Member Article

Williams Automobiles motor into Bristol to launch new event

The father and son who are at the wheel of South West family business Williams Automobiles are to help launch a new concept event for family and owner-managed businesses in Bristol.

The Ask the Adviser event is the brainchild of Families in Business (FiB), the independent go-to support organisation for the UK’s three million family businesses.

The all-new concept in networking events will launch in the South West at Bristol’s Old Down Manor on the 24th January 2014 with the help of Richard Williams and his son Henry, the fourth generation of the family to head the 102-year old business Williams Automobiles, a specialist dealership for British performance cars such as Morgan and Lotus.

According to FiB’s latest research, the South West is home to almost 250,000 family-owned businesses, representing almost two-thirds of all the private enterprises in the region.

“The Ask the Adviser event is our fast-paced networking based concept specifically designed for busy family business owners, leaders and key team members,” explains Dani Saveker, CEO and founder of FiB.

“The format is a little like speed dating, in that our family business guests can meet three or four advisers for a 20-minute, one-to-one appointment. This is a time-efficient, focused opportunity for them to gain valuable advice from our carefully selected advisers who are experienced in the unique challenges facing family businesses and who can provide succinct, impartial and relevant guidance.

“Our advisers span specialists from HR, leadership, wealth planning, communication, marketing, finance, health, and the law,” says Dani, “and already confirmed for the event are Harbour Key LLP, JLT, Cass Stephens, Expense Reduction Analysts, Jonathan Lee Recruitment, Sandler Training, Burgess Salmon, Newell Palmer, Freeman Clarke, Vistage, and Ambitious PR.”

She adds: “The event will be a great opportunity to meet other family businesses and share experiences, and challenges. Richard and Henry Williams are our guest speakers and will tell their own story of being a family in business, from the viewpoint of two generations.”

Two in every three private enterprises in the UK is a family business, and collectively employ in the region of 9.2 million people, and contribute almost a quarter of all GDP every year.

“The FiB community helps family businesses gain perspective; it is critical to have reassurance and by being part of FiB, peer support,” explains Dani. “Those working in family businesses must develop business intelligence and new ideas and having somewhere to go that understands the dynamics and offers impartial support and facilitation is vital. FiB represents exactly this kind of trusted, safe place with its community of individuals who really do understand family businesses.

“Our Ask the Adviser events are an extension of this philosophy and bring together this expertise and support in an enjoyable, relaxed session that enables family businesses to connect with like-minded individuals and advisers. We have a national programme of these fun and effective events for 2014.”

Ask the Adviser is free to attend for family businesses and takes place from 8.30am to 1pm on Friday 24th January 2014. For more information and to reserve a place, visit www.fibcommunity.com or email: office@fibcommunity.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Families in Business (FiB) .