We are delighted to announce that Heather Matthews of Little’s Chauffeur Drive 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 Little’s Chauffeur Drive provide a high-end chauffeur drive service to the corporate and leisure markets globally. The company is headquartered in Glasgow and is led by Heather Matthews, the daughter of founder George Wills who established the business in 1966. As the 2nd generation leader of the family business, Heather has a very personal investment in the success and future of Little’s. She demonstrates an uncompromising determination to provide the highest level of service, use innovation in the business, develop a high performing team & significantly grow the company’s turnover. Heather has shown tenacity, resilience and strong leadership to navigate the business through the COVID-19 pandemic & she has used her team and network to shape decision-making to make the business sustainable for the future. As a leader she was the driving force behind the delivery of chauffeur services to the COP26 conference – the largest event in the company’s history, and supporting other major sporting and business events in Scotland and beyond. Her inspirational leadership style has helped to create an incredible family business culture and her drive and determination is the key to the ongoing success of the business and she is truly deserving of her place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Becky Valentine of Spenbeck 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: Sustainable Development Ambassador Spenbeck is a second-generation business expertly led by Becky and her sister. Becky executes her role with precision, using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to drive Spenbeck’s published sustainability policy, with clearly defined targets ensuring public accountability. Lauded by the CIM as an early adopter of using sustainability for competitive advantage, Becky has positioned Spenbeck as a market leader in heritage eco-office provision, supporting SMEs’ B Corp and ESG aspirations through innovative actions. She is committed to empowering, motivating, and inspiring SMEs and family businesses to embed sustainability within their operations and planning. Becky’s expertise is also highly sought after for blogs, vlogs, and webinars on how to successfully apply the SDGs in an SME setting. She was also headhunted by the UN Global Compact UK Network to join their COP 26 regional closing panel. Inspirational and innovative in her approach, Becky thoroughly deserves to be included in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Clive Atkins of Atkins Accountants 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: Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Clive built up the business himself from nothing. Having gained experience in one of the big four firms, and in smaller practices, he was able to create a practice with the best of the both – small firm care and attention with big firm quality. Clive’s wife, Rosemary has a history in finance and retired after 28 years working in a housing company, where she was the assistant director of finance. She then started working within Atkins Accountants, instilling the family value in the practice. Clive and Rosemary have five children, three of whom are working and assisting in the running of the business, ready to take on when Clive retires. They have all gained accounting qualifications & manage staff and help develop the practice. Clive has two managers who have worked with him for over 35 years each, who are like family themselves, and have watched the children grow up and now work well aside them. Clive has built a unique family environment, where it is a pleasure to work and is inspirational in the way that he has developed and grown the business to where it is today and thoroughly deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Gareth Loye of M&M Contractors (EUROPE) 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: Champion of Change & Innovation Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Next Generation Inspirational Leader M&M Contractors is a family business trading for over 40 years and they have firmly established themselves as a recognised leader in utilities infrastructure. CEO, Gareth Loye, took the helm in 2011 from father, Noel applying boundless enthusiasm to expand the business on a vast scale. Gareth has been an instrumental leader of the business and the driver of significant growth since taking the lead. M&M are principal contractor to a number of significant brands and Gareth has been key to driving the business forward and thoroughly deserves his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that William Roberts of Roberts Mart & Co 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: Champion of Change & Innovation Multi-Generational Family Business leader Roberts Mart is a sixth-generation family-run business in Yorkshire and is now an award-winning leader in the field of printed flexible packaging. Today it’s led by William Roberts, Managing Director. Roberts Mart’s achievements have been recognised in the food and drink packaging sector where it has won numerous global awards for technical innovation and manufacturing printed flexible packaging for blue-chip brands. However, its innovations and accolades would count for nothing without the skilled and loyal staff to implement them. William believes wholeheartedly in family values and as part of its community management strategy the company has the desire and ability to attract and retain talent from local communities. Several successive generations of employees’ families have contributed to its success. As a strong leader making a real contribution to the ongoing evolution of the family business, William is truly deserving of his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Angela Morris of Woolcool 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 Sustainable Development Ambassador Champion of Change & Innovation Multi-Generational Family Business leader Angela has committed her life to innovation and design within the packaging sector. Throughout her career spanning over 40 years, Angela has pioneered in the use of sustainable materials. Her true eureka moment being Woolcool in early 2000s. Since its conception as an alternative to polystyrene, Woolcool has gone from strength to strength, replacing 1000s of tonnes of man-made alternatives with a truly sustainable material. Whilst growing Woolcool, challenging conventions and managing 4 children into adulthood, Angela found the time to set up the Natural Materials Association in 2015, as a bridge between academia and business, to share knowledge and develop sustainable alternatives. Woolcool is now a second generation family firm, with 2 of Angela’s daughter taking the reigns. Angela is still involved however, and its her innovative, design led ethos, along with the core belief of business as a force good that continue to be the heart of the business, not settling for the status quo! Angela thoroughly deserves recognition as an