Alex Scott Co-Founder & Life President
Grant Gordon Co-Founder & Life President
Defining the mission: stewardship and inclusivity
value of Family Business UK remains unchanged: the power of community and storytelling.
toes of a different body, the Unquoted Companies Group (UCG), which brought together a small group of private family-owned companies, and was highly respected for its lobbying work. But, as the IFB grew, the need for a unified political voice became undeniable. That was eventually realised under Ross Warburton’s chairmanship. He oversaw the merger of the IFB with the UCG, chaired at the time by Michael Worley, transforming the IFB from a purely learning network into a powerful advocacy group. Grant Gordon reflects on the current political climate, describing it as ‘Back to the Future’. “The issues that galvanised the UCG in the 1970s – specifically the threat of inheritance tax to the survival of family firms, have returned. The world hasn’t changed,” says Grant, “the issues are exactly the same. The family business sector will continue to be a strong contributor to our nation’s prosperity and will adapt.” The enduring value of peer learning Despite the changes in government policy and the economic landscape over 25 years, both Alex Scott and Grant Gordon agree that the core
“There is no right answer in family business,”
From the outset, Alex and Grant were clear about how the IFB would distinguish itself from other business groups. “We wanted to be an inclusive organisation that would be welcoming not just to executives, but to all owners,” says Alex. The vision was to create a “safe space” for learning with a central pillar of “stewardship”. arly debates focused on how family businesses nurtured their assets. “We talked about the importance of people, financial and family capital as well as social capital, and the value of trust,” recalls Grant. “Stewardship was about the family’s relationship with the business – how you steward assets for the long term.” This focus on responsible ownership has been a cornerstone of the organisation ever since, helping families distinguish
Alex says. “Every family has its own culture. But nothing can replace the impact of hearing a fellow business owner share their war stories.” In 2023 the IFB rebranded as Family Business UK, growing significantly over the last two years. From a gamble on a conference in 2001, to a leading national organisation, FBUK proves the power, and value, of shared experience. The living, breathing community, created by Alex and Grant that sits at the heart of the organisation, remains its greatest asset. The continued success of FBUK is, says Alex Scott, his proudest achievement. Not because of what he and Grant did 25 years ago, but because of what has followed. “The entity is stronger, better, and more effective than when we created it,” he says. “Succession is the critical achievement for any family business and we have been succeeded.”
their unique strengths in an increasingly corporate world. Finding a voice in Westminster
The early years of the IFB focused on community building and education. The organisation deliberately avoided policy work so as not to step on the
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