Family Business Scale-ups: Breaking Barriers to Growth
Policy implications
Ensure that within existing industrial, local and business strategies there is a focus on the growth and resilience
Embed a “family-business” lens in public , private and education-sector solutions – ensuring that market access, talent
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With this in mind, we recommend the following actions, which can be taken across the private and public sectors to support growing family businesses in the mid-market and scaling community in more proactive manner: Adopt a shared definition of mid-sized companies to enable consistency of approach and focus for UK wide policy and regional programmes – with proportionate regulation and governance. 1 The UK’s mid-size-sector businesses hold huge potential and this needs to be harnessed to build a stronger economy at both a national and a regional level. It is important for the government to ensure a consistent approach and champion this throughout the different aspects of policy that are currently being implemented.
of mid-sized family businesses – making sure these are included in dedicated Regional Strategic Account Management and relevant concierge services and fast-tracking of planning permissions. Regional solutions – particularly Strategic Account Management – should be rolled out for scaling and mid-market firms, with attention being paid to family-owned businesses that are deeply embedded in regional economies. As locally anchored companies, their needs should be reflected in regional growth plans, ensuring that initiatives such as the Northern Growth Corridor, the Industrial Strategy and the Trade Strategy use the right data to target support effectively. Planning and infrastructure matters are especially critical for these firms, given their place-based priorities. They want to see planning reforms fully implemented, including improvements to grid connections, alongside sustained investment in green transition projects and regional infrastructure.
development and funding support are tailored to the needs of scaling and mid-market family firms and aligned with their global ambitions. 3.1. Markets Ensure that mid-tier and scaling family businesses are clearly recognised and actively supported in accessing market-opening opportunities – including regional procurement schemes and regional internationalisation programmes. As both exporters and domestic suppliers, these firms want stronger market insights and better connections to key decision-makers. This reinforces the need for additional, well-targeted market access programmes and for regional initiatives that build on proven models such as the London Mayor’s International Business Programme, as well as “meet the buyer” events that open up local supply chains and corporate procurement routes. Similar focused trade programmes can be tailored specifically to scaling and mid-tier family firms. These businesses are also looking for clear, navigable pathways that make exporting easier – from understanding how to use UK Export Finance to accessing “end-to-end” support that connects them with overseas opportunities. The Business Growth Service and planned scale-up services can play a central role in delivering this for the family- business community.
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