anglia.” The business is based around airless spray-painting machines that apply a variety of different coatings to a variety of surfaces. Tom was driven from the start and always wanted to be at the top of the sector and is delighted with the growth of the business to date. “We have had an exciting journey but the perennial challenge is staff and finding skilled workers is not easy, nor has it ever been, and of course there are now supply chain issues that we are having to deal with,” explains Tom. “We are finding ourselves holding more stock, and a wider range of products in stock, to enable us to respond to the needs of our customers on a timely basis but we are, and always have been adaptable, as a business, so take all these challenges in our stride,” he continues. Tom is passionate about the sector and driven to be the best and is keen to take those in the company on the journey too. “We have a great team and our staff demonstrate our values day-in-day-out and we want them to be part of the Cladspray journey,” he explains. “There are lots of opportunities too as we grow and I am looking to step back further from the tools and to focus on the next stage in the development of the business,” he adds. Like many entrepreneurial business owners in the early days of their business Tom is totally driven to be successful. “We love what we do and the future affords plenty of opportunities for us and we are building the right structures to make the most of all that the future brings. It is important that we put the structures in place to help us grow and manage the business too so taking time now to focus on the business is something that is high on our agenda at the moment,” explains Tom. “Kim and I are young and have plenty of plans for the future but who knows where we will end up. In terms of possible next generation, we have two young daughters, so it is difficult to know if it is something that will be of interest to them but there will never be any pressure on them to join the business. They have their own lives and it will be up to them to shape their own paths, but if it involves the business down the line then we can look to accommodate that in due course,” continues Tom. As a husband and wife team, Tom and Kim are clear on their individual roles and responsibilities too. “It is important that we focus on the business and what it needs, playing to our strengths,” adds Kim. “We are chilled as a couple and don’t argue and work certainly does not rule the conversations at home either. We have complimentary skills which certainly helps with the definition of roles and I get to apply my marketing skills to our business which is great too.” Tom and Kim clearly work well together and both remain totally focussed on where the business is going. As Tom continues, “I love this business. It’s my baby that we started from nothing and have grown to where we are today. We continue to grow and will soon be moving in to new premises as we have outgrown our existing space, and there are plenty of opportunities on the horizon. We are working hard to take the business to the next level and are continually pushed by our team who are committed to the journey and clearly love what they do too.” This is an entrepreneurial family firm that considers its broader impact too. “Sustainability and the environment are big issues and things that are certainly on our business agenda,” adds Kim. “We have already invested in two electric cars, recycle all waste paint and are continuing to work to lower our carbon footprint. We might be a small business in the grand scheme of things but ultimately all businesses have a role to play in making a difference and we are keen to do our bit.” It has been a journey and one that they are rightly proud of. As Tom explains, “I am proud of where we have got to in our journey and the work that we have done to date. We have worked with some great brands and some great businesses and continue to open more doors. I think our flexible, honest approach works well for us, we know what we are doing and go above and beyond for our customers too.” Kim adds, “We have and are introducing more processes as we move to the next level and there is a lot going on in the business too. Recently we were announced as one of the fastest growing businesses in Europe which was fantastic and great to gain such recognition. We are proud of all that we continue to achieve and looking forward to what the future has in store.” This is a family business with strong values and integrity, a passion for customer service and excellence in delivery and they are carving out a great reputation in a niche sector. We look forward to seeing the next chapter of their journey.

