"AND THE WINNER IS'…….ALUMINIUM REFINING MANUFACTURERS FROM STAFFORDSHIRE SCOOPS COUTTS NATIONAL PRIZE FOR FAMILY BUSINESS. Jesse Brough Metals International named 'Best UK Family Business£5-25m turnover category'
Jesse Brough Metals International, was last night awarded the accolade of 'Best UK Family Business, in the £5-25m turnover category of the Coutts Prize for Family Business 2007/ 2008. Faced with tough competition, the family competed in the final stage of the prize against Beales Hotel, and Headland Hotel Co Ltd to take home the top prize from the ceremony held at the Coutts headquarters in London.
Staffordshire based, Jesse Brough Metals International was founded in 1979. JBMI are aluminium refining manufacturers and recyclers of aluminium waste. They have established a strong position in the UK market and are engaging on a worldwide expansion, rolling out new technologies to smelters in Australia, Thailand and Iceland.
Roger Pedder, Chairman, independent evaluation committee, commented:
"As a successful second generation business, the evaluation committee members were impressed by:
Mark Evans, Head of Family Business & Philanthropy, Coutts & Co, commented: "Most successful business people know about the importance of predicting and managing the strategic, compliance, financial and operational issues that could affect the success of their business. Successful family business owners however, also have a process for managing family risks as well, so as not to see the business completely caught off guard by something unexpected like the sudden death of a family business leader or disagreement over who is entitled to own shares."
Coutts Senior Family Business Adviser, Juliette Johnson added, "What shines through is the strength of the family's values which have been embedded in the culture of the business over the years. These values influence how and why things get done and act as the glue binding the family and the business together. They encourage the family to develop as responsible stewards of the business which is a key factor to the successful evolution of any family business."
The Coutts Prize for Family Business recognises the best run family businesses in England and Wales within three turnover categories (£1m-5m, £5m-£25m, £25m+) that demonstrate a combination of high standards of family governance and corporate governance, a competitive market position, consistent financial growth, and a track record of charitable giving or involvement in local community. Entrants must be companies or firms where two or more family members together have control of over 25% of the voting shares and consider themselves as a family business. The awards compliment Coutts successful Forums for Family Business Owners that are held throughout the UK.
More specifically, the independent evaluation committee look for examples of best practice including;
The independent evaluation committee is overseen by Roger Pedder. Roger Pedder was Chairman of C&J Clark Limited (Clarks Shoes), one of the UK's largest private family companies, from 1993-2006. Established in 1825 and is in its sixth generation, Clarks is the leading shoe retailer and brand in the UK and has significant positions in North American, European and Far Eastern markets. He remains Chairman or Non-Executive Director of several private family and private equity backed companies and runs his own company, Fullzone Limited. Roger is also Treasurer of the University of Bath.
As in previous years, winners can choose to work with a distinguished writer who will be commissioned to create a unique biography, or with an experienced portraiture photographer, who will be commissioned to create a special family album. Each of the winners, who select the biography, will receive twenty-five specially bound copies of the first edition. Those who select the album will receive a specially designed album of up to eighty photographs with personalised covers.
For the first time, winners can also choose to work with Duncan Ward, Principal Composer for the National Youth Orchestra and BBC Young Composer of the Year to create a classical, contemporary or jazz musical composition to be used on the company web site, in film clips and promotional videos, or on telephones. Winners who select this option, will receive a beautifully bound score, together with a professional CD recording based on up to a maximum 10 players or singers and 5 minutes in length.
Over 250 people attended the awards and international singing waiters show, the Three Waiters. Inspired by the winners' good work, Coutts organised a charity raffle and donated £5,000 to Horobin Ltd for the company to donate to a small independent charity or community organisation of their choice.
The National Committee Members were: Roger Pedder, Former Chairman, C & J Clark Limited; Andrew Allan, Managing Director, Active Assistance; Lucy Armstrong Chief Executive, The Alchemists (Northern) Limited; John Freeman, Family Business Specialist, Families in Business;
David Frost, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce; Jonathan Hagger, Chief Financial
Officer,Grosvenor Estate; David Harvey, Chief Executive, Society of Trust and Estate
Practitioners (STEP); Michael Maslinski, Director, Maslinski & Co; Edward Nicholson, Managing
Partner, Mercator Partnership Limited; William Notcutt, Deputy Chairman, Notcutts Limited;
Peter Bishop, Deputy Chief Executive, London Chamber of Commerce; Chris Swaffin-Smith,
Principal, Family Business Reflections; Andrew Wates, Chairman, Wates Family Holdings.
Nomination packs for the 'Coutts Prize for Family Business 2008/9' will be distributed between 1 September – 31 October 2008. To reserve a pack email rob.jacob@coutts.com
For further media information on Coutts contact:
Jo Thorne, PR Manager, Coutts & Co on 0207 957 2650 or mobile 07855411626 or e-mail joanna.thorne@coutts.com
Notes to Editors
·Coutts & Co is the UK private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is one of the world's largest banking groups.
·The first Coutts & Co regional office to be opened was Eton in 1961. Today, Coutts & Co has regional offices in Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Eton, Guildford, Hampshire, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading and Tunbridge Wells.
·Coutts & Co offers clients a range of products and services covering sophisticated investment products together with expertise in trust and fiduciary services and UK tax and banking services. Coutts commercial banking arm also provides full banking service to UK businesses.
·Coutts & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Coutts & Co Registered in England No 36695Registered Office 440 Strand London WC2R 0QS.
·Call may be recorded.
