John Good Group is excited to announce that Tim Good, Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Matthew Good Foundation, has been shortlisted for the Family Business Next Generation Award by Family Business United. The recognition comes in the celebration of the best of family business, and the winners will be revealed at a gala dinner in London on National Family Business Day on September 21. Tim Good says, "Being shortlisted for the Family Business Next Generation Award is a testament to the strength and character of the entire John Good Group. Our people, their passion, and our shared commitment to sustainable growth and a better future is what truly defines us as a family business". "Our team’s dedication and enthusiasm make 'Good' things happen. This nomination isn't just about me - it's about each and every one of our passionate team members.” This isn't the first time that the John Good Group has been acknowledged by Family Business United. The group was previously crowned the winner of the People’s Choice Family Business of the Year, Yorkshire award in June 2023. This nomination for Tim Good further affirms the dedication and accomplishment of the John Good Group in upholding the values and spirit of family businesses. John Good Group also extends its congratulations to all the finalists for the Family Business Next Generation Awards and are proud to be sharing the platform with other family-run enterprises.

Arnold Clark is delighted to announce the opening of its first-ever all-electric sales sites. Our brand-new 'Electric Car Centres' are now open in Sydenham in London and Altrincham in Manchester and will be a major benefit to our customers who are looking to make the switch to electric. Each centre, open seven days a week, will have over 30 electric vehicles (EV) from a host of top manufacturers on-site available to test-drive and buy. The centres, located next to Low Emission Zones, will also serve as Click and Collect sites, meaning customers can choose from over 1,000 EVs online and find their perfect next car. The new concept stores combine a typical car showroom with our Innovation Centres in Glasgow and Stafford, by allowing customers to learn about EVs. On-site, there will be educational spaces dedicated to alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and exciting new car technologies. Martin Coyle, Franchise Manager at Arnold Clark, is confident the Electric Car Centres can help drivers adapt to new technologies. He said: 'We know the automotive industry is changing, and all drivers will need to think about driving electric sooner rather than later. 'We're here to support customers in their transition to electric and help answer any questions they might have. It's great to be able to have such a wide range of EVs on-site at both locations, meaning customers can test them out or learn more about charging." 'These Electric Car Centres represent a real milestone for Arnold Clark and we’re looking forward to sharing our knowledge with our customers so they can understand the full potential of electric vehicles.' Arnold Clark recently announced plans to install over 500 electric vehicle chargers across the UK in an investment worth £23 million. Arnold Clark customers will have access to the 'Arnold Clark Charge' network, which will be available to book safely and securely on a 24/7 basis. Eight rapid chargers, with the ability to charge up to 150kW, will be installed at larger Arnold Clark branches, with four to six rapid chargers installed at smaller branches. For customers looking to learn more about the future of the automotive industry, we have our Innovation Centres in Glasgow and Stafford. If you’re thinking about making the switch to electric, a team of alternative fuel experts, known as ‘innovation geniuses’, are on hand at our centres to answer any of your burning questions. They can provide clarity on areas such as range anxiety, charging processes, the latest government grants and much more. The Innovation Centres showcase a range of EVs from well-known manufacturers which visitors can book to test-drive and try out for themselves.