Packaging Products (Coatings) Ltd is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of non-slip pallet liners, waterproof paper and board serving a wide range of industries home and abroad. With many years experience in the packaging industry, Packaging Products (Coatings) Ltd has occupied the same production and paper manufacturing site in Collyhurst, Manchester since 1841. Paul Andrews spoke to family director Peter Cornford and non-family director Gary McNeely to find out more. In recent years, Packaging Products (Coatings) Ltd has combined their vast experience with modern technology to develop non slip papers. These recyclable products compliment the traditional bitumen and wax papers that they manufacture and their finished products are now used widely in a variety of industries including food, healthcare, automotive, building and furniture. This is a family business that can only be described as a ‘hidden gem.’ They are based in premises in the heart of Manchester and despite the frontage of the building looking small to the eye, it opens up into a labyrinth of spaces in a building that just goes on and on. Every space is well utilised and affords the opportunity to store raw materials, finished products and to invest in the business and to introduce new production lines. Like many family firms that have stood the test of time, it is the reinvestment and innovation that has enabled the business to continue, to remain relevant to the needs of their customers and to flourish. Family is at the heart of the business which is owned and run by Peter, his two brothers and Gary. Prior to joining the family firm Peter worked in a bank and Gary was a financial adviser. As friends they worked together and have spent time with families and when the opportunity arose for Peter to join the family business he knew that he needed as strong team around him of people whom could be trusted and Gary joined the business. Over time the nature of the business has changed. As Peter explains, “bitumen papers are still produced and there is demand for them but we have also evolved and introduced new products such as the anti-slip products which are now a core product.” “There are plenty of applications for them with regards pallet transportation where they are inserted between layers to prevent products moving which reduces damage and waste in transportation and they are also used on the floor of lorries to prevent pallets slipping too,” he adds. To accommodate the new anti-slip products they have invested in the business, building new machinery based on in-house knowledge and experience, sourced local labour, the support of local family firms and are proud to say that all of their products are proudly ‘Made in Britain’ too. Like other family firms the prevailing economic climate and associated pressures have to be contended with. As Gary adds, “There are supply chain issues within the sector, mills closing and reducing capacity and increased costs which are passed on to businesses like ours. It is a constantly changing environment and we have even been notified of price increases whilst a shipment is on the water on the way to us!” “Added to the supply chain costs the business has also seen price increases of other raw materials and there have been increased energy costs too,” continues Peter. “Having said that, we are very optimistic about the future as the new machinery has doubled our output capacity using the same manpower so we are managing to move forward with more products and to grow our customer base further,” he adds. This family business has its eyes on the future with new market opportunities being developed for their non-slip solutions which also affords environmental benefits to customers as it significantly reduces the need for shrink-wrapping, reducing the use of plastics and the paper products are also fully recyclable. In terms of family involvement going forward it is not clear as of yet where it will go as the next generation are still in their early teens and younger but there are some great opportunities in the event that they do want to take it on. “I want to carry on running the business,” continues Peter “and still get excited about our products and their applications. There are opportunities for the next generation to come through in time and take it on, we have a brilliant team of staff supporting us on the journey and I am excited about where we are going.” “My father undertook an MBO of the business and for me there is so much pride and passion to continue to build the business that he believed in. The current economic climate does not make running a business easy but we have some great, loyal customers and the relationships that we have with them are important and we work closely together to grow together too.” Peter and Gary firmly believe that being a family business is a real advantage too. “As a family business we are more agile and can make swift decisions when they are needed,” explains Peter. Real time decisions and our ability to respond means that we are always on point, managing situations and dealing with the economic challenges that present themselves, and we are always looking to the future, making improvements and investing in new ways of doing things too,” he adds. As Gary continues, “Our people are key to who we are as a business too. We look after them and are invested in them as an integral part of what we do and this has helped to create a culture of loyalty and a team that works well together, focused on making it work. We have plenty of employees that have been with us for many years and plenty of examples of generations of families that have worked for the business too.” Walking around the business provides a great opportunity to see the products being manufactured and the labyrinth of spaces really does lead to a journey of discovery. There are so many family firms doing things behind close doors that could so easily pass us by in terms of the impact they have and Packaging Products (Coatings) Ltd is one such gem. They manufacture products that have a direct impact on the way that others operate, transport the items that many of us consume on a daily basis, help to reduce damage and waste, and through their continued innovation make a positive impact on the environment too. They have been on a journey as a business since way back in 1841 and we look forward to continuing to follow their journey as a family business into the future.