inspirational individual and thoroughly deserves her place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Simon Brewer of Brewer Decorator Centres 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 Multi-Generational Family Business leader Simon is the CEO of Brewers and has a huge passion for the business & supporting & recognising the people within it. Simon actively encourages & promotes the family culture within the business, which is very much felt & appreciated by members of staff across the company. His generosity & support also extend to considerable charity & community giving including Challengers, a charity working with young people with disabilities to helping build Dreamland Mission hospital in Kenya. Throughout the pandemic and beyond, Simon has driven the business forward by adapting swiftly & investing in digital development to support our customers & industry. Simon has also ensured the business continued to supply essential product to the health services & essential contractors, during periods of lockdown, opening up stores specially to supply them. Under his leadership, the business has not only survived, but has adapted & grown with several key developments & additional stores opening over the past year, creating over 150 new jobs. Simon is recognised as an inspirational leader with a style that motivates and encourages those around him and is well deserving of his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Stephen (‘Paddy’) Dyson of HMG Paints 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 Next Generation Champion Family Business Steward Paddy joined HMG Paints Ltd at 18 years old (19 years ago) following in his fathers footsteps. Starting from humble beginnings in the label printing room, Paddy quickly became noticed by peers for his dedication & enthusiasm for the family business. Paddy put himself forward for the new Marketing Manager position in 2008 & has since completely transformed the branding and marketing of HMG Paints with the family values at the core of everything that is done. Throughout his time in the business Paddy has also been an ambassador for HMG taking part in talks and judging panels for industry & family business events such as Family Business United. In 2019 Paddy was a finalist for the Young Leader of the Year Award due to his achievements throughout his time at HMG. From creating internal engaging content for staff around the family values of the business to promoting them externally, Paddy has a skill set that is second to none & continues to go above & beyond for HMG & his peers. Paddy is an exceptional individual and totally committed to the family business in which he works, as well as the broader family business community and thoroughly deserves recognition for all that he does and is a deserving recipient of a place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Joyce Onuonga of John White & Son 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 Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Joyce is the Managing Director of John White & Son Ltd, Scotland’s oldest family firm, and is an inspirational leader who has championed change within the business by developing staff and introducing innovative ways of ensuring business is competitive. The business has kept in tune with technological advancement in the industry too with strategic collaborations and ongoing research and development. Having been in the business for many years, Joyce stands out and continues to make a positive contribution on a daily basis, driving the business forward and engaging the next generation in a manner that will be healthy for succession in due course. Joyce thoroughly deserves her place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Malachy Donnelly of MDE Installations 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 Malachy Donnelly started out as a farmer with humble beginnings. Having trained as an electrician in his early days, today Malachy is still heavily involved in the operations of his family run electrical contracting businesses, delivering successful National Framework Contracts for large blue chip clients across the UK and Ireland, including ESB Networks, NIE Electricity, Irish Rail, Marks and Spencer, LIDL, Scottish Power and many more. Malachy’s core focus from the beginning was to ensure all employee returned home safely to their families at the end of the working day. With over 250 people now employed across the group, and a suite of over 100 company vehicles on the road, this important safety message has never been more important within the MDE family. Malachy continues to have an open-door management style where no problem is too big or too little. A true gentleman with an endless passion for safety and well deserving of his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Manni Keates of CORE Landscape Products 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 Manni is the Managing Director of CORE Landscape Products and is recognised as an exceptional leader, engaging and hands-on in every aspect of the business. He also has a deep sense of purpose and responsibility to constantly drive the company forward whilst remaining authentic and personable at all times. His coaching style of leadership empowers the whole team, enabling them to grow and develop within the business. As the Managing Director, Manni is very self-aware of his role and remains both passionate about the business constantly moving forward which is supported by in depth knowledge of both products and the industry in which we operate. His management of the business during the recent pandemic speaks volumes about his skill set, as we continued to adapt and evolve, enabling us to continue trading and grow the business, recruiting more staff as rivals were cutting back, launching new products and focusing on the future. Manni is well deserving of his place in the Family Business Top 100.

We are delighted to announce that Martin Thatcher of Thatchers Cider 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 Multi-Generational Family Business Leader Thatchers Cider is a fourth-generation cider maker and over recent years has grown to become the UK’s second largest producer, an amazing achievement, particularly considering the number 1 player in this market is an international conglomerate. Thatchers is still independent, still family owned, and takes great pride in being a family company. Martin Thatcher has been at the helm since 1992, with the fifth generation – his two children – now working in the business too. Navigating the challenges of the global pandemic, and now the supply chain issues that companies across the UK are facing, the last few years have not been easy. But as a family business, Thatchers has continued to keep its focus on sustainable, quality cider making, innovation and investment. Embracing change across all aspects of the business, no day is ever the same. Martin is an inspirational cider maker and entrepreneur proud to be leading the family business and well deserving of his inclusion in the Family Business Top 100.