Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply click on the link for a region below and vote for your favourite. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United, organisers of these awards, adds: "The People's Choice awards are always hotly contested and over the years thousands of votes have been cast to determine the regional winners." "These are the only awards on the night that are determined by the public vote and there is something truly special about being recognised by people that have actually taken the time to vote for the family firms that they care about - as employees, customers, suppliers and stakeholders." "We have crowned some incredible winners in the past and this year the competition is strong so we look forward to seeing who gets the popular vote and takes home the titles in June." As well as the regional awards the votes are tallied and an overall National People's Choice Winner is crowned on the night. Vote for your favourites using the regional links below: East & East Anglia - vote here London & South East - vote here Midlands & Central - vote here North of England - vote here Scotland - vote here South of England - vote here South West & Wales - vote here Yorkshire - vote here

Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious Yorkshire People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply vote for your favourite in this region. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards  Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. Vote here:

Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious South West & Wales People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply vote for your favourite in this region. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards  Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. Vote here:

Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious South of England People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply vote for your favourite in this region. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards  Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. Vote here:

Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious Scottish People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply vote for your favourite in this region. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards  Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. Vote here:

Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious North of England People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply vote for your favourite in this region. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards  Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. Vote here:

Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious Midlands & Central People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply vote for your favourite in this region. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards  Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. Vote here:

Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious London & South East People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply vote for your favourite in this region. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards  Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. Vote here:

Family Business United is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the prestigious East & East Anglia People's Choice Family Business of the Year Award. Voting is open until April 30 to vote for your favourite family firms from those shortlisted to take home a regional title and be in the running for the National People's Choice Award 2026. Family firms have been shortlisted for the awards by region so simply vote for your favourite in this region. One vote per person per device (any duplicates will not be counted and will be removed during the validation process) and the winners will be announced at the National Family Business Awards  Gala Evening taking place in London on June 17. Vote here:

As part of a commitment to protect and enhance the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Perdue Farms has renewed its support of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay with a $20,000 investment it its annual Project Clean Stream initiative. Lauren Sauder, capacity building projects manager for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay commented: “Project Clean Stream is a community-based initiative and wouldn’t be possible without people volunteering to pick up litter before it reaches their local waterway. It is paramount to have companies like Perdue investing in this project." “It enables the Alliance to ensure cleanup supplies remain free, lowering the barrier to environmental stewardship and enabling people to readily take local action. Perdue has become a pillar in this initiative. Thank you to the Perdue team for empowering their employees, continuing to support Project Clean Stream, and for their ongoing commitment to the Chesapeake Bay.” The grant is funded through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the company’s charitable giving partner, and aligns with Perdue’s Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors® outreach to improve quality of life and build strong communities. Project Clean Stream is the Alliance’s annual program that links thousands of volunteers from communities and companies in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to collect trash before it reaches creeks, rivers and streams. Perdue associates have contributed many volunteer hours in cleanups across its watershed communities. Since 2008, Perdue has provided $100,000 in financial support to Project Clean Stream, and its associates have delivered more than 24,000 volunteer hours. They are among the thousands of volunteers who participate in Project Clean stream cleanups annually throughout the watershed states of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, and Washington D.C. Ben Hildebrand, director of environmental sustainability for Perdue Farms commented: “Our renewed commitment to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and Project Clean Stream is about putting our stewardship and teamwork values in action. " "By combining financial support with the time and energy of our associates, we’re able to help protect local waterways in the Bay watershed and strengthen the communities where our associates and neighbours live, work, and raise their families.”