Driven by animal welfare, quality and service since 1947, the family behind the Soanes name are proud of their traditional values of quality and service and they pride themselves on rearing Yorkshire’s tastiest chickens. From traditional beginnings when they delivered chicken to customers in wicker baskets, they now deliver five days a week throughout Yorkshire and beyond using their own drivers and a fleet of refrigerated vehicles. The wicker baskets may have gone, but their commitment to delicious tasting chicken, reared to high standards of animal welfare, remains the same. Everything they do is produced today and delivered tomorrow. From farm to customer within 24 hours – you don’t get any fresher than that. Paul Andrews met non-family Managing Director, Ben Lee, to find out more. Ben was born and brought up locally and has known the Soanes family all his life. “My father was a local gamekeeper so we have always been around the farming and land-owning community. I finished my A levels and applied for a job in despatch with Soanes and that was the start of a long and rewarding career. I got hooked on factory life and was fortunate to explore many roles within the business and each one afforded a different insight into the business and ultimately I was promoted to Managing Director last year.” Ben has always been interested in the food sector and his journey within Soanes has continued to pique his interest. “One of my early birthday presents, at the age of around 12, was a food processor which I used to make sausages and my love of food continues to this day. Being promoted to lead the business was the end of a journey of discovery within the business. I always wanted to know more and was always asking questions, trying to make improvements and was encouraged to do so. I rose through the ranks and now have the opportunity to lead the family business.” Soanes is a strong and well-respected brand, producing excellent quality chicken from six of their own farms and an additional couple of local Yorkshire farms. All of the chickens are reared on real farms by real farmers locally too. “Our relationships with all of the farmers go back a long way, through generations of farmers from the same families, and the farmers name is on the packaging of the finished product which provides real authenticity and food provenance,” continues Ben. Like many other businesses, Soanes have experienced challenges recruiting the right staff but have invested to aid the process. “Our training hub has certainly helped attract staff and we are in the process of developing a new staff hub, investing in their training and promoting career progression opportunities too,” continues Ben, “and ultimately I am the product of the investment in staff over time too.” Soanes are celebrating 75 years as a family business and are very proud of all that they have achieved. Sustainability is high on the agenda, as is the welfare and well-being of their chickens and they are proud to say that most of their chickens are farmed within seven miles of the factory. The business provides significant employment to the local community, as it has done for all of its 75 years and is proud of their journey to date. As Ben concludes, “We are a family business and there are plenty of connections to other families who have provided employees from a number of generations, and we have strong connections to local long-standing faming families too. Our underlying family values are important and create the culture of the business and the constant drive to produce excellent products too. Everyone has a role to play in helping do what we do and it is a real team effort to keep things moving, and improving.” “We are constantly improving operations and the way that we do what we do, building new, innovative homes for our chickens and investing in new technology such as the biomass plant to provide power. Like many other family firms, we know we have an important role in our community and take steps to improve constantly,” he continues. “As the saying goes, the ‘proof is in the pudding’ and we are constantly receiving messages complimenting our chicken, which remains so important to us. We remain incredibly proud of our traditional values of quality and service and will never tire of rearing Yorkshire’s tastiest chickens,” concludes Ben.

The fields at Hunmanby Grange are where it all begins for Spirit of Yorkshire, the first single malt whisky made in, and of Yorkshire. It is created by a family where the narrative is so important, the underlying essence of the brand and is created from field to bottle on the Yorkshire coast near Filey Bay. This is a story of innovative tradition, respect for the past and associated traditions of an industry that is synonymous with Scotland, whilst bringing their own thinking to the table too. Paul Andrews went to the distillery to speak to Jenni Ashwood to find out more. “We are a family and a business that wants to do things properly. That’s why we’re obsessed with every step of the distilling process, from field to bottle, using 100% homegrown barley. Mentored by renowned whisky expert Dr. Jim Swan, we respect tradition whilst applying our own thinking to create a whisky that doesn’t just replicate Scotch but is delicious in its own right,” explains Jenni. “All of the barley we use is grown at Hunmanby Grange on our family farm, and we get our water from two sources, sunk deep into the chalk, which is also on the farm.” “We’re in control of every stage of the growing and distilling process, from choosing the variety of barley and how it is grown, right through to bottling ourselves at the distillery.” “Very few other distilleries in the UK can claim this and it’s something we’re exceptionally proud of,” she continues. “We’ve invested in two of the largest Forsyth pot stills operating in the UK outside of Scotland and have also added a four-plate copper column into our process that works in tandem with our spirit still which adds to the variance of the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery. It’s all part of our commitment to combining tradition with new thinking to create something out of the ordinary. Our stills were fired up for the first time in May 2016 and we have thousands of various cask types – including sherry butts and bourbon casks, all of which will help create the subtle, complex flavours of our unique spirit,” she adds. Every aspect of the business has a link back to the part of Yorkshire that they are based, and where the family have been farming for generations. It is an integral part of the narrative, and the reason for the name of the whisky, ‘Filey Bay’ which is just a short drive away. It is also featured by way of the gannets featured on the labels. “Along with these fearless, precise, graceful and purposeful birds, we’ve prospered here for many years. Similar to their characteristics, we have a homing instinct, so wherever we travel to explore new ideas, we always return to this special place, a stone’s throw away from Bempton Cliffs, home to the largest gannet colony on the UK mainland. This is where we live and work, most importantly where our whisky was born. That’s why we chose the gannet as our talisman,” adds Jenni. Jenni is the second generation of the family involved in the business and like many, she left home to pursue a career in London. Her career was in the world of marketing and has certainly been of benefit to the business since she got involved. Conscious of what the business needed and with the skills in place from working in an agency in London, she moved back home with her husband and started a role in the business. “I was always aware of the need to prove myself but I had been developing brand strategies for clients in the luxury goods space so there was a natural fit, but even then you do question yourself and never want to fall into the ‘imposter syndrome’ position,” she adds. “That was not the case and the role was perfect, and with a young family the role allows me to continue to build the business, develop professionally doing something I love, and live in a place that is more than home too,” she continues. It is abundantly clear that the ‘PLACE’ plays an incredibly special part of the journey of the business and that sustainability is important too. At Spirit of Yorkshire they are creating a business that will offer a legacy to future generations. The product is well respected, award winning and exported to 12 countries and the whisky embodies the very essence of where it is created. “It really is all about the place, the driving force for the brand and an integral part of the messaging too. We have an honest field to bottle philosophy and an ethos that respects tradition but we still like to do things our own way too,” concludes Jenni.

