Last week the Bell Family won the Red Ribbon Small Family Business of the Year Award at the Family Ties Conference in London. Unfortunately due to this being our busiest time of year no one from the family was able to attend the conference. We were however, represented by our friend and colleague Andrea McKenzie who has kindly wrote a blog on the occasion for us.
I would like to thank everybody at the Family Ties Conference and especially Andrea for stepping in and representing the family.
Judy x
FLYING THE FLAG FOR FAMILY BUSINESS
This month I was lucky enough to represent Shepherds Purse Cheeses at the first Family Ties Conference in London, where I picked up the inaugural Red Ribbon Small Family Business of the Year Award for the company. Well done Shepherds Purse.
Family Ties is designed to meet the needs of the family business community and brought together a wealth of knowledge and experience with speakers such as John Timpson of Timpsons, David Morgan Hewitt, The Goring Hotel, Miranda and Roland Ballard of Muddy Boots, who appeared on BBC’s High Street Dreams and the very down to earth C4 Secret Millionaire, Charlie Mullins from Pimlico Plumbers. They all shared stories with practical insights into how they operate and how they have made a success of their family businesses.
What was really palpable at the conference was the passion and pride in the room from all the speakers and delegates on how family businesses are at the heart of the UK economy. Given the current economic climate the advantages of being a family business are more apparent than ever. Strong values, brand legacy and clear leadership are qualities that continue to differentiate family firms from their non-family counterparts and research has proven that family businesses are better placed to ride out the economic downturn.
The company was awarded Small Family Business of the Year because the judges felt the business really stepped up its game in terms of promoting the family business, both through the media and in its local community, as well as within the trade sector and nationally. They are fantastic ambassadors for the family business sector and continue to actively promote their values.
It was a great day out, meeting some very impressive family run businesses. Shepherds Purse has been invited to speak at next year’s conference to share their ups and downs in building an artisan cheese business from humble beginnings to the multi award-winning company it is today. I look forward to next year’s conference and would encourage any family run firms to get along to event – 13 October 2011.
Andrea McKenzie
ABC Communications