When most people think of the global economy, their minds turn to multinational giants, public corporations, or tech start-ups. Yet behind the scenes, it is family-owned businesses, from small local firms to vast international conglomerates, that quietly form the backbone of prosperity, employment and innovation across the world. Recent studies shed light on just how immense their collective impact truly is. An Economy Within An Economy According to the latest global index compiled by the University of St Gallen and EY, the 500 largest family businesses generate an astonishing US $8.8 trillion in annual revenues and employ more than 25 million people in 44 countries. If they were a single nation, their combined output would make them the third-largest economy in the world, behind only the United States and China. But the influence of family firms extends far beyond the elite few. Research from McKinsey & Company suggests that family-owned enterprises contribute over 70 per cent of global GDP and provide around 60 per cent of the world’s employment. These are not marginal players, they are the beating heart of the global marketplace. The Scale Of Their Footprint Across the major economies, the figures are striking. In India, nearly four-fifths of GDP is generated by family-owned firms, compared with 70 per cent in Spain and Mexico, 68 per cent in Italy, and roughly two-thirds in the UK and Canada. The Family Business Research Foundation (FBRF) reports that in Britain alone, family firms produced £985 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2023 and employed 15.8 million people, representing 57 per cent of all private-sector jobs. Even more tellingly, they make up over 93 per cent of all private enterprises in the UK. From small rural workshops and family farms to global engineering and retail brands, they are an essential thread in the nation’s economic fabric. Built To Last Longevity is another hallmark of family ownership. Of the world’s top 500 family enterprises, 34 per cent have been in operation for more than a century, and a remarkable 85 per cent for over 50 years. Their ability to weather economic cycles and political change is underpinned by a long-term mindset, one that prioritises stewardship and sustainability over short-term gain. This same outlook is helping family firms to adapt to modern challenges. Deloitte forecasts that the collective revenue of family businesses with turnover above US $100 million will grow by 84 per cent between 2020 and 2030, outpacing their non-family counterparts. The next generation of owners is also embracing technology with enthusiasm: PwC’s 2025 Global Family Business Survey found that 60 per cent view artificial intelligence as a key growth opportunity, and nearly two-thirds list digital transformation as a top priority. A Diverse Yet Unified Story Across Europe, family businesses account for between 70 and 80 per cent of all companies, employing nearly half of the continent’s workforce. This pattern is mirrored in Asia, the Americas and the Middle East, where family ownership remains the dominant model for entrepreneurship and capital formation. Yet despite their diversity, family firms share common values: a deep connection to place, a sense of legacy, and a commitment to employees and communities that transcends quarterly results. These qualities, often underestimated by policymakers, are precisely what make them resilient. The Road Ahead Family businesses are not without challenges. Rising employment costs, succession pressures, and shifts in inheritance taxation are testing their stability, particularly in the UK. But with the right policy environment — one that rewards long-term investment and preserves key reliefs such as Business Property Relief — they can continue to anchor local economies and drive national growth. As governments grapple with the twin demands of fiscal discipline and economic renewal, recognising the scale and significance of the family-business sector is no longer optional. It is essential. Because whether it’s a third-generation manufacturer in Manchester, a family-run vineyard in Tuscany, or a global retail empire still bearing its founder’s name, these enterprises remind us that the story of capitalism is, at its heart, a family affair.

Thousands of beer lovers, who descended on St Austell Brewery’s much-loved Celtic Beer Festival in November last year, have helped raise £18,000 for charity. All funds raised will go directly to St Austell Brewery’s Charitable Trust, which supports vital causes across the South West. Since its launch in 2003, the Trust has donated over £1 million to charities and individuals in need across the region. In 2025 alone, the Trust supported projects ranging from youth mental health services and air ambulance operations, to providing essential care equipment for families and adaptive surf gear for charities. The day-long beer festival transformed the brewery’s historic Victorian cellars into a vibrant venue, with five bars serving more than 100 beers from over 50 UK breweries, which generously donated their beers. Live music filled the space throughout the day, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for beer lovers and the local community. A new Friday night event was introduced this year too – a pre-festival preview kicking off with a beer tasting, hosted by the Craft Beer Channel’s Jonny Garrett. Georgina Young, Brewing Director at St Austell Brewery, said: “The 24th Celtic Beer Festival was a true celebration of beer and community spirit, complete with a brilliant line-up of entertainment and music. It’s a chance for our brewers to show case their creativity and, most importantly, every pint poured helped us raise a huge amount of money, which will make a meaningful difference for charities, individuals and organisations here in the South West.” The Celtic Beer Festival remains St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust’s flagship fundraising event, alongside other initiatives including pub quizzes, sponsored walks and its annual charity gala, which raised £47,000 last year. Teams across the company’s 160+ pub estate also take part in challenges throughout the year, to boost fundraising efforts. The Trust accepts applications for grants year-round from Cornwall up to Somerset. For more information or to apply for a grant, visit here.