Dandy’s is a multi-generational family firm that is steeped in history and entrepreneurial spirit. Paul Andrews spoke to Adam Dandy, the fifth generation of the family to lead the business to find out more. Established in 1826 in the City of Chester in the UK, a man called James Dandy, originally from Tarleton, moved his family to Chester and set up his stall in Chester’s Market Hall Square, to sell his family farm’s home grown fruit and vegetables for the first time. The family business was essentially born on a small wooden table top, in-front of Chester’s Corn Exchange Building, selling home grown produce. It was the start of something special and has evolved into a truly diverse, entrepreneurial and award-winning family business. The family market stall was the very first to move indoors to Chester’s new indoor Market Hall in 1863. The family business became the number one supplier of quality locally grown fruit and vegetables, used by all the top hotels in the City. Today, now 194 years later, Dandys is run by James’ 5th generation grandson Adam Dandy and his wife Clare, Operations Director Simon Hughes and Commercial Director Katie de Winton and Director of Marketing Amanda Arnold, who are supported by a long established, loyal team, all of whom are dedicated to making sure that you receive exceptional gardening and landscaping products backed up and delivered nationwide with a five star service. For many next generation family members like Adam, facing the proposition of taking on a family firm that has been upstanding in the local community for many years, the decision is daunting. Do they really want to be involved and take it on and if so, how do they deal with the ‘burden’ of responsibility that has been passed on to them and is in their hands to carry forward to the next generation? For Adam, the journey was slightly unusual as he had grown up with a desire to be a policeman so prior to joining the family firm he became a Special Constable to see if that was the career for him. As Adam explained, “I liked the role and at times it was exciting but there was a lot of administration, time spent sitting around and little opportunity to be entrepreneurial and if I am being totally honest, I wanted a role that was more creative in nature too.” By the age of 17/18 Adam had passed his driving test and was able to drive trucks and then started to work part time in the business to earn some money at the same time as being a Special Constable. As Adam continues, “This was quite a tricky time for me as I had to juggle both roles and the commitments that came with them. I remember one day dealing with a fight at a night club at 2am and wrapping up work at 6am with Dad expecting me at work at 8am. I rolled in at 10am and Dad pulled me aside and told me how things stood. There were no favours as the son of the boss and he was harder on me than he would have been with the other staff, for my own good, and at the same time there was an opportunity, or some would call it an ultimatum.” “Dad was planning for the future and had intentions to step back from the business and offered me the opportunity to get involved, take on the family business and to ‘ramp things up’ at the same time,” continues Adam. Adam joined the business full time and began to make his mark. The business grew. Adam has always been creative and entrepreneurial and the new role afforded the chance to exploit these qualities. At the time there was little competition nationwide and Adam seized the opportunity. “We met with a transport firm to see if they could transport and offload to customers around the UK on tonne bags of topsoil and once we had their agreement we took the concept to market. The day after launching we had 30 orders for delivery across the country and since then have not looked back. Dandy’s continues to offer delivery across the country and it has really helped us to grow. We took on google ads and despite increased competition we continue to lead the way,” he adds. Adam’s entrepreneurial spirit was paying off and the business continued to grow. The nature of the business in which they operate has a strong seasonal edge and over the years the business has sought to capitalise on opportunities to reduce this impact, with ventures such as supplying rock salt to councils to keep transport moving on icy roads during the winter months. Back in 2007 Adam took on the business buying out his Mum and Dad and stepping up as the fifth generation owner and leader of the business. Like all next generation members stepping up, Adam was keen to put his stamp on things. As he explains, “One of the first things that I did was to change the colour of our brand from the mix of red and blue to one core colour, lime green, or as we like to refer to it, ‘hulk’ green. Green is more aligned to the environment and what we do as a business and the shade stands out which is what I wanted.” The business continued to grow with more products added to the mix such as turf, gravel and bark but for Adam something was missing. “I remember the first TV news bulletins about the refugee crisis and the death of a little boy whose body had been washed up on a Mediterranean beach and it really hit home. This little boy was the same age as my son and I knew then that I wanted to do something to make a real difference. Our local council had issued a statement to openly