Search on for Midlands’ Best Family Business

THE search for the best family business in the Midlands is gathering momentum following the official launch of the Midlands Family Business Awards.

The not-for-profit awards, being underwritten by insurance broker and financial advisor The Wilson Organisation, is looking for nominations from the region’s best run family-run businesses and their leaders.

Hilary Campton, project manager, said interest in the awards was already high.

“Since the awards’ official launch in Leicester, the number of visitors to the website has surpassed all expectations and there seems to be a real ‘buzz’ across the region about the awards, which will for the first time turn the spotlight on the Midlands’ family businesses.”

Entries are free and can be made online at the website www.familybusinessawards.co.uk until June 30.

“Businesses can enter as many categories as they wish and for which they are eligible, and the awards are open to any Midlands-based family business regardless of their size or industry sector,” said Ms Campton.

“Businesses can also make submissions on behalf of clients’ or friends’ family businesses.”

Headline category of the new awards scheme – The Family Business of the Year – is sponsored by RSM Tenon, with other individual category sponsors including EFG Private Bank, Connect Midlands, Aviva, Young & Pearce Solicitors, AXA Elevate, Blusource and The Mitre Group, with additional support from East Midlands Development Agency.

Further categories will recognise: Best development of talent; Overcoming adversity; Personal excellence; Development of international markets; Business innovation of the year; Fastest growing family business; Commitment to the community; Leading adviser to family businesses and Best newly established family business.

Designed as a not-for-profit venture, all proceeds from the awards will go to charities supporting young enterprise and young people – The Children’s Society, The Willow Foundation, which provides special days for seriously ill young adults, and The Venture Foundation, which offers educational, health and fitness programmes to young people considered ‘at risk’ and who have fallen out of the education and care system.

The panel of judges includes: James Timpson, managing director of Timpson, Tim Storer, managing director of Pukka Pies, Peter Thornton, former chairman of confectioner Thorntons, Peter Leach, author of Family Businesses: The Essentials, Grant Gordon, director general of the Institute for Family Business, Judy Naake, founder of St Tropez, Carrie Rubins, director of Pentland Group and Mark Samworth, of Samworth Brothers.

“Once all the entries have been received, the judges will assess the submissions and decide on a shortlist of five businesses for each of the ten categories,” said Ms Campton.

“Shortlisted businesses will be invited to an informal interview with the judging panel during September. The judges for each category will then have the task of whittling down their shortlist to two runners-up and a winner, who will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 11.”

The Wilson Organisation, based in Nottingham, provides professional independent insurance, financial, risk management and corporate finance solutions to businesses and individuals both regionally and nationally.