We are delighted to announce that William Lees-Jones of JW Lees Brewery 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 Multi-Generational Family Business Leader William is the Managing Director of JW Lees Brewery and a staunch advocate and voice for the family business sector. JW Lees is a family brewery company, founded in 1828 by retired cotton manufacturer John Lees. They’re based in Middleton in the North West of Manchester and own JW Lees Brewery, JW Lees Pubs, The Alderley Edge Hotel, The Trearddur Bay Hotel and Willoughby’s Wine Merchants. They’re a sixth-generation family business which employs over 1,300 people, 140 at the brewery and site in Middleton Junction and over 1,100 in their 43 managed pubs, inns and hotels. They also let a further 100 pubs to a number of Pub Partners. They have pubs in Manchester close to their Greengate Brewery, stretching all the way to North Wales. William is an inspiration to many and actively campaigns for the hospitality and family business sectors to ensure their voice is heard. He leads from the front and continues to drive the business forward. As a multi-generational family firm leader, Will is also prepared to support his peers, share his insight and help others to address some of the unique challenges facing family firms. Will is passionate about his business and continues to support the investment in the brand, business and its people. He is an incredible individual who is constantly challenging the norm and making sure that the family business continues to evolve. He was an outstanding voice of the sector during the pandemic and continues to make his family business voice heard. He is the leader of a long standing family business and a friend of the family business sector and he thoroughly deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Anne-Marie Cairney of The Victor Pizza Company 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 Steward Anne Marie Cairney is the Managing Director of The Victor Pizza Company based in Glasgow, but seeing her in the factory you might confuse her with a cleaner, chef or possibly groundskeeper! She believes that anything she asks the staff to do she should be able to do herself and is always amongst the first to embrace new ways of working. Anne Marie is the first in & the last out of her premises in a socially deprived area (Possilpark), outside Glasgow and unusually for the Managing Director the culture that she has created includes making soup on a regular basis for her staff lunches. She cares that everyone who comes to work is fed, watered and happy. She believes everyone should be paid a decent wage and all of her staff are on the Living Wage or above. As a leader she has an infectious style, a can do attitude that has seen her help to overcome the challenges thrown at the business over the past couple of year and she continues to push through each day with a smile on her face. As a leader she is an inspiration to those around her and her drive to succeed is underpinned by a desire to do business the right way. She is a real ‘family business force for good’ and totally embodies the very essence of an inspirational family business leader and is totally deserving of her place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Iain Stirling of Arbikie 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 Arbikie Estate is a family-owned working farm perched on the east coast of Angus; here crop is king. They painstakingly plant, sow, tend and harvest the fields that make up Arbikie. They are craftsmen of the soil. This is an estate profoundly shaped by its environment: the red sandstone-tinted soil, the powerful sea and the turbulent weather give Arbikie a character found nowhere else. And here, situated where land meets sea, sits their distillery – created from an ancient barn, it is a place with all the ingredients required to produce authentic spirits of the highest quality. The Stirling family has been farming at Arbikie for four generations. From father to son, they have gained an intuitive understanding of the land; sowing and harvesting the crops that now create Arbikie’s range of field to bottle spirits. Farming in the Stirling family goes back even further – since 1660, initially on the west coast. Their lands passed through seven generations until great uncle Bill moved to Lunan Bay on the east coast of Angus in the 1920’s. He then passed it to the grandfather of the current generation, John, who then passed the land over to their father, Alec Stirling, who expanded the acreage. Brothers John, Iain and David are the visionaries and driving force behind the Arbikie Distillery. As with all farming families, the brothers grew up working around the farm, and it is this hands-on experience that gave them a deep understanding and respect for the land. Despite pursuing careers away from farming, they have always stayed attached to the family lands – and now with the opening and growth of the Arbikie Highland Estate distillery, they have returned to drive this exciting and continually evolving venture. Iain is a pioneer and great ambassador for Arbikie, promoting the brand around the world and embracing their story as part of the brand. Their pioneering pursuit and