Member Article

National expansion for FiB with trio of hires

Families in Business (FiB), the membership and consultancy organisation dedicated to supporting the UK’s family run and owned businesses, has kicked-off 2015 with a trio of new hires in the Midlands and North West, heralding the next phase in its national growth.

The organisation, which has its HQ in the West Midlands, has created Local Head roles in three key regions in the UK, expanding its nationwide network of on-the-ground family business specialists.

Fiona White becomes Local Head in the West Midlands, Paul Knee in the East Midlands, and Hamish Hamilton in the North West. They join Peter Doggett, Local Head in the South West.

FiB has also expanded its community of specialist advisers to family businesses, with Levells Design, Sandler Training (Heart of the Country) and law firm Howes Percival amongst the new firms appointed Advisers already this year.

Dani Saveker, Founder and CEO of FiB, explains: “Our reputation as the ‘go to’ place for specialist support and advice amongst the UK’s family firms and those working in them, is growing. 2015 is set to be another milestone year for FiB as more and more family businesses join as members, our professional network of specialists continues to grow, and we make significant new additions to our own team. FiB is also soon to publish its first workbook ‘Take Action’, which will be available to all our members and to buy.”

She adds: “The importance of family businesses to the local, regional and national economies cannot be underestimated and our team is vital in supporting family firms and their people. Our local hubs are pivotal to our growing national network, which in time will expand across the UK and internationally.

“It’s essential we have on-the-ground specialists with the commitment, experience, energy and passion to help family businesses. Our network of Local Heads, combined with the new professional adviser firms also joining our network this month, once again sets FiB apart with support that is both unique and focused on the family businesses it was created to help.”

FiB is committed to providing a trusted network for family businesses, as Dani explains: “With the changing landscape for family businesses, including the shift in the ‘family unit’, as well as innovation and development being vital for sustainable businesses, having a trusted network is essential. Our Annual Guide and research shows how we still have such a long way to go in terms of family businesses understanding the importance of protecting themselves and being able to strategically develop and grow. Our Guide found that 28 percent of those surveyed believe innovation isn’t relevant to their business, 22 percent believe they don’t need succession plans, 69 percent admit to having an ‘elephant in the room’ when it comes to the handover of the business, and 32 percent believe they don’t need a Shareholders Agreement. These findings reinforce how vital specialist support is to ensure sustainability for future generations.”

FiB delivers focused consultancy, membership, events and tools tailored to the needs of family and owner managed businesses. Its national network of Approved Advisers is a vital component of its specialist support for the UK’s family business sector.

Family businesses account for two in every three of the UK’s private enterprises, with over three million family businesses in the UK, that have a combined annual turnover of £1.1 trillion, together employ over nine million people, and contribute almost a quarter of all GDP to the UK economy.

For more information about Families in Business, visit: www.fibcommunity.com, and follow @fibcommunity on Twitter.

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