Conference inspires family businesses

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Conference inspires family businesses

In the August issue of the Lincoln Bailgate Independant magazine, The Family Business Network have got a super double page spread which reviews our inaugural conference in the East Midlands. Read the full article below:

“Family business could lead the way in responsible and sustainable commerce according to a keynote speaker at a new specialist conference in Lincoln.
The first East Midlands Family Business Conference took place at the city’s International Bomber Command Centre. With a high-profile speaker line-up and packed agenda, the event was the first conference to take place in the region purely dedicated to family businesses and those that support the sector.
Cal Bailey, former Director of Sustainability for international engineering group NG Bailey told delegates being socially and environmentally conscious was not an unprofitable way forward.  Other subjects covered included: succession over generations of family businesses; business coaching and employing non-family members in senior positions.

Kate O’Meara who runs Lincoln’s Cheese Society with her daughter Lucie Nock, was impressed by the range of speakers and how honest and open they had been about problems in their own business. “I feel like I’ve really learned something and do have ideas we can look at for our own business.”

Organised by The Family Business Network, which runs similar conference events in Cumbria and Lancashire, the capacity audience heard from a number of family business owners, next generation successors and business leaders working within family firms.
Sue Howorth, founder of the Network said: “We’ve been delighted by the positive feedback that we’ve received from everyone following the event. It was so encouraging to see the event come together as we’d hoped, with a real supportive atmosphere and willingness to share experiences and advice.
“The beauty of our conferences is that, unlike many others, the people who attend share a common set of values, needs and challenges and this encourages them to speak openly about their journeys. This, combined with the interactive nature of our live interviews and topical discussions, lends itself to effective peer to peer learning which is at the heart of what we do.”
Dave Clarkson, Business Development Director for Langleys Solicitors and family business champion said he hoped the conference would inspire businesses moving forward and that all delegates were able to take a couple of ideas away with them.
“Given the success of this inaugural event, we are confident that the East Midlands Family Business Conference is an event that will build and develop year on year. Next year the conference will take place in Nottingham on 2nd July and we are lucky enough to already have several speakers committed.”
For more information or to find out how to get involved with the East Midlands Family Business Conference 2020 on Thursday 2nd July, please visit our webpage or email [email protected].

The 2019 conference was run in partnership with Streets Accountants and Langleys Solicitors and was supported by The Wilson Organisation, Western Pensions Solutions, Wrapped Agency, Family Business United and Camilla Carlbom of Immingham based Carlbom Shipping Ltd.

To read the full August Issue Bailgate Independant magazine, click here