We are delighted to announce that Graham Richardson of Johnsons of Whixley has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leader Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Next Generation Graham worked all his free time in the family business from the age of 12, and gained two year’s experience at Gledstone Gardens, Skipton. When the company bought Endfield Nurseries in East Yorkshire, Graham was appointed Manager, quickly doubling the turnover. After 4 years Graham returned to the parent nursery with a management role in the office, which made best use of his organisation and computer skills. Sales reached £1 million in 1995 and Graham has been instrumental in taking turnover to £15 million in the current year. Graham’s ability to motivate the 130 staff, create new markets and develop sophisticated computer systems, as well as developing successful BSI Quality and Environmental systems since 1990, has ensured an annually profitable and successful business, which is now one of the major wholesale suppliers of Nursery Stock in the UK. "Graham became Group Managing Director in 2010, and continues to motivate all staff by the provision of his personal approach, clear leadership style and culture that sees the family firm go from strength to strength and he fully deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100."

We are delighted to announce that Charlotte Gatward of Gatwards of Hitchin has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leader Next Generation Member/Champion Family Business Steward Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Gatwards are the oldest independent jewellers in the UK and until lockdown had never closed in 260 years. While devastated to have to shut, nothing was going to stop them bringing some much-loved sparkle in people’s lives. 8th generation Gatward Charlotte worked hard to improve the business’s online service and started offering other services like Click & Collect. A blessing and a curse as their flagship showroom is one of the most beautiful buildings in Hitchin, and people were no longer permitted to step inside (which is all part of the magic). Charlotte’s a true champion of the high street and regularly appeared on TV talking about how small businesses like hers were tackling the challenge of the pandemic, and fighting to stay in business while global brands like Amazon and the supermarkets were charging ahead. She inspired her local community and beyond, and it’s down to her true grit and determination that Gatwards is still here today, and hopefully will be for another 260 years! "Charlotte is an inspirational individual and a positive force within this long standing family firm and is fully deserving of her place within the Family Business Top 100."

We are delighted to announce that Stuart Dantzic from Caribbean Blinds has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leader Champion of Change & Innovation Stuart’s hard work, dedication, determination and forward thinking are key to the company’s success, filtering through the entire team who take great pride in delivering high-end, quality products. Stuart took the reins of the family business in 2017, implementing an ambitious development plan to increase market share, growing the business from £1m turnover at the end of 2016 to projected £5m turnover by end of 2021, increasing net profit margins to 15.21% (as at 2020), well above the typical 9.4% margin for manufacturing. "Key to the firm’s extraordinary growth and profitability is Stuart’s fresh, dynamic approach and deep understanding of the business, together with the implementation of a strategic investment in both machinery and personnel development to enhance exacting quality and efficiency. Also a clever digital and in print marketing strategy to increase brand and product awareness." "Whilst Stuart’s passion continues to burn, Caribbean Blinds will flourish."

We are delighted to announce that Jason Rockett of Potter Space has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leadership Champion of Change & Innovation Family Business Steward Potter Space is a family-owned business with five business parks across the UK. Each is connected by road or rail to major business arteries, offering links to the UK’s key cities and ports. They are home to over 40 businesses occupying 1.6 million square feet across a range of commercial properties including warehouse space, factories, offices and small business lets and they also have the capability to build bespoke warehousing on their extensive land portfolio. "In over 50 years of business, building good relationships and supporting customers has been at the heart of Potter Space. Jason is the non-family Managing Director and is overseeing the next phase of the Potter Space journey bringing a wealth of experience and ideas to the table. His leadership is inspiring the next phase of the development of the business and he is well deserving of his place in the Family Business Top 100."