Middleton on the Wolds-based chicken specialist, Soanes Poultry has received further accolades for four of its products that were entered into the prestigious fine food and drink accreditation scheme, The Great Taste Awards. Soanes Poultry's Red Tractor-assured Grain Fed and Free-Range whole chickens were rewarded with a one-star award, as were Grain Fed Chicken Supremes and Drumsticks after going through rounds of blind-taste testing. The judges' feedback for the Grain Fed whole chicken included: "The flavour is outstanding. We are so used to breast meat as being flavourless and mushy - this is how it should be! This is how we remember chickens being. Utterly wonderful" and "This is a generous meaty chicken, tender and moist with a distinctive chicken flavour and a mild grassy note. Clearly well cared for chickens!" They also commented: "These are neat drumsticks which have been well-butchered. The meat looks moist and there is a fresh, clean, poultry aroma. The texture is mostly soft and tender with a slight bite. The flavour is light, appealing and clean. This is good simple chicken that would have family appeal" about the drumsticks. Soanes Poultry's MD Ben Lee said: "This is the eighth consecutive year that our chicken has won the prestigious awards that are dubbed the Oscars of the food industry. "This consistency of product is a testament to our farmers' high welfare standards and to the skill of our operations team. It's a real team effort and I couldn't be more pleased." The Great Taste Awards are organised by the Guild of Fine Food and are the largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme. They support and promote food and drink producers, large and small, giving buyers and food lovers in the UK and overseas reliable recommendations for great-tasting food. Due to Soanes Poultry's success, both in this year's competition and in previous years, the business can use the coveted Great Taste Producer logo for multiple wins in successive years. Soanes Poultry is a family-owned business that has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947. It employs over 100 people and sells its chicken to butchers and independent retailers in Yorkshire and to wholesalers and catering butchers nationwide.

Douch Family Funeral Directors has appointed two new staff for its AE Jolliffe & Son branch in Ferndown. Leanne Adimi is a senior funeral director and community engagement officer and Helen Dean is an office administrator. Leanne, who previously worked for the business in the 1990s, will also be working for the Ives & Shand branch in Parkstone. She took time out to have a family and complete a degree and has also worked on a self-employed basis. Leanne said: “It’s great to be back working for the Douch family and to see how far the company has come. The facilities in Ferndown and Parkstone are superb and I will be making sure they are utilised for community groups." “Being an active part of the community is something that is very important for the business and I’ll be striving to ensure the branches are fully involved.” Helen added: “Previously I worked in the alarms and access control sector where I learned a great deal about working with the elderly which is helpful for this role. I have always wanted to work in the funeral sector and am pleased that I have a role with such a friendly, forward-looking group.” Nick Douch, managing director of the group, said: “Leanne and Helen are great appointments for us." “Both come with lots of practical and sector experience and being local they know the area well. Recruiting the right people is so important in our business because first impressions count more than they do elsewhere.”

Novus Property Solutions is celebrating the heroic actions of two of its colleagues for going the extra mile to help a Trent & Dove Housing resident. Assistant Contractor Manager Nathan O’Neil and Site Manager Jordan Harrison were flagged down while driving near a local site to assist with a male laying unresponsive – who they recognised as a resident for client Trent & Dove. Both First Aid trained, Jordan called for an ambulance while Nathan made the customer as comfortable as possible and as his condition deteriorated, they placed him in the recovery position and waited until paramedics arrived. Several days later, Nathan and Jordan visited the man at home to see how he was recovering. Both were recognised by Trent & Dove Housing for going above and beyond to help the resident, with the Burton-on-Trent-based housing association hosting an awards presentation at its head office. Nathan and Jordan were also named as Novus’ ‘Shining Stars’, an employee of the month initiative introduced for 2023 as part of the contractor’s tenth anniversary celebrations. Each recipient receives a voucher, and an overall winner will be announced at a ceremony later in the year. Claire Bailey-Jones, Business Development and Marketing Director at Novus Property Solutions, said: “As a family-owned business built on putting people at the heart of everything we do, we’re incredibly proud of Nathan and Jordan for demonstrating these values by assisting someone in need of help." “We’re delighted to reward Nathan and Jordan through our ‘Shining Stars’ initiative, and it’s great to see their efforts recognised by our partner Trent & Dove Housing. This recognition is hugely appreciated by Nathan, Jordan and the rest of the Novus team, and has further strengthened our working relationship.” Kevin Donohoe, Head of Asset Strategy, Planning and Delivery at Trent & Dove, added: “Nathan and Jordan are truly worthy of their recognition for their heroic acts towards one of our customers and we cannot thank them enough. The fact that they stayed with the man until the ambulance came and ensured that he was okay is tremendous and goes to show just how caring and supportive they are. We are proud to partner with Novus for our external roofing and internal kitchens and bathrooms for the last three years and this incident has further cemented our close working relationship.”

