The culmination of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023 saw Spenbeck take home the national title as the Professional Services Family Business of the Year at a gala awards evening held at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park in London. Organised by Family Business United, these prestigious awards are now a firm fixture in the family business calendar and celebrate the very best of British family firms from all corners of the UK. Awards are given by region, sector and nationally in recognition of qualities such as entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability, community engagement and ultimately one family business is crowned the Supreme Champions. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, “As an organisation we champion and celebrate family-owned businesses across the UK, recognising the contribution they make in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation as well as the impact they have on the communities in which they operate.” “Since 2012 these awards have grown to become something really special, recognising family firms from all sectors, young and multi-generational family firms alike, large and small but all sharing the same underlying values, pride and passion for what they do and a strong desire to do business the right way. Each of the winners is a great business with a strong narrative and is a great ambassador for the broader family business community too.” Spenbeck is underpinned by family values, values that were defined by their founder Mich Stevenson OBE DL and immortalised by his daughters and current owners Becky Valentine and Victoria Green, who sit at the heart of how they work with their clients. They fuel the close partnerships they have with them and allow them to foster ongoing relationships built upon trust. With a heritage firmly rooted in Nottingham’s historic Lace Market, they’ve earned an enviable reputation as a multi-award-winning first mover specialising in bespoke, sustainable and beautifully designed offices in Nottingham’s Creative Quarter. Now they’re using their expertise to support clients with their sustainability, building health and interior design needs. Spenbeck is a business that is always looking ahead – keeping up to date with best practice to ensure that clients are fully informed about how best to meet the needs of the Gen Z workforce. This includes maximising work environments for hybrid working to attract the very best talent and offering bespoke advisory services around interior design, building health and sustainability. As Paul continues, “Spenbeck may be a smaller business compared to some of the other contenders but they make a big impact through their work and family is at the heart of what they do. Their family name is part of the brand and being a family business underlines everything they do, adding true authenticity to the business and their reputation.” “Place is important too and akin to the family values, the business has been built on a desire to preserve their local heritage for future generations and to use the business to benefit the broader local community." "Drive and passion have made things happen and they are worthy winners of the 2023 Professional Services Family Business of the Year title.” Becky and Victoria comment, “Like almost everyone, lockdown afforded us time to reflect on how we wanted to move forward, both personally and professionally. A complex decision at the best of times, made harder for those in family businesses who have legacies and tradition to throw into the mix." "It means everything to us that we have our parents’ full support in evolving Spenbeck, combining our passions and expertise with their legacy. To receive national recognition for this is the icing on the cake!” As Paul adds, “Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and these awards celebrate their contribution. It was great to bring the family business community back together in person to recognise the incredible family firms that operate throughout the UK and to crown some fantastic winners.” “Congratulations to Spenbeck on winning this award. It is fantastic recognition of what they do as a business and it was a pleasure to present them with the award during a tremendous evening that once more put the family business sector on the map.”

The culmination of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023 saw Hayman’s Gin take home the Essence of Family Business of the Year award at a gala awards evening held at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park in London. Organised by Family Business United, these prestigious awards are now a firm fixture in the family business calendar and celebrate the very best of British family firms from all corners of the UK. Awards are given by region, sector and nationally in recognition of qualities such as entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability, community engagement and ultimately one family business is crowned the Supreme Champions. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, “As an organisation we champion and celebrate family-owned businesses across the UK, recognising the contribution they make in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation as well as the impact they have on the communities in which they operate.” “Since 2012 these awards have grown to become something really special, recognising family firms from all sectors, young and multi-generational family firms alike, large and small but all sharing the same underlying values, pride and passion for what they do and a strong desire to do business the right way. Each of the winners is a great business with a strong narrative and is a great ambassador for the broader family business community too.” “Each year we identify a family business that we think defines the true essence of what it means to be a family business.” As Amit Sharma, Head of Family Business at Goodman Jones who sponsored the Essence of Family Business of the Year award confirms: “It was the evident love and care that had gone into reviving their great great grandfather’s recipe and reputation and putting that message into everything they do including their advertising that made Hayman’s stand out.” “They are carefully blending their pride in what’s gone before with the need to build a strong and sustainable business of the future for all the people they support in the business and the community.” “They truly represent the real essence of what being a family business is all about,” concludes Amit. Miranda Hayman, Co-owner of Hayman’s Gin who collected the awards added: “We were thrilled to be recognised for both our longevity as well as our drive to be innovative and remain relevant for gin drinkers all over the world.” As Paul concludes, “Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and these awards celebrate their contribution. It was great to bring the family business community back together in person to recognise the incredible family firms that operate throughout the UK and to crown some fantastic winners.” “Congratulations to Hayman’s Gin on winning this award. It is fantastic recognition of what they do as a business and it was a pleasure to present them with the award during a fantastic evening that once more put the family business sector on the map.”