welcome refugees so I got in touch and a new chapter began.” “I wanted to make a difference so got together two empty shipping containers, placed plenty of social media posts and collected clothes to take and distribute to those in need in Greece. Such was the level of public support that they were full within a couple of days. We sourced warehouse space from the council, people helped sort donations and they were sent to those in need. There was a real buzz around the project but also a growing recognition of issues at home too. Homelessness in Chester was on the rise so we reflected and decided to set up a charity that now works all year round to help Support Homeless And Refugees Everywhere, going by the name SHARE and with a shop in Chester,” he continues. “The work is important and helps locally, and those coming to the UK needing assistance, and gives me something else to be proud of. It really does make a difference and is something that I fervently support too.” As a business owner Adam continues to drive the business and his creativity and determination is at the very heart of the business. He gets on with things and they make a difference. At their home on the border between England and Wales you cannot fail to notice this business. When they are not flying a massive Welsh flag from their mound of top soil that can be seen for miles around, they use it to make a statement. As Adam adds, “Everyone locally knows us, recognises our vans and we used the flagpole to show support for Ukraine with a flag when the conflict started. We received a comment on facebook form one individual who thought it was too large and inappropriate so we went out and bought a bigger one that we were proud to hoist. We use our presence for the causes that we believe in and want to make a difference,” he adds. It is this spirit, determination and dedication to whatever project is on the table that can be attributed to the continued success of the business too. Dandy’s is a long-standing family firm that is not standing still. They continue to invest in the business and their staff, embrace their involvement in the community and are clearly a great example of a family firm that is a ‘force for good.’ They make a massive impact locally and nationally and have grown to become a trusted one-stop shop for gardening and landscaping supplies, delivered to your door nationwide! They have come a long way from where they started on a table-top in Chester but the journey has been driven by each generation of the family, entrepreneurial flair and drive maintaining and growing their presence and adding their mark. Adam is still young and has plenty of ambition so we look forward to seeing the next chapters in this entrepreneurial family business journey as they unfold.

At Wold Top Brewery their vision is simple; they want to make great tasting beer, using home grown, and sustainably sourced ingredients for the rest of Yorkshire and the world to enjoy! Paul Andrews visited the brewery and spoke to Kate Balchin to find out more. As Kate explains, “As a brewery we turn 20 next year and a lot has happened since we founded the business. Our family has farmed 600 acres high on the Yorkshire Wolds for generations and our aim is to continue to do so!” “Sustainability is key, we want to work in balance with nature so we grow trees and hedges to offset the carbon footprint, we plant areas for birds and wildlife, we consider the bees that are essential for the pollination of the crops and we use crop rotations to keep the soil in good heart. We also use renewable energy from our own wind turbines and have our own water supply from natural chalk aquifers under the farmland,” she continues. “The farm is where I grew up and this part of the world is special. Creating the brewery to make use of the crops that we grow and continue our philosophy of home grown ingredients was a simple step for us to make and Alex (my husband and co-founder of the business) and I have put a lot of time into perfecting the plan and developing the business too. One of our biggest challenges is not talking about business all of the time because it is something that we are so passionate about,” Kate continues. The business has grown quickly and the family continue to invest in their products and it shows. “We have won many awards for our beers over the years and are proud of our range of all year round and special edition cask, keg and bottled beers that include Wold Top Bitter, gluten free beer Against the Grain and best selling favourite Scarborough Fair IPA,” adds Kate. “We are proud of what we have achieved to date and want to be valued and for people to continue to respect and value the products that we make.” As a family business Wold Top is very much values based, focused on creating and maintaining a conscious brand. “We set out to build a sustainable business and to ensure that we were considerate in our planning, development and execution,” explains Kate. “We live, work and play in a wonderful area of Yorkshire and want to maintain this balance for future generations. Hence growing our own barley in the most sustainable way we can, sourcing our power from the wind and drawing our water from underground aquifers deep in the chalk.” As a company they also balance their impact on a broader spectrum too. They employ local people who contribute back into the local economy and