'AND THE WINNER IS'…….HOSPITALITY COMPANY FROM CORNWALL SCOOPS COUTTS NATIONAL PRIZE FOR FAMILY BUSINESS.The Hotel and Extreme Academy Ltd named 'Best UK Family Business, £1-5m turnover category'
The Hotel and Extreme Academy Ltd, was last night awarded the accolade of 'Best UK Family Business, in the £1-5m turnover category of the Coutts Prize for Family Business 2007/8. Faced with tough competition, the family competed in the final stage of the prize against home insurance building repair specialist Regent Development Ltd and international freight forwarding company Newbreed Freight Ltd to take home the top prize from the ceremony held at the Coutts headquarters in London.
The hospitality business in Watergate Bay, Cornwall has been in operation since 1967. Often described as a ski resort on a beach, the Hotel and Extreme Academy is a beach lifestyle destination, offering accommodation, sports tuition, sports equipment for hire and retail. Future planned projects include the development of an Eco-village and a destination spa. Since 2000, the turnover of the business has increased from £1.1m to £5m and the number of employees has increased from 10 to 95.
Roger Pedder, Chairman, of the 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[] 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 ArmstrongChief Executive, The Alchemists (Northern) Limited;John Freeman, Family Business Specialist, Families in Business; David Frost,Director General, British Chambers of Commerce; Jonathan Hagger, Chief FinancialOfficer, Grosvenor Estate; David Harvey, Chief Executive, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP); Michael Maslinski, Director, Maslinski & Co; Edward Nicholson, ManagingPartner, 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
