175th anniversary
each generation has done what was needed to keep our business moving forward. That sense of responsibility to those who came before us, and to those who will come after, remains at the heart of what we do. None of this would have been possible without the people who work with us today and those who have worked with us over the years. We are fortunate to have a team of skilled, committed and talented individuals who care about their work and about each other. Their experience, loyalty and willingness to go “the extra mile” are what keep the business strong. They are a vital part of our story and we are grateful for the role each person plays. We are equally thankful to our clients and suppliers, many of whom have worked with us for years and, in some cases, generations. Strong, long-term relationships built on trust and mutual respect have always mattered more to us than quick wins. As we acknowledge this anniversary year, we do so in an understated way, being true to who we are. Unlike the organisers of the first World’s Fair, we won’t be making a great exhibition. The best way we know how to honour 175 years in business is to keep delivering, keep improving and keep doing right by the people who rely on us. I am mindful of the analogy that our job “is to pass on the fire, not worship the ashes”.
than celebration for its own sake. Being in business for 175 years is not about one single achievement or moment of success. It is the result of countless ordinary days done well: working hard, keeping promises, learning from mistakes and passing on knowledge from one generation to the next. Each generation has faced its own challenges, from adapting markets and technologies to wider economic pressures and world-changing events like the First and Second World Wars and, more recently, the international Covid lockdown. I certainly never imagined that our usually bustling warehouses and manufacturing facilities would become eerily silent face visor assembly lines, with our print operators, designers, admin teams and others working to make NHS- approved PPE for medical teams on the frontline. That is an extreme example of what we all know: that running a family business can be unpredictable and dramatic. Today, we are living through a fourth industrial revolution, an era defined by the rise of AI, which will transform how we live, work and interact. The key to longevity is how we react to the uncertainty and create opportunity from adversity. At Linney,
Miles Linney Chief Executive W&J Linney limited
The Great Exhibition of 1851 was the defining event of a landmark year. Queen Victoria, Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens all visited London’s Hyde Park to marvel at a spectacular showcase of innovation in technology, manufacturing and communication. Meanwhile, 140 miles away in Mansfield town centre, William Linney opened a bookshop. Seven generations and 175 years later, Linney remains a family enterprise rooted in Mansfield and deeply connected to its local community. We’ll never know what was going through William’s mind when he opened his shop door for the first time, but I doubt he would have imagined his humble book-selling business would evolve to become a 45-acre hi-tech campus with a workforce of more than 1,200 people providing marketing services to some of the world’s biggest brands. This year marks an important milestone for us – one that we rightly recognise with a sense of pride. But it is also a moment for reflection rather
Bookshop – circa 1922
Linney typesetting – circa 1947
FBUK Issue 8 24
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