Coutts 2006 Prize for Family Business Regional Winner

Sarah Deaves, Bharat Rughani, Rakesh Rugahni and Sir Robert Worcester

Visioncare Eye Clinic
Winner Best Family Buisness
Turnover Category £1-5m London & Greater London Region

Optometrists, Visioncare Eye Clinic in Harrow, Barnet and Harley Street was last night named ‘Best UK Family Business, London and Greater London Region’, in the £1-5m turnover category of the Coutts 2006 Prize for Family Business. The company will now go on to compete in the £1-5M category, at the national final to be held in central London on 6 June.

The Coutts 2006 Prize for Family Business recognises the best run family businesses in England and Wales, and compliments Coutts successful Family Business Forum that is held throughout the UK. Mark Evans, Head of Family Business, Coutts & Co, commented: “With a 300 year history of working with family businesses, Coutts has a special understanding of the enormous contribution family firms make to both the economy and society, as well as the specific challenges they face.

“Now in its second year the Coutts Prize for Family Business is the only regional and national awards programme in England and Wales celebrating the overall best performing small, medium-sized and large family businesses. The interview process acts as a company health check.”

Founded in 1984 by two brothers, Bharat and Prakesh Rughani, Visioncare Eye Clinic operates optometrists and dispensing opticians advising on eye care and eye wear.  Visioncare recently achieved the IIP award, was short-listed for UK contact-lens practice of the year 2005 by Optician Magazine and has also won a prize awarded by the local Primary Care Trust.

Sir Robert Worcester regional chairman of the evaluation committee commented:

“As a successful first generation optometrists and dispensing opticians the things that impressed the evaluation committee about Visioncare Eye Clinic included:

  • the use of outside mentors in reviewing the strategic direction of the business and helping to come up with new ideas;
  • the use of family members who are not shareholders as advisors;
  • the introduction of innovative products such as 'orthokeratology' as an alternative to laser eye surgery, and dry-eye and wet-eye clinics;
  • the level of community involvement including the particular care paid to looking after older people who are housebound; and
  • the approach to philanthropy including the collection and distribution of spectacles and second-hand equipment to developing countries.”