Family Business United is delighted to announce the finalists who are now in the running for the Family Business Next Generation Award 2023. Each of our finalists has already made their mark on their family business and deserve to be recognised for their achievements to date. Our finalists, in no particular order and now in the running to be crowned the Next Generation Award Winner for 2023 are: Tim Croxson, Croxsons Thomas Colleran, Duvalay Alysa Shadbolt, Shadbolt Issy Howell, Howell Media Tim Good, The John Good Group Tom Rose, Rose Engineering As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United, organisers of these awards adds, “Each of our finalists is special and has already made an impact on their family business journey to date. Our judges are in for a difficult decision deliberating and determining the overall winner." "All of the finalists deserve to be recognised and celebrated and for taking on the role of the next generation in their family firm. They are what family business is all about – people family values at the heart of what they do and above all they care. We look forward to announcing and crowning the winner in due course.” The winners will be announced at a gala dinner in London on National Family Business Day 2023 which is taking place on September 21. Find out more about the event here

Family Business United is delighted to announce the finalists who are now in the running for the Family Business Lifetime Achievement Award 2023. Family businesses would not be what they are without strong leadership, embedded values and a culture of shared purpose, drive and determination to succeed. Our finalists have all shown strength, persistence and a desire to succeed over the years, shaping the very essence of the family business that has evolved under their direction. Our finalists, in no particular order and now in the running to be crowned the Lifetime Achievement Award Winner for 2023 are: Gerry Facenna, Allied Vehicles Limited James Croxson, Croxsons Alan Colleran, Duvalay Simon Shadbolt, Shadbolt David Barsby, G Seller Christopher Hayman, Hayman’s Gin Robyn Holmes, Prime Appointments Mich Stevenson OBE DL, Spenbeck Angela Morris, The Wool Packaging Company Ltd Pat Gallagher, Gallagher Group As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United, organisers of these awards adds, “Each of our finalists is special and has achieved great things over the course of their family business journey to date. Our judges are in for a difficult decision deliberating and determining the overall winner." "All of the finalists deserve to be recognised and celebrated. They are what family business is all about – people with a dream, family values at the heart of what they do and above all they care. We look forward to announcing and crowning the winner in due course.” The winners will be announced at a gala dinner in London on National Family Business Day 2023 which is taking place on September 21. Find out more about the event here

