An exciting and varied line-up of guest speakers are set to take centre stage at the inaugural Lincolnshire Family Business Conference on Thursday 4^th July.

Held at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, the conference has been organised by The Family Business Network, in partnership with Langleys Solicitors and Streets Chartered Accountants.

Forming the guest speaker line-up are family business owners and next generation successors, who have agreed to share their unique stories and experiences of running a family firm and lessons learnt along the way.

Dave Clarkson, Business Development Director for Langleys Solicitors and family business champion, says “Within Lincolnshire, there is a great diversity of family businesses who each have a fascinating story to tell, from how they came about and how they developed, to the challenges that they’ve faced and their aims for the future. It’s these stories that really resonate with people”.

Alongside Cal Bailey, former Director at NG Bailey and Phoebe Bagnall, the sixth generation to join Bagnalls Painting and Decorating contractors is Guy Schanschieff of Northampton-based Bambino Mio, the largest reusable nappy company in the world. Speaking about his involvement in the upcoming conference, Guy Schanschieff said, “The conference will be a great event for companies looking to network with and learn from established family businesses of different shapes and sizes. With our recent successes, I hope that the insights I share will contribute to these learnings and inspire other family businesses.”

Another member of the speaker line-up is Lincolnshire-based Melanie Tillett of Tillett’s Clothing, a business established by Melanie in 2006 to provide quality ladies clothing at affordable prices.  Melanie has two daughters, Grace and Nancy who work within the business and who together have ambitious plans for the future of Tillett’s.

Speaking about the conference, Melanie said “I am so excited to be involved in the first Family Business Conference to take place in Lincolnshire. As the Managing Director of a family owned business myself, I know how vital these events are to encourage development and share knowledge with one another. Running a business, you will encounter many challenges along the way and attending a conference like this alongside people who are facing those same challenges can be truly inspiring and rewarding.”

The latest additions to the speaker line-up include family business owners, Jon Perkins and Jason Freezer.  Jason is the co-founder of Bright Side Vets, a forward-thinking veterinary practise based in Swadlincote which he set up with his wife Kelly, a qualified Vet.

Jon Perkins is the Managing Director of hospitality businesses Perkins Family and Baresca Tapas Limited.  Responsible for finance, creative design and project managing their new site openings, Jon has a hands-on approach to the business. Working alongside his brother, David Perkins and Sarah Newham, they have opened three venues in Nottingham and West Bridgford since taking over the reins of their parents’ business, Perkins Bar Bistro in 2002.

Sue Howorth, founder of The Family Business Network explains, “We have found from running these conferences in the past, that one of the most beneficial aspects are the ideas and lessons that family businesses take away with them.  Peer to peer learning is at the heart of what we do at the Network and this includes creating a safe environment for businesses to share experiences”.

The conference agenda will include live interviews with family businesses, topical discussions, networking with like-minded family businesses and of course the guest speaker talks.

James Pinchbeck of event partner, Streets Chartered Accountants will host one of the panel sessions alongside guests Christopher Oughtred – former fifth-generation chairman at the UK’s William Jackson Food Group, Professor Ted Fuller the UNESCO Chair on Responsible Foresight for Sustainable Development at Lincoln International Business School,  Peter Denby of Denby Transport, Sam Kirk of J-Flex and David Williams of 3W Growth. The session will explore the role of non-family members holding senior positions in family businesses.

The Conference will run from 9:30am – 4pm on Thursday 4^th July 2019 at the International Bomber Command Centre, Canwick Avenue, Lincoln LN4, 2HQ and tickets can be booked online costing just £45 each including lunch.

The conference is being run in partnership with Streets Accountants and Langleys Solicitors and is supported by The Wilson Organisation, Western Pensions Solutions (part of the family owned Vestey Group), Wrapped Agency, Family Business United and Camilla Carlbom of Immingham based Carlbom Shipping Ltd.