Dorset racing driver Reza Seewooruthun has secured support from Hendy Land Rover in Christchurch as the 16-year-old takes his first steps towards becoming a Formula One driver. The youngster is driving in the Ginetta Junior Championship this year and has already secured several podium wins in the competitive series where he is bidding for the rookie championship title. And it’s a busy year for the youngster who is a sporting scholar at Canford School and taking his GCSEs this summer. “Although my ambitions are to become a Formula One driver Land Rover has a special place in my heart as I remember off roading in a Defender when I was very young with my dad and brother so it means a lot to have the backing and support of Hendy Land Rover this season,” said Reza. “The support of local companies such as Hendy means that I can have the opportunity to compete in such a competitive series and hopefully move up the motorsport ladder.” Last year Reza was English Junior Rotax Karting champion, a sport he took up when he was 13 years old. Once his CGSEs are complete Reza will be studying with the Minerva Academy, a remote school which works with young racing drivers to help them combine education with their racing careers. Andy Grant, Hendy Group’s head of brand performance for Jaguar and Land Rover said it was always exciting to be able to support up and coming talent. “Reza has tremendous talent, ambition and confidence and we are all following his season with interest,” he said.

Dorset racing driver Reza Seewooruthun has secured support from Hendy Land Rover in Christchurch as the 16-year-old takes his first steps towards becoming a Formula One driver. The youngster is driving in the Ginetta Junior Championship this year and has already secured several podium wins in the competitive series where he is bidding for the rookie championship title. And it’s a busy year for the youngster who is a sporting scholar at Canford School and taking his GCSEs this summer. “Although my ambitions are to become a Formula One driver Land Rover has a special place in my heart as I remember off roading in a Defender when I was very young with my dad and brother so it means a lot to have the backing and support of Hendy Land Rover this season,” said Reza. “The support of local companies such as Hendy means that I can have the opportunity to compete in such a competitive series and hopefully move up the motorsport ladder.” Last year Reza was English Junior Rotax Karting champion, a sport he took up when he was 13 years old. Once his CGSEs are complete Reza will be studying with the Minerva Academy, a remote school which works with young racing drivers to help them combine education with their racing careers. Andy Grant, Hendy Group’s head of brand performance for Jaguar and Land Rover said it was always exciting to be able to support up and coming talent. “Reza has tremendous talent, ambition and confidence and we are all following his season with interest,” he said.