adoption of best practice is remarkable and driven from top down leadership and Iain is a key component of this drive, determination and passion. Iain is undoubtedly worthy of his inclusion in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Grant Georgiades of Plan Insurance 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 Sustainable Development Ambassador Champion of Change & Innovation Family Business Steward As far as Grant is concerned, ‘you might not be a ‘Georgiades’ & he might be the Managing Director, yet he treats everyone the same & he makes everyone feel part of the ‘Plan Family’ whilst being a strong champion for change & innovation and always pushing to develop & innovate the business and the people working within it. As a leader, Grant actively encourages staff to better themselves, which at times can be a detriment as staff leave to follow other paths. But, in his own words he reconciles this investment as “The ones that learn & stay add extra skills & when it comes to the ones that learn & leave, Plan have helped create a better future for them so either way, it is a great outcome.” Grant is an inspirational leader and has created a team that is driving Plan forward, investing in new business opportunities and setting their course for the future and he is well deserving of his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Chris Timotheou of Tims Dairy 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 Being awarded the fantastic accolade of ‘Family Business of the Year 2017’ for London and the South East was true testimony to the many years Tims Dairy has been a family business and to their Greek family heritage. Founded in a basement workroom in Warren Street, London back in 1949 by their uncle, Euripides Nicolaou, who was then joined by their father, Michael Timotheou, the four Timotheou brothers (Chris, Peter, Bides and Tony) continue to run the business to this day. Every pot of their yogurt is inspired by their Greek family recipe, using natural ingredients and gut friendly bio-live bacteria, stirred into fresh British milk. Each pot brings you spoonfuls of amazing great taste, creamy texture and wholesome dairy goodness from the heart of the Chiltern Hills. Chris is the Managing Director, of Tims Dairy and could not be more passionate about their products. His leadership style has created an inclusive culture within the business and there is a constant desire to improve, produce exceptional products and move the business forward, building on over 70 years of heritage and as a family business leader he thoroughly deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Peter Timotheou of Tims Dairy 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 Being awarded the fantastic accolade of ‘Family Business of the Year 2017’ for London and the South East was true testimony to the many years Tims Dairy has been a family business and to their Greek family heritage. Founded in a basement workroom in Warren Street, London back in 1949 by their uncle, Euripides Nicolaou, who was then joined by their father, Michael Timotheou, the four Timotheou brothers (Chris, Peter, Bides and Tony) continue to run the business to this day. Every pot of their yogurt is inspired by their Greek family recipe, using natural ingredients and gut friendly bio-live bacteria, stirred into fresh British milk. Each pot brings you spoonfuls of amazing great taste, creamy texture and wholesome dairy goodness from the heart of the Chiltern Hills. Peter is the Operations Director, a delightful leader and part of the great management team that are driving Tims Dairy forward today. His energy, pride and passion in all that they do is palpable and as a family business leader he thoroughly deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Hannah Barlow of Dunsters Farm 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 Continually working hard to ensure the business remains resilient, adaptable, and innovative – Hannah is safeguarding Dunsters Farm for the next generation of her family but is also particularly passionate to help support other multi-generational businesses throughout the North and beyond. Being part of the third generation of their family business, Hannah feels sharing their experiences can help others in a similar position, and advocates for family firms, wherever she can. In the past 12 months, Hannah and the Directors have engaged in speaking events & working groups to champion family businesses including speaking at the Natwest Family Business Webinar, a Global Family Business Symposium and with regular media coverage including features on Granada Reports. Hannah is passionate about the family business sector and leads from the front. She is well deserving of her spot in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Jacqueline O’Donovan of O’Donovan Waste Management 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 Jacqueline is an undisputed leader and disruptor in the male-led construction-industry, passionately advocating for road-safety, environment and best-practice, she champions improved standards, resulting in a safer and more responsible sector. She is recognised as an innovator and a keen advocate of sustainable operations as