The Face of Family Business

Rose Calendars is a fourth generation family business and has been a member of Family Business United (‘FBU’) for a number of years. FBU this week announced the launch of ‘The Face of Family Business 2021’ which is their latest campaign to put the family business sector on the map. Comprising ‘faces’ of over 200 family business members, the face encapsulates the true spirit and diversity of the family business sector across the UK today.

Leading family figures included in the montage span the whole of the UK include Lord Bamford (JCB), Stephen Bagnall (Bagnalls), Derrick Potter (Potter Space), John Falder (HMG Paints), Maria Whitehead MBE (Hawkshead Relish) and Jacqueline O’Donovan (O’Donovan Waste Management) as well as Joyce Onuonga, the owner of Scotland’s oldest family business, John White & Sons who are based in Auchtermuchty. We are delighted to see our recently passed Chairman Chris Rose taking a prominent position in the graphic, and feel it creates a fitting tribute to his memory, having worked in our business for over 60 years.

There are over 6 million family firms across the UK today, employing over 12 million people and as a collective body they make a significant contribution to the economy of the UK through the provision of jobs, creation of wealth and income generation, not to mention the good they do in their local communities too. Values which are common within family businesses are a good reason to choose them as a supplier, as honesty, integrity, loyalty and commitment go hand-in-hand with excellent customer service.

As Paul Andrews, Founder and Managing Director of FBU explains, “I have been championing the family business sector for over 20 years and 2021 sees us celebrating the tenth anniversary of the creation of Family Business United and we wanted to do something to celebrate.  Family firms are the backbone of the UK economy with family firms the length and breadth of the nation.  The ‘face’ represents the sector in a way that has never been portrayed before, celebrating the old and the new, together with the diversity of family business leadership too.”

“The ‘face’ is a great way to celebrate the importance of family firms across the UK who over the past 18 months have shown their resilience and strength in dealing with the pandemic.  Many of the individuals featured are involved with long-standing family businesses that have been around for generations and see themselves as custodians of the business for future generations, continuing making decisions for the long term, innovating and demonstrating entrepreneurship to achieve their goals,” continues Paul.

“It was a real pleasure collating the ‘face’ and we really do feel that this is a positive endorsement of the diversity of the family business sector across the UK today,” concludes Paul.

Michael Rose, Managing Director and fourth generation at Rose Calendars said “We are proud to be a British family business and to be able to remember my father and the legacy he created as part of this campaign. It is fascinating to see all the key faces of people who have brought family business to where it is today.”

FBU is a global champion of the family business sector and shares insights, news, research and much more.  The ‘face’ is the latest innovative campaign undertaken by FBU to put the family business sector on the map and raise awareness of the important contribution they make, each and every day.