they support other local businesses, venues and events as much as we can. Clearly, beer is at the heart of what this young family business is all about. “We want every pint of Wold Top to be enjoyed as much as the previous one, so we balance our malts and hops to give flavours, aromas and tastes that can be enjoyed time after time, pint after pint. It is a great business to work in and we are proud of all that we have achieved to date,” adds Kate, “but we also have plenty of plans for the future too. We plan to introduce more products and to continue to sell our beers to businesses that share our values and culture, that are aligned with our thinking and respect our products for their provenance too.” All businesses depend on their people and Wold Top have a committed team to help the dream flourish. “Our team are fantastic and really understand what Wold Top is all about. They understand our values as a family and our purpose and they are integral to the achievement of our vision for the business too,” continues Kate. “Hospitality is building back after the pandemic and what has been a difficult couple of years and we have plans to grow too. We may be a small business but have big ambitions, a real passion and determination to succeed and a plan to continue to build a sustainable family business that cares about what it does and how it does it. We are looking to the next 20 years and beyond with the intention of creating something truly sustainable that may well pass on to future generations too,” concludes Kate. Give and take. Perfectly Balanced. On top of the Wold. Wold Top!

George Barnsdale is an innovative, entrepreneurial, British family business that is steeped in five generations of history and heritage. This is not, however, a family business resting on the past but a forward-thinking business at the top of their game with a desire to solve problems, continuously improve and consistently deliver on their promise to manufacture premium, high performance timber windows and doors that provide long life with low maintenance. Paul Andrews spoke to fifth generation Managing Director, Tom Wright, to find out more about the family firm. As Tom begins, “Our story started in 1884 when a 21-year-old man named George Barnsdale purchased a plot of land in Donington Market Place, comprising of a house, workshop and a storage shed for timber. He began a small carpentry business that soon built a reputation on quality craftsmanship. The business continued to develop and after World War I his two sons, Walter and Frederick joined him in the family firm.” “Innovation and development of the sector has always been a key part of what we do and between the wars Fred was heavily involved in the development of industry standards and for our business introduced steam powered machines to help with production in our business,” continues Tom. The war years were not easy but the business managed to keep trading and survived and in 1945 Fred’s son John joined the business. John had three daughters, one being Tom’s Mum and she and her husband Stephen joined the management team in 1985. As Tom continues, “Growing up my families on both sides were running businesses and had been for generations. On Dad’s side it was a car dealership responsible for Jaguar, Austin and Rover cars and on Mum’s side Gramps was fully involved in George Barnsdale. I was living in a world of family business from the day I was born with people involved, enjoying being in business, stressed at times but involved and getting on with whatever needed to be done.” “My Dad was not really keen on the car game so launched a security business on the side, something that still operates today, and I remember going to work with him at about six or seven,” adds Tom. “As my grandfather got older he began to look to the future and what would happen to the business,” explains Tom, “and the only one of his three daughters who expressed an interest in taking on the business was my Mum. My Dad was also interested in the business and George Barnsdale was right up his street, so he joined the business, bringing the security business into the fold, and they took it on,” he continues. Tom has fond memories of working in the business from a very young age. “It was a great childhood and I often went to work with Dad, following him around and doing bits and pieces to help. To be honest, with my younger siblings to deal with it was a little like Mum shipped me off to Dad to keep me out of the way but I loved it too. Dad and I were as thick as thieves and it was great to spend so much time together. We used to go into the factory at weekends and make tables together, patio tables and picnic tables, and only did it at weekends as the rest of the staff would probably have commented on our carpentry skills as not being up to scratch,” explains Tom. “In work I got to add computers to the network from the age of around ten, creating content for the website at eleven, and generally learning and doing more within the business to help out,” he adds. Tom is now fully engaged in the family business and relishes the role of Managing Director. After university he worked for Nissan in the motor sector for five years before resigning to join the family business. “My joining the business was totally down to me. In all the years Dad and I never spoke about me joining, possibly because it was almost inevitable that I would join but there was no pressure at all. I do remember my last day at Nissan when my boss pointed at the windows and said that’s your life now, which it is, but even then I never knew how complex window and door systems could be!” Tom has no regrets about his decision to join the family business. “It was obvious that I wanted to join and I am pleased that I took the step, and gaining some outside experience first was undoubtedly a good thing too. I appreciate the endeavours of my predecessors even more though as it is not until you are actually involved and leading from the front that you really understand the responsibility and pressures that come with running a business,” he continues. Like many involved in a multi-generational business Tom is aware of the history and legacy that has influenced the development of the business that he has taken on. “For me, there is a little additional pressure associated with us being such a long-standing family firm but I see my role as the one to keep it going, to maximise the opportunity that it affords for this and future generations. There is pressure to not being the one to break the business and to prepare it for the next generation if they want it,” adds Tom, “but like my father I will not be putting any pressure on my kids to follow in my footsteps. The business is here for them if they want to get involved but there will be no pressure applied. One thing that growing up in a family business that is a real benefit is the experience in business that it provides. The next generation will all grow up in and around the business, helping out when they can and they will be party to business conversations too, all of which stand them in good stead for wherever their own careers take them.” “Don’t get me wrong, I would love it to be passed on to one or more of my kids but we will have to see what happens,” he adds. The business has survived for many generations now when many others have gone by the wayside but their success can be attributed to a number of reasons. “First and foremost there has been an element of luck,” explains Tom. “We operate in a sector that remains relevant today and relevance is often key to survival. Our business has also continued to evolve with entrepreneurial leaders at the helm who have added new ways of working, invested to increase productivity and performance and driven change for positive results. We are a family that through generations likes to find solutions to problems and continue to do so,” explains Tom. “With sustainability on the global agenda there remain opportunities to evolve further, and we are excited about the opportunities that we are seeing too,” he continues. “We operate in a complex sector that is always providing us with challenges, be it the size and scale of the job or the historic nature or scale of the businesses that we are being asked to work in, and with that comes ongoing learning. As with many next generation members entering the business, learning on the job has been something that I became accustomed to very quickly. There was no real induction and my role evolved over time with it feeling like I had been thrown in the deep end from day one,” adds Tom. Tom has a real enthusiasm and passion for what he does and has clearly taken on board the needs of the role and the business to add his stamp to. “Every day is different and with Dad starting to take a step back, there is plenty to get on with and as an entrepreneurial family we need to focus on the future and continue to do what we do best, manufacture and supply premium timber windows and doors,” adds Tom. Like other family businesses around the UK the key challenges being faced are associated with staff and resources. As Tom continues, “We have good staff retention levels but do need to recruit as we grow in order to maximise the opportunities available to us, and finding the right staff is not easy. We are also operating in a period of uncertainty so have to focus on growth whilst being mindful of what the future might hold.” As a manufacturing family business with a long history, this business is proud to be associated with ‘Made in Britain’ not least because of the nod to manufacturing which remains an integral contributor to the UK economy in terms of employment, income and wealth creation. “History is important because as a business we have stood the test of time,” Tom explains, “but we need to remain relevant to continue for years to come. We are proud of what is behind us, enjoy the history and being able to share the story but the most important focus for us now is the business of today, keeping it legitimate and relevant in order to compete successfully in an ever-changing world.” George Barnsdale is a great example of a successful, long-standing, British family business that continues to drive innovation into the business. Their commitment to quality has never faltered over the years but the way they approach the manufacturing process continues to embrace new technologies. With the next generation now at the helm, we look forward to seeing their journey continue for many years to come. Find out more by visiting their website at www.georgebarnsdale.co.uk George Barnsdale are proud members of Made in Britain , the organisation that brings together the British manufacturing community which celebrates their 10 year anniversary in 2022.

The roots of Econ Engineering date back to the late 1950’s and the entrepreneurial vision of the late William George (Bill) Lupton. Bill was the youngest of four children from a farming family in Otley, West Yorkshire. As was the tradition at the time, it was always going to be the eldest son who inherited the family farm, so Bill knew that he would have to make his own way in the world. Bill was an inquisitive individual who was far more interested in tackling and solving technical challenges and less interested in the world of farming. It was this curious mind that led to him spotting an opportunity which he pursued, and which ultimately has resulted in Econ becoming the business that it is – the leading manufacturer of gritters, spreaders and road maintenance vehicles in the UK today. Jonathan Lupton is the second generation of the family in the business and as he explains, his father was the real embodiment of entrepreneurial spirit: “He (Bill) was working with machinery and came up with a concept to merge a mower with a hedge trimmer to enable the automation of cutting hedgerows. It all started with the purchase of a welding kit and after a few false starts, the first innovative hedge cutters and flail mowers had been created.” Interest in the business grew until the day when Bill was approached by someone who wanted to buy his business and the business was subsequently sold to an agricultural machinery manufacturer, Bamlett’s. Bill joined as part of the deal which meant commuting to Thirsk from West Yorkshire, which was not ideal and so, he and his wife Helen, looked to move house. Helen wanted to remain close to family and friends and was reluctant to move south of the A1, so they settled on Ripon. Three sons were born after the move, Andrew in 1966, Jonathan in 1968 and David in 1972. Unlike many family firms, Bill was an entrepreneurial founder with a plan. His long-term plan was the creation of a business that would provide jobs for all three sons. At the time he was still working for Bamlett’s but had realised that he wanted to be his own boss and circumstances were such that as his contract was soon to expire, he could begin formulating his own plans once more. Lucky circumstances and perfect timing led to the creation of Econ Engineering. After leaving Bamlett’s, Bill needed to find premises in Ripon and a chance conversation with the town clerk saw him directed to the site owned by Vaux Brewery who were keen to sell. Soon after moving to the brewery, Bill was searching for heaters for the premises which took him to a Bradford-based business called Econheat. As Jonathan continues, “Bill visited and found that the business was on the verge of liquidation so rather than just buying some heaters, he bought the business, stock included. So, back in 1969, Bill’s plan was to start production of the flail mower, as well as to move into industrial heating through the acquisition of Econheat.” Initially, business centred on making a success of the heater business and to grow the agricultural side of the business too. Business was good and developed a national profile across the UK but there was a strong seasonal pattern of business between April and August. It was here that Bill decided to create products that could do well over the winter months. “Following the impact on the UK with the big freeze in 1963, he came up with an idea for a salt spreader,” explains Jonathan. “A blueprint was developed and resulted in two initial designs, a bulk hopper that was mounted on a lorry chassis, much like the ones we make today, and a trailer that could be pulled behind a tractor, which incorporated a spinner attachment,” he continues. “There was plenty of testing and eventually, in 1971, the very first Econ salt spreader was ready to be launched to the world. The business was up and running and the orders started to come in, Econ moved to a new state-of-the-art factory in 1978.” Econ is proud to be a British manufacturer based in Yorkshire. Constant investment has taken place throughout the journey to date, something that has continued today, with another location added in the shape of a new, super service site at Sowerby near Thirsk. This building houses 24 service bays to maintain and service the fleet. More products have been added to the range to enable them to perform year-round tasks on Britain’s roads, including pothole and surface repairs. New ways of working were also introduced to help councils who were struggling to purchase sufficient gritters to keep roads moving during the winter period, and Econ introduced a rental scheme. The introduction of the hire fleet was a transformative business strategy from Jonathan and his brother Andrew. As Jonathan adds, “We are an entrepreneurial family and it made sense to offer the hire fleet solution. It worked out well and continues to help the business grow.” Innovation is on the Econ agenda and state-of-the-art production is evident for all to see. Mobile technology has been integral to recent developments and across all departments, improvements have been introduced to increase productivity and efficiency. From starting out on the family farm to where the business is today, is a monumental accomplishment and a real family business success story. Bill would be delighted with how the business looks today but could not possibly have imagined that it would be the size it has become. Econ vehicles are used all over the UK to keep the roads clear and are iconic in their livery of bright yellow with the letter ‘E’ firmly on display too. Annual turnover is now over £40 million and the business has become an integral part of the Ripon community, not least through the employment of staff, generation of income and creation of wealth, but also through the direct impact the business has on the local community. As Jonathan concludes, “As a family business we have come a long way and have created something that as a family we can be rightly proud of. Dad would be ‘gobsmacked’ to see where the business is today and really proud of the work that the family and our broader team have done to make it successful.” “Strong family values are part of the culture here at Econ – honesty, reputation, reliability and service are all integral to what we all do day-in and day-out. We are proud manufacturers based in Yorkshire. We are proud of what we do and the products that we make. Being a family business is special too. Above all, we are committed to continuing the legacy of my father, and the family to continue to build and invest in our future and continue to make products and services that we know will keep Britain on the move, today, tomorrow and long into the future.”