Member Article

Expansion heralds new online resource centre for FiB

A surge in the number of national and international family businesses joining as members of Families in Business (FiB), the organisation dedicated to supporting family run and owned firms, is behind the launch of its new online community, resource and information centre, FiB OnBoard.

Dani Saveker, CEO and founder of FiB explains: “Our membership is expanding rapidly, with family businesses from across the UK and as far afield as Canada and Australia wishing to become members to make full use of the support, resources and community available from FiB.

“Amongst many of our newest members we have identified a change in the demographic of the family businesses and the individuals within them. This includes a significant rise in the number of X, Y and Z generations, that is future leaders, employees, teams, as well as family members themselves, who are involved in shaping and growing the family business.

“The plan has always been to include an online portal in the range of support provided to the entire FiB community and now is the right time to launch FiB OnBoard, our protected virtual community and timely, relevant and important addition to our portfolio of support services. We have unique IP which is used in our very visual tools and approach and this allows all stakeholders from family businesses to benefit. The use of technology enables this to reach the three million UK family businesses, as well as all those outside of the UK.

“FiB OnBoard is unique,” adds Dani. “There isn’t another dedicated online resource or community for both family businesses and advisers like it. FiB OnBoard’s distinctive offer lies in the scoping, practical information from our ongoing research that we make available to our members, that critically includes guidance on how it could be used to support their own family business.”

Features of FIB OnBoard include a document management system with monthly FiB tools, specific help and guidance documents – including succession planning, private messaging, a live chat area with local and national resources.

Dani explains that whilst FIB OnBoard is an important addition to the FiB community resources, it is only one aspect of the support it provides: “FIB OnBoard represents an online function of the FiB work and activities, and enables like-minded advisers to connect and share best practice for all family businesses. It adds a new dimension to FiB’s ‘real work’ and that of our advisers – being involved directly with family businesses themselves, across our UK regional network, and longer term, internationally.”

FiB launched its annual survey last month and its findings, which will form the basis of its growing resource centre, support and advice, will be released in the FiB Annual Report to be published later this year. To take part, visit: http://fibcommunity2014.questionpro.com

For more information: contact Dani Saveker, Tel: 07812 99 27 26, Email: dani@fibcommunity.com, or visit www.fibcommunity.com.

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