We are delighted to announce that John Tordoff of JCT600 has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leader Family Business Ambassador Champion of Change & Innovation Multi-Generational Family Business Leader With a history that stretches back more than 75 years, JCT600 has come an incredibly long way since it started life as a single garage on Sticker Lane in Bradford. Four generations later, and JCT600 remains a proud family business, despite now being one of UK’s largest and most highly respected motor retailers. JCT600 represents 24 of the world’s most iconic brands at more than 50 locations throughout Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and the North East, and yet its ambition remains the same as ever – to be the best, not necessarily the biggest. John is an inspirational leader and presides over a business that has family values at its core with the values permeating all aspects of the business where every member of staff lives and breathes their values, delivering magic moments to customers and their fellow colleagues. "This business has come so far from the days when it started out as a single garage which is due to the incredible leadership, vision and ambition which has created a culture of empowerment and growth, all supported by family values, history and heritage. John is a fantastic ambassador for the family business sector, Yorkshire and the broader business community and thoroughly deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100."

We are delighted to announce that Fergus Bailie of Bailie Group has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leadership Next Generation Bailie Group is a family owned group of agencies and consultancies with the collective mission to improve people’s lives by sharing knowledge. They want to make a difference. They work on projects which keep people safer, helps the UK transport system move effectively, connects citizens with social services in their local area, provide content channels for industries like the automotive sector and get equipment to the front line so it’s safe to use and train our military to be the best they can be. Their Group mission is to create an entrepreneurial organisation of collaborative specialists. The companies are empowered to utilise technology and expert knowledge to create solutions which enable our customers to maximise their potential through intelligent use of information, content and data. As a Group their purpose is simple: invest in ideas and people which make a positive difference and properties that inspire. They have invested millions of pounds into projects to enable their group companies to thrive and grow, whilst making a positive contribution to their communities. "Fergus is the CEO and recognised as an inspirational leader, empowering the business to continue to evolve and grow under his leadership and he is a worthy inclusion within the Family Business Top 100."

We are delighted to announce that Richard Wilsdon of Britcab Ltd has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leader Co-founding the business back in 2007, Richard has played an integral part in the establishment and progression of Britcab Ltd, helping the company grow from just 3 people around the table in 2007 to three sites, £10 million turnover and 50 employees today. "Richard is a leader that inspires others and is constantly pushing and encouraging the team to progress and develop further. Richard applies a humanistic approach to business, embracing his leadership role wholeheartedly and continues to be an inspiring example to those around him and he totally deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100."

We are delighted to announce that Jane Knapp of Phillips Brothers (Woodshavings) Ltd has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leadership Family Business Steward Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Established in 1894, Phillips Brothers Wood Shavings have been providing wood shavings and sawdust throughout the Southeast of England for over 125 years. They are regarded as experts in the supply of high-quality horse bedding and poultry bedding particularly in Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire. As a company, they have over 125 years of experience and 5 generations of knowledge. Jane is a director in the business and has successfully helped the business evolve and grow, engaging the next generation and setting the business on the next chapter of its journey. Jane is a leader that leads from the front and has created a team around her to continue the long-standing success that the business has become, exploring new opportunities for growth and continuing to invest in the people and the business. "Jane is a great advocate of the family business sector too and thoroughly deserving of her place in the Family Business Top 100."