well as encouraging diversity and inclusion. She is one of only two female students to earn the world’s first Master’s Degree in Demolition Management. She has received numerous accolades for her work and holds numerous respected fellowships and affiliations with professional organisations and bodies in the sector. She has highlighted the need for construction to be involved in improving road safety and reducing emissions. Collaborating with industry bodies and Mayors, she has worked to change the face of transport policy in the UK, playing a pivotal role working with HGV manufacturers to redesign lorry-cabs, resulting in the current safer direct-vision designs. She is a great family business ambassador, full of pride and passion for the business and truly deserves her place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Rich Clothier of Wyke Farms 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: Champion of Change & Innovation Inspirational Leader Sustainable Development Ambassador Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Rich Clothier is a third-generation family member and the Managing Director at Wyke Farms. His family have been making award- winning cheddar on their Somerset farm since 1861. Since Rich took the lead, the Wyke Farms brand has grown consistently by over 10% year on year and increased distribution to more than 160 countries worldwide. Rich has been pivotal in propelling Wyke Farms to become one of the leading South West food businesses and instigated an on-site biogas plant some 12 years ago, which is the cornerstone to Wyke Farms 100% Green mission. Wyke Farms has since been named as the most sustainable business in Europe. The company employs 250 people directly across three sites and works with 1500 other businesses across the region and nationally. The family run company treats the team as extended family; 15% of the Wyke Farms work force also have a relative working in the business and over one third of employees (34%) have been with the company for over 10 years. Rich is an inspirational leader with family values at the core of the family firm and he truly deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Tom Mathew of Dunsters Farm 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: Champion of Change & Innovation Together with his sister Hannah, Tom has galvanised change at Dunsters Farm, making useful modernisations, assuring Dunsters Farm’s longevity for generations to come. His personal mission is simple; to leave things better than he found them. Here’s just some of the innovative changes Tom is helping to shape at Dunsters: Installation of new ERP and CRM systems Joining a national buying group to allow even better customer service E-commerce improvements Launch of new product ranges Tom is also committed to improving how business is done, with corporate responsibility initiatives and staff welfare improvements introduced, such as; Gaining the Real Living Wage Accreditation Membership of Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Implementation of a Healthcare Plan Promotion of the Better Business Act Tom is a real agent of change within the family business and continues to drive the business forward, empowering decision making and leading from the front. He is thoroughly deserving of his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Arfan Mohammed of the Watch Exchange London 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: Champion of Change & Innovation Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Next Generation Member Family Business Steward Arfan Mohammed has worked tirelessly for many years to build up the family watch trading business from scratch, setting up in Hatton Garden well over a decade ago and recently moving The Watch Exchange London (watch buying) and DWL (retail) sister companies to Mayfair’s exclusive Burlington Arcade. Sharing the business and his considerable knowledge with nephew Danny Shahid and his brother, Arfan is a renowned watch historian and over the years has traded numerous luxury timepieces. Arfan is adept at anticipating investment trends because of his intricate knowledge of the watch market. He is often asked for his expert opinion by fellow jewellers and retailers because his judgement is so highly regarded in the trade and in its new location in the heart of Mayfair, the family business is going from strength to strength.

We are delighted to announce that Nick Douch Of Douch Family Funeral Directors and the Dorset Funeral Plan 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 Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Nick is the third generation to run the firm which began as a furniture shop and grew into a chain before pivoting into funerals. In recent years it added the award-winning Dorset Funeral Plan. Nick oversees numerous branches in east Dorset and manages to maintain the traditions while embracing modern technology. As well as buying existing businesses, the firm has launched its own from scratch and has invested heavily in rebuilding two of its large premises. The Covid crisis was a huge test, but the branches and the staff were nimble enough to come through with an enhanced reputation – and it all came from the top.