Gebrüder Weiss is expanding its German network by acquiring B+A Luft- und Seefrachtspedition GmbH in Nuremberg. The new wholly owned subsidiary, which specializes in the import and export of groupage freight containers between Asia and Germany, will be integrated into the Gebrüder Weiss network from the end of June 2023. “Nuremberg is one of the top logistics locations in Germany and our German Air & Sea network will be given a particular boost by the acquisition. B+A’s many years of expertise in the air and sea freight business are a perfect addition to the existing Gebrüder Weiss branch in Nuremberg, which has so far been focused on land transport and logistics. This will enable us to offer our customers in the Nuremberg metropolitan region an even more comprehensive range of services,” says Robert Stahlschmidt, Country Manager Air & Sea Germany at Gebrüder Weiss. The freight forwarder B+A was founded in Nuremberg in 1982 and is an expert in international air and sea freight services. It offers project transports and weekly container transports by sea from Asia, among other things. The groupage freight containers (LCL) are shipped from logistics centers in China and Taiwan to Hamburg, from where they are then taken by rail to Nuremberg before being delivered to regional companies. “We look forward to becoming part of an equally sound yet ambitious family business." "Our employees have excellent, long-term prospects under the umbrella of Gebrüder Weiss. We will in future be able to offer our customers the entire product range of a globally operating logistics company from a single source,” says Andreas Tylewski, managing partner of B+A. The company’s 20 employees will be kept on and the company will continue to operate under the name “B+A Luft- und Seefrachtspedition GmbH”. Gebrüder Weiss has been operating in Nuremberg since 2017, having since also gained a foothold in the Air & Sea segment in this important core market in Germany. The company provides air and sea freight services at central hubs throughout Germany: Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hanover, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Straubing – and now also in Nuremberg. The company’s already dense land transport network in southern Germany was further expanded with the acquisition of the freight forwarder Rentschler in Baden-Württemberg at the start of the year.

JCB has won one of its biggest orders of the year after a 900-machine deal was signed with national builders’ merchant Jewson. The order for machines worth more than £12 million is the biggest ever placed by Tool Hire - the rental division of Jewson - in the 20 years since JCB first began supplying the company. And the special anniversary is being marked in electrifying style – literally – as the new fleet of machines includes 19C-1 E electric mini excavator models and 1TE electric site dumpers. As well as being considerably quieter, the electric models offer zero emissions at the point of use and comparable performance to diesel counterparts. Each delivers a full day’s typical operation on a single charge. Steve Fox, JCB Global Major Accounts MD said: “We are delighted to mark 20 years of supplying Jewson Tool Hire with an order of such magnitude, which is testament to the quality of JCB’s compact equipment range. The addition of electrically-powered machines demonstrates that Jewson is looking to the future and the opportunities that zero emissions machines present.” The order also includes JCB 8008 micro excavators, JCB 16C-1 mini excavators, 1T site dumpers and VMT160-80 vibratory tandem rollers. The machines will be supplied by JCB dealer Gunn JCB. Jewson Business Development Director Mark Esling said: “JCB is a key partner, and we are proud to mark such an important anniversary of working together. We are aligned on our core values of supporting the trade and empowering builders, tradespeople, and contractors across all industries with the best products, services and expertise and we look forward to a bright future together.” Jewson, which is based in Binley, Coventry, entered the micro excavator market in 1995 and first bought JCB machines in 2003 when the company purchased 70 JCB micros.

A packed day of high-octane action at the Hendy Performance Open Day attracted thousands of motoring fans to Thruxton Motor Circuit at the weekend. The annual open day was bigger than ever before, with hundreds of cars on display and more than 6,000 fans, who were entertained by high-speed action on the track, stunning sports, classic, and new cars and celebrity guests. “This year our combination of motoring attractions and family entertainment was a winning formula,” said head of brand performance Harry Pearson. “This is our third year hosting the event at Thruxton, which is the ideal venue to offer a wide range of activities and attractions.” Highlights of the day included on track action from Hendy Ambassadors, as well as precision driver Paul Swift, and more than 600 static displays from performance car enthusiasts who showcased everything from Fords to Ferraris. The open day also provided the perfect backdrop for Hendy to showcase some of its sports and performance brands from across the group, including Maserati, Lotus and MOKE. New cars turning heads at the show included the Maserati Gran Turismo and Lotus Eletre, both attracting an excitable stream of admirers throughout the day. The new family fun area was a huge hit with children of all ages and Harry said there had been tremendous feedback from visitors on the day. “Our aim was to provide plenty of entertainment for families with a focus on motoring but lots to amuse children of all ages too,” said Harry. “We had some incredible cars on display, so our thanks go to all of the owners who showcased their own pride and joy for everyone to enjoy.”