We are delighted to announce that Derrick Potter of Potter Space has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leadership Next Generation Champion of Change & Innovation Family Business Steward Derrick is an incredible force within the family business space having built up and sold a transport and logistics business and pivoting into the new iteration of the family business, Potter Space, where he is the Executive Chairman. Potter Space is a family-owned business with five business parks across the UK. Each is connected by road or rail to major business arteries, offering links to key cities and ports. They are home to over 40 businesses occupying 1.6 million square feet across a range of commercial properties including warehouse space, factories, offices and small business lets and they also have the capability to build bespoke warehousing on an extensive land portfolio. In our 50 years of business, building good relationships and supporting customers has been at the heart of Potter Space, much of which has been driven by the vision, passion and entrepreneurial ambition of Derrick. Derrick has an incredible energy and passion for doing business, doing it right, and crafting the right people around him to help the business succeed. He is also someone that wants to help others, often providing advice and support to fellow family business leaders. Derrick is an incredible individual and someone who has family business at the core of his business beliefs and endeavours. Each chapter in the Potter journey affords new opportunities and Derrick, through his business acumen and leadership has helped steer them successfully to where they are today, He is thoroughly deserving of his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Chris Black of Sound Leisure has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leader Sound Leisure have been ‘manufacturing memories’ in the United Kingdom since 1978. Initially founded by inventor and electrical engineer Alan Black in 1978, the company remains owned and run by Alan and his family making it the oldest, single-ownership jukebox company anywhere in the world. From its foundation to the present day, Sound Leisure has remained a brave and forward-thinking organisation. From becoming the first British company to design, develop and build a commercially viable and widely adopted jukebox platform in the 1970’s, they went on to pioneer the early development of digitised music platforms in the 1980’s and were responsible for the reintroduction of vinyl jukeboxes in 2016. They remain a globally recognised and respected leader in their sector with countless patents and industry firsts to their name. Their consistent success and growth, over a 40 year period which saw the demise of many long established jukebox manufacturers such as Seeburg and Wurlitzer, is based on an ongoing commitment to the development of better products and technologies and an unfading focus on high quality British manufacturing. Now under the inspirational leadership of Chris Black, Sound Leisure continues to innovate, evolving at all times, investing in new products and expanding into new markets. As Chris explains, “We are proud of our family routes, our amazing team and of all we have achieved to date, but we still have some big ambitions. Our products are simply the best in the world and each jukebox is an entirely unique, hand-built labour of love. Where customers choose to purchase a Sound Leisure product, they join our family; a group of like-minded individuals who understand and appreciate the energy, dedication and care that goes into the production of every single jukebox.” Chris thoroughly deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Jonathan Lupton of Econ Engineering has been included within the inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ which recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Recognition in respect of: Inspirational Leadership Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Jonathan Lupton has dedicated his career to supporting the highways sector by enhancing the products and services first introduced in 1969 by his father’s business, Econ Engineering. With a history of innovation, Econ has grown to a £40m turnover company that holds over 80% of the UK winter highway maintenance market. Jonathan fundamentally changed the winter maintenance market by introducing the flexibility of a hire contract for gritters. This innovative move secured Econ’s future growth by allowing local authorities to procure at short notice, with fixed budgets and the reassurance of all service and maintenance guaranteed. Today, Econ has over 1,000 gritters in its hire fleet, housed in a newly opened £7m site. Jonathan works tirelessly to lead over 250 staff working across five UK sites. Since the sudden loss of his brother Andrew in January 2022, he has remained firmly dedicated to supporting his colleagues and customers as the business continues to move forward.

For the sixth year running, GAP Group are sponsoring youth teams throughout the UK and are delighted to be sponsoring more teams than ever for our sixth year. The teams which selected for sponsorship for this year are: Boldmere St Michaels FC – Under 14s football team who play in the Derby City Football League. Bronte Barbarians ARLFC – Under 14s rugby team who play in the Premier League, the top division of Girls Rugby League. Falkirk 2008s – Under 15s football team who play in the West Lothian Association of Youth Football Club, Under 15s A Division. Isla Thistle – Under 12s football team, playing in the Central SWFL League. Leicester Lions Speedway Team – Speedway racing who competes in the National Development League. Leon Henderson Racing – Junior kart racing who competes in the Motorsport UK British Rotax Championships. Newmains United FC – Football team who play in the Central Lanarkshire Youth Football Association. Rayleigh Harriers – Under 11s football team who play in the Essex Girls League. Rhos Aelwyd FC – Under 7s football team who play in the Wrexham & District Junior Football League. Thatto Heath Crusaders – Under 13s rugby team who play in the North West Counties Junior Rugby League. Waterhead Warriors ARLFC – Under 11s rugby team who play in the North West Counties League. Running youth sports is not an easy job, and GAP is thrilled to be able to help out these deserving teams. The funding allows them to cover costs during the season including kits, equipment, and hire and maintenance of ground and pitches. At GAP we are delighted to be cheering the teams on. We will keep in regular contact with them throughout each of their seasons and hope to share their experiences.