Welcome from FBUK CEO
Just over three years since joining FBUK (as the IFB, as it was then), there have been a lot of developments within our organisation. There have also been considerable changes to the operating environment that family businesses have needed to navigate through. In the first year of our new Government, we’ve seen material changes to policy affecting our Members. Capping Business Property Relief inevitably sits top of the list, but for all businesses costs are rising, and the implications of the Employments Rights Bill presents a suite of new challenges, which for many represent hinderances to growth, rather than incentives. If nothing else, family businesses exemplify resilience and long- termism. It can be easy to lose sight of that faced with immediate obstacles to growth, but many have been here before and survived to tell the tale. This third edition of our FBUK magazine – which now moves to become a quarterly publication – comes at a time when FBUK marks the beginning of another chapter in our own story. At our AGM in April, Sir James Wates CBE stepped down as FBUK Chairman after four years. Sir James appointed me as CEO as part of his vision for our organisation to move from being a pure membership-based body, to a movement of family businesses wanting to build for the future. Sir James has now passed the mantel over to Steve, whose energy and interventions are already helping us to capitalise on the unique opportunities to be the leading force and voice for private firms and family businesses in the UK. Our unprecedented growth in businesses coming onboard, a growing cohort of Corporate Partners representing the leading advisory firms to the sector, and our growing
alliance of trade bodies has helped create momentum behind our movement. But as Steve has said, we have much to do. Despite the obvious headwinds, it’s the opportunities we have created, the growth of our Membership, our deepening relationships with Government, and our growing visibility and presence in the media that will take FBUK into a new and exciting chapter in our history. I want to thank Sir James and all Board members who have supported myself and the team over the past few years to get us to where we are today. And I want to welcome our new Board who I know will be instrumental in building our future. At my first Conference as CEO in 2022, I said that in any movement, people play different roles and wear different hats. I’m looking forward to working with our new Board, our Partners, trade bodies and our Members as we each play a part in helping build Britian for generations to come.
Neil Davy CEO, Family Business UK
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