Family Business UK strengthens board with Rigby Group chief
Steve Rigby, Co-CEO of Rigby Group, has been appointed Chair of Family Business UK (FBUK), the UK’s largest organisation representing family-owned firms.
He takes over from Sir James Wates CBE, who is stepping down after four years in the role.
Rigby has been a director at FBUK since 2023. His appointment comes as the organisation steps up its policy engagement with government and stakeholders on issues affecting private family businesses.
He said: “Building companies that flourish is in my blood and I am relishing the opportunity to use this experience to support FBUK’s important work. It is a critical time for our sector. The conditions for growing a family business, such as my own, have become more difficult in recent times. The changes to BPR announced in last October’s budget, present us with a clear challenge. Our vision at FBUK is to be the leading voice for private and family businesses in the UK. I believe to wield influence on BPR, our voice needs to carry the same weight as other leading business groups. We have made great strides in the past year and I look forward to building on this in the years ahead.”
The Stratford Upon Avon organisation has also announced Charlie Field, deputy chair of CPJ Field, as its new deputy chair.
Joining the board as advisers are Lord Iain McNicol, former Labour Party General Secretary, and Alison Phillips, former editor of the Daily Mirror.
New board directors include Rupert Heseltine, chairman of Haymarket Group, and Sarah Naghshineh, COO of RCP Parking.
FBUK has been active in recent political discussions, raising concerns about issues like US trade tariffs, the Employment Rights Bill, and changes to Business Property Relief (BPR).
Research commissioned by the organisation suggests that BPR changes could put around 180,000 jobs at risk and reduce economic activity by nearly £15bn.
Neil Davy, CEO of FBUK said: “For too long, the voice of private and family businesses has been missing from national and local policy debates and issues that matter to family businesses have been missed by policymakers. These Board appointments make it abundantly clear that we plan to change that. Family-owned businesses are the beating heart of Britain’s economy employing millions of people in communities in every corner of the UK. The changes to BPR create material uncertainty and threaten their long-term success. But, private family businesses are impacted by far more than BPR and it is vital we properly represent their interests on a broad range of policy proposals right across government.”