The family business community recently convened in London in the delightful surrounds of the beautiful medicine garden in the 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. What a night! Thank you to everyone involved, the judges, the sponsors and above all the business that entered, our fabulous finalists and of course congratulations to the winners. Events like these are special and the evening had a palpable mix of excitement, anticipation and community – the essence of being part of a bigger community, the collective sense of pride in being a family business and recognition for some families of their endeavours over numerous generations. It was a great night, made even more special as it was the first time that we have held the awards in person for 4 years due to the pandemic and the fact that the sun shone and the atmosphere was fantastic too. 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 they make a massive impact each and every day. Incomes are generated, jobs provided and wealth created but as one of the family members said to me last night, “That is just the tip of the iceberg. Family businesses care and want to be seen as doing the right thing, doing business the right way.” That is undoubtedly true and reflected in may of the submissions as well as the conversations taking place throughout the evening with family business members meeting like minded peers from a community steeped in history, heritage, purpose, values and integrity. Doing business the right way is what they do. And do so well. Crowning the winners was great and it remains a pleasure and a privilege to run an organisation that has these businesses at our core, businesses that make a difference and have a real sense of purpose, a narrative and real authenticity. The audience assembled and the winners were announced and celebrated. Photos taken. Speeches delivered, albeit they were short but poignant and certainly heartfelt – celebrating not only those in the room but as representatives of family firms across the UK, recognising that it is the broader family engagement and the teams of people that work in the businesses that help to make the business magic too. Our Regional Winners: Yorkshire – Arco North of England – Knights Corporate Workwear East & East Anglia – Shadbolt Midlands & Central – The Wool Packaging Company London & South East – Croxsons Northern Ireland – Newcel Paper Converters Scotland – GAP Group South, South West & Wales – Rose Engineering Limited Our Sector Winners: Manufacturing – HMG Paints Food & Drink – White’s Bakery Professional Services – Spenbeck Property & Construction – HE Simm Group Transport & Logistics – The Workhorse Group Hospitality, Hotel & Leisure – Zonal Homes & Gardens – Duvalay Retail – F Hinds Health & Welfare – Douch Family Funeral Directors Our People’s Choice Winners: Yorkshire People’s Choice – The John Good Group East & East Anglia People’s Choice – Prime Appointments Midlands & Central People’s Choice – Palmers at Ullesthorpe London & South East People’s Choice – John J Smith Funeral Directors North & Northern Ireland People’s Choice – Candour Care Group Scotland People’s Choice – Macsween South, South West & Wales People’s Choice – Goats of the Gorge National People’s Choice – Candour Care Group Our National Winners: Innovation & Sustainability – The Wool Packaging Company Entrepreneurship – Little’s Chauffeur Drive Community Support & Involvement – Allied Vehicles Limited Essence of Family Business – Hayman’s Gin Ones to Watch – Future Toolbox CIC and White Bicycle Limited Small Family Business of the Year – Make an Entrance SUPREME CHAMPIONS – GAP GROUP A great night that was capped off with the announcement of the Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year 2023, an accolade that was accepted on behalf of Gap Group by joint Managing Director Iain Anderson. A fantastic business that deserves all the accolades that come with winning this title. They are an inspirational business, founded back in 1969 and they have weathered many challenges successfully along the way. The growth journey is incredible and they now employ 2000 people and have a strong and engaged next generation to help drive the next chapter of the journey. Inspirational. Successful. Remarkable. They are a great example of a great British family business and whilst their HQ is in Scotland, they have a great presence around the UK with over 175 depots. They have a plan to ensure their growth minimizes their environmental impact and they are continuing to grow. An incredible business. An incredible family. An incredible family business. Truly great family business ambassadors and deserving champions. Congratulations to Iain and the wider team at Gap Group on a fantastic win. These awards were established back in 2012 to celebrate family businesses and the contribution they make. Lat night was certainly a great celebration and recognition of firms that are great ambassadors for the sector too. Family businesses are at the heart of what we do here at Family Business United. Congratulations go to all the finalists and of course the winners. Enjoy the celebrations! We cannot wait to follow the next steps in your businesses and of course, return to announce the winners this time of the 2024 Family Business of the Year Awards too! Check out the full gallery of images from a fabulous evening here:

Hendy Group is set to represent one of the new key players in the premium motoring market having been appointed as a retail partner for Genesis. The premium Korean brand launched in the UK just over two years ago and has quickly established itself as a true alternative in the segment. A signing ceremony was held at the Genesis Scottish Open at the weekend and Hendy Group chief executive Paul Hendy said the opening of the Genesis studio in Poole to cover the Southampton Genesis territory marks a key milestone for the automotive group and further builds on the group’s expertise in the performance and luxury market. “Genesis has a commitment to personalised hospitality and customer service excellence which aligns perfectly with our values,” said Paul. “Being part of the Genesis journey in the UK is exciting for us as a company and we look forward to being part of the story as it unfolds.” Hendy Group will cover Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and West Sussex from the new Genesis studio which is expected to open from the start of 2024. As a newly appointed partner Hendy Group will support the Genesis business expansion plans, grow capacity and capabilities for test drives, sales and service operations, and support the brand’s commitment to customer service excellence. “This is an exciting milestone for Genesis in the UK. Earlier this year, we announced we would be expanding the Genesis footprint and we are delighted to now have Hendy on board which shares our vision for the future,” commented Lawrence Hamilton, managing director for Genesis Motor Europe. “With Hendy now officially part of the Genesis family, it means we can deliver our unique Korean customer service directly to our new and existing customers from the Poole studio.” Colleagues from Hendy Group who will work at the studio are now immersed in the Genesis brand and the customer experience. Visitors to the new studio will be welcomed by a high level of hospitality based on Korean customs for welcoming guests. They will be treated as Genesis’ son-nim - ‘son’ meaning ‘guest’ and ‘nim’ being an honour. This reflects the Korean virtue of providing the best to those who step inside your home. Genesis will join other performance and luxury brands in the Hendy Group portfolio including Maserati, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Lotus.

Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels has announced the expansion of its senior management team, with a number of key appointments ahead of the busy summer season. The group – which operates some of Scotland’s best-loved hotels including Crieff Hydro and Peebles Hydro – has appointed Gavin Edwards as Head of Learning and Development, while Ryan Gourlay takes on a new role as IT Technical Manager. With more than a decade of experience working in a variety of senior learning and development roles within Scotland’s hospitality sector, Gavin joins the Crieff Hydro family from Glasgow-based Klarent Hospitality, where he spent over four years supporting the progression of the workforce at hotel groups such as Hilton and Mercure. With a focus on employee retention within the wider Crieff family, his role will see an overhaul of the group’s onboarding process, while building on the already successful internal training schemes and employee development programmes currently on offer. Gavin said: “I’m very excited to be joining the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels at a crucial time for Scotland’s hospitality sector. It’s no secret that the industry is facing recruitment challenges and that’s why building a strong portfolio of excellent career progression opportunities for our team is so important to us." “The service industry sets itself apart from any other sector when it comes to progression. You can join at entry-level and advance relatively quickly into a senior management role compared to other industries due to the soft skills you acquire." “It’s vital to illustrate these pathways for the team from day one, so establishing a fantastic onboarding process to allow people to feel welcomed, knowledgeable and inspired in their role from the get-go is crucial.” Gavin’s role will also involve reinvigorating the portfolio’s apprenticeship offering as well as further developing the group’s manager and high-potential programmes. He continued: “I aim to transform the whole company’s approach when it comes to building on the skills our employees already have by providing them with bespoke opportunities to excel in their careers. By making sure our employees are happy and fulfilled within their roles, excellent service for our guests will inevitably follow.” Ryan joined the Crieff Hydro family in 2014 as an IT Support Technician, after being made redundant following his previous role as an IT apprentice at Microspec Computer Ltd in Falkirk. He said: “I joined the Crieff team right at the start of my career, and I still had a lot to learn. My boss at the time described my potential as a ‘ball of clay’, which meant the company was able to shape the skills I had to fit the needs of the business at that time. It was an invaluable start to my career and meant I could gain the experience I needed to continue to progress over the following years.” He continued: “The employees in the wider Crieff team are so supportive when it comes to development, and they really take the time to ensure that you’re following a career path that works for you." “There’s a big emphasis on on-the-job training here, which helps you get to the nitty-gritty of how the cogs in the Crieff machine work together. It’s a great place for career development.” The Crieff Hydro Family’s commitment to developing internal talent within the company has been further spotlighted with the appointment of Niall Kelly, who takes on the role of IT Operations Manager working alongside Ryan. Niall who joined the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels in 2016– will now oversee IT operations for the full family of hotels within the portfolio having started his career as an IT Support Technician seven years ago. He said: “I’ve always been impressed with the attention to detail that’s been shown to employees who are keen to progress their careers at Crieff. I joined as an IT support technician and was given fantastic support, guidance and advice when it came to building on my skills and stepping into a senior role. Now, I’m in a position to help support other people in my team who are keen to follow a similar path, and that’s extremely rewarding.” Stephen Leckie, CEO of Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said: “It’s great to welcome Gavin to the business, whilst promoting Niall and Ryan from within the portfolio, and we are certain that these key appointments will bring continued success to the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels." “We are proud of the fantastic employee culture we have created across our portfolio of hotels, and with the appetite for staycations remaining strong, there has never been a better time to pursue a career in Scotland’s hospitality sector." “Our commitment to providing fantastic employee development opportunities and clear pathways of progression sets the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels aside from the crowd. We’re all about creating unforgettable memories for our guests – and the only way we’ll do that is with a fantastic team at the helm.”