Gebrüder Weiss is expanding its German network by acquiring B+A Luft- und Seefrachtspedition GmbH in Nuremberg. The new wholly owned subsidiary, which specializes in the import and export of groupage freight containers between Asia and Germany, will be integrated into the Gebrüder Weiss network as of June 27, 2023. “Nuremberg is one of the top logistics locations in Germany and our German Air & Sea network will be given a particular boost by the acquisition. B+A’s many years of expertise in the air and sea freight business are a perfect addition to the existing Gebrüder Weiss branch in Nuremberg, which has so far been focused on land transport and logistics. This will enable us to offer our customers in the Nuremberg metropolitan region an even more comprehensive range of services,” says Robert Stahlschmidt, Country Manager Air & Sea Germany at Gebrüder Weiss. The freight forwarder B+A was founded in Nuremberg in 1982 and is an expert in international air and sea freight services. It offers project transports and weekly container transports by sea from Asia, among other things. The groupage freight containers (LCL) are shipped from logistics centers in China and Taiwan to Hamburg, from where they are then taken by rail to Nuremberg before being delivered to regional companies. “We look forward to becoming part of an equally sound yet ambitious family business. Our employees have excellent, long-term prospects under the umbrella of Gebrüder Weiss. We will in future be able to offer our customers the entire product range of a globally operating logistics company from a single source,” says Andreas Tylewski, managing partner of B+A. The company’s 20 employees will be kept on and the company will continue to operate under the name “B+A Luft- und Seefrachtspedition GmbH”. Gebrüder Weiss has been operating in Nuremberg since 2017, having since also gained a foothold in the Air & Sea segment in this important core market in Germany. The company provides air and sea freight services at central hubs throughout Germany: Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hanover, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Straubing – and now also in Nuremberg. The company’s already dense land transport network in southern Germany was further expanded with the acquisition of the freight forwarder Rentschler in Baden-Württemberg at the start of the year.

Zonal is celebrating after scooping the award for the Hospitality, Hotel & Leisure Family Business of the Year at the prestigious Family Business of the Year Awards, hosted by Family Business United. Family business across the UK convened in London in the delightful grounds of the Royal College of Physicians to celebrate the contribution that family firms make to the national economy and to crown the winners of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023. Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy and with 6 million family firms employing around 14 million people in all corners of the country, making a massive impact every day. Zonal was established in 1979 when the late Ralph McLean created the first EPoS system which developed into the current hospitality tech suite used in thousands of businesses throughout the UK and the US. Today, Zonal remains a family business with Ralph McLean’s son, Stuart now CEO, and four family members on the board. Family values are important to the culture of the company and are at the heart of its relationship with its employees and customers. Commenting on the award, Stuart McLean said, “Zonal was honoured to win the Hospitality, Hotel & Leisure Family Business of the year at the Family Business United awards. Being a family business is something that we at Zonal are exceptionally proud of and to receive this recognition within the hospitality sector, is fantastic." "At Zonal we pride ourselves in being ‘part of the industry’ and this award demonstrates that our commitment to this is paying off. We are more than a tech company, we are, and always will be, proud to be part of the hospitality industry."

A packed day of high-octane action at the Hendy Performance Open Day attracted thousands of motoring fans to Thruxton Motor Circuit at the weekend. The annual open day was bigger than ever before, with hundreds of cars on display and more than 6,000 fans, who were entertained by high-speed action on the track, stunning sports, classic, and new cars and celebrity guests. “This year our combination of motoring attractions and family entertainment was a winning formula,” said head of brand performance Harry Pearson. “This is our third year hosting the event at Thruxton, which is the ideal venue to offer a wide range of activities and attractions.” Highlights of the day included on track action from Hendy Ambassadors, as well as precision driver Paul Swift, and more than 600 static displays from performance car enthusiasts who showcased everything from Fords to Ferraris. The open day also provided the perfect backdrop for Hendy to showcase some of its sports and performance brands from across the group, including Maserati, Lotus and MOKE. New cars turning heads at the show included the Maserati Gran Turismo and Lotus Eletre, both attracting an excitable stream of admirers throughout the day. The new family fun area was a huge hit with children of all ages and Harry said there had been tremendous feedback from visitors on the day. “Our aim was to provide plenty of entertainment for families with a focus on motoring but lots to amuse children of all ages too,” said Harry. “We had some incredible cars on display, so our thanks go to all of the owners who showcased their own pride and joy for everyone to enjoy.”

20% of small businesses encounter cash flow problems thanks to late payments During this crucial half year stage for many businesses, Legateca , a leading platform for professional legal service providers, is drawing attention to the critical issue of late payments, revealing in new findings, that a concerning one-third of payments to small businesses across the UK are not made on time. The average value of each delayed payment stands at £6,142, causing significant cash flow challenges for small UK enterprises who rely on cash flow. This growing problem has also resulted in 20 per cent of small businesses encountering significant cash flow issues, hindering their growth and sustainability. Late payments have become a pervasive obstacle for small businesses across industries, impacting their ability to manage their finances effectively. With an estimated 5.9 million small businesses in the United Kingdom alone, the consequences of this issue are far-reaching. Legateca's analysis indicates that if small businesses were paid promptly, the economy could experience a boost of approximately £2.5 billion annually, leading to increased productivity and overall economic growth. Umair Zahid, CEO for Legateca, expressed concern about the significant impact of late payments on small businesses. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, contributing substantially to job creation and innovation. However, the prevalence of late payments is impeding their ability to thrive and fulfill their potential. It is crucial for both businesses and policymakers to address this issue promptly and implement effective measures to ensure timely payments." To combat this issue, Legateca calls for small business owners to be brave and take the necessary legal action in order to encourage timely settlements. Umair adds: “So often we see that small businesses are the losers in the game of chasing payments, they’re often strapped for time and resources, with a big emphasis on confidence too - especially if they are going up against bigger organisations. This doesn’t and shouldn’t have to be the case. If work was undertaken and business owners know that they fulfilled their duties but haven’t been paid - they have every right to claim their money.” As the issue of late payments to small businesses continues to persist, Legateca remains committed to raising awareness, offering solutions, and collaborating with businesses and policymakers to drive positive change. Umair concludes: “By addressing this pressing concern, we can create a more resilient and thriving small business sector, ensuring a stronger economy for all.” Zakia, an SRA-regulated freelance solicitor with extensive experience in Commercial Litigation and Business Debt Recovery says. "It's really important for small businesses to have a robust and proactive debt recovery process for late payments, which includes take legal action where necessary and efficiently and in a timely manner. I have spoken to many small business owners, who have said they didn't know they what steps to take to recover payment for overdue invoices, it's often overlooked but not having a clear process will impact cash flow thus impacting the overall stability of the business."

An unusual horticultural artefact from the Victorian era has been unearthed at a Lake District hotel on the shores of Windermere. The ornate limestone rockery and water garden has been discovered at the south end of Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa during pruning work and the removal of overgrown foliage around the venue’s grounds. Believed to have been originally created sometime in the mid to late 1800s, the water garden features an extensive limestone rockery with three pools – a larger one and two smaller ones linked by mini waterfalls. It was discovered by the hotel grounds team whilst clearing overgrown paths under 12 inches of leaf mould and debris. The most likely date for its original construction is at or around the hotel’s rebuild and re-opening in 1859 after a major fire in 1856. It is thought that the water garden was buried and lost most probably during the second world war while the hotel was closed. When it re-opened after the war, there would not have been the staff to look after the grounds as there had been in its earlier heydays of the 1930s. Executive chairman of English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues Simon Berry explains: “We’re keen to find out if any local historians can shed any further light on the provenance and background of the water garden and the limestone used to create it, as we have no official record of when it was installed and last seen. It doesn’t appear in Michael Berry’s book about the 300-year history of Low Wood Bay and Lakeland tourism." “It seems that at some point it became overgrown and disappeared from sight until now. There have been small pieces of limestone unearthed over the years, so there was always an idea there that there was something there, but we did not realise the scale of the garden or that it included ponds and waterfalls until the latest grounds work." “We are very pleased that this feature of the resort’s grounds is now back on show for guests and visitors to enjoy.” The hotel has installed a new water circulation system for the ponds and repaired leaks from them but other than that, the water garden is intact and as originally found with no stones moved from where they were uncovered.