Previous Page

Coutts & Co hosts family business forum at Blenheim Palace for Thames Valley clients

On 20 October, Coutts’ offices in the Thames Valley will co-host an evening at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, for family businesses from across the region, examining in practical terms the challenges that currently face family firms.

The event, ‘Getting the family to work together