Following a robust re-certification process, Leeds-headquartered Bailie Group, a United Nations’ named climate leader, has achieved internationally renowned Planet Mark accreditation for a third year – while celebrating a 20% reduction in carbon emissions and a social value exceeding £1m. The Group’s most recent priorities include reducing energy consumption, bringing landfill close to zero, and increasing the accuracy of social value reporting – moves designed to bolster the firm’s progress on sustainability, and further its positive impact on society. The accreditation marks significant progress in Bailie Group’s 2020 pledge to halve carbon emissions by 2030, and to reach net zero by 2050. Of the Group’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, Katie McShera, sustainability lead at Bailie Group, comments: “Gaining re-certification is a year-round process which touches on each department. Overall, it’s a big commitment for our team – but it’s something that we are extremely proud to champion across the company." “Our businesses each strive to make a positive difference within society, and this is a crucial means through which we can make our mark. We’re looking forward to moving to the next step in our plan to reduce waste, save energy, and accurately measure our efforts.” Waste reduction activities have involved gaining a deeper understanding of the journey of refuse at each site. This meant scrutinising existing waste contracts, putting in place processes to measure the weights of any waste produced, and exploring greener supplier alternatives. With these steps now in place, the company is focused on its next priority – launching a waste reduction programme. Meanwhile, a focus on energy saving has seen the team achieve ISO 50001 certification. With the structure and driving force in place, the team is equipped to further reduce its energy consumption. Activities to date include the installation of solar panels at the Cheltenham site, an increased temperature within server rooms, and awareness campaigns encouraging colleagues to consider their energy usage. Improving reporting accuracy has seen proxy values attributed to social value activities, enabling measurement of social value. Areas captured include charity donations, apprenticeship activities, and volunteering, all of which saw increased activity in 2022 Actions undertaken include volunteering business and HR advice for the Prince’s Trust, cleaning up local parks, school governor responsibilities, apprenticeship delivery, and army reservist support. Recent donations include contributions to the Ukranian appeal — £10,000 from Bailie Group and £3,510 from CDS, a Bailie Group company. In addition, £800 worth of equipment was gifted to local voluntary, community and social enterprises, including pedestals to the Red Cross, laptops for Meanwood Urban Valley Farm, and £2,000 worth of CDS stock — including paper and stationery — given to a local school. With an aim to reduce carbon emissions by a further 5% during 2023, kickstart the waste reduction plan, extend the scope of the business’s ISO 50001 accreditation, and begin measuring both upstream and downstream transportation emissions – the progress is set to continue into the second half of the year.

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has launched two new versions of its popular KaterBake bao buns after strong demand for the street food staple from its foodservice customers. The 30g KaterBake mini bao buns and the Menuserve bao buns hoisin jackfruit are both perfect for starters, sharing platters, buffets and street food-style dishes. Suitable for vegans and vegetarians, the new products are being launched just in time for caterers who are starting to plan their festive menus for later in the year, as both are perfect for event catering and many other menu options. Gordon Lauder, MD of Central Foods, said: “Our regular KaterBake bao buns have proved a real winner with our foodservice customers. These new mini versions and the hoisin jackfruit filled bao buns bring extra versatility to the table, offering options for buffets, starters, sharing platters and tapas-style menu items." “Bao buns are a real street-food favourite, and we are pleased to have launched these new additions to our bao buns range.” Also known as Hirata buns, bao buns are steamed and folded, soft and pillowy bao bread buns which are usually served warm, filled with slow-cooked meat or vegetables, crunchy salad or pickles and a sticky sauce. The Menuserve bao buns hoisin jackfruit are delicious pleated-top bao buns which are filled with hoisin flavoured jackfruit and vegetables. Steam or microwave before serving them as starters, on a buffet, as part of a sharing platter or tapas, or as a street food option on your menu. The 40g filled bao buns are available in cases of 40, while the new mini KaterBake bao buns are available in cases of 50 for the catering sector. Both can be steamed or microwaved before serving. Central Foods, based at Collingtree near Northampton, is one of the UK’s leading frozen food distributors. The company was founded more than 25 years ago and is a catering partner across the whole food service sector, supplying to hotels, restaurants, bars, universities, schools, pubs, care homes, garden centres, leisure outlets and more. It currently sells to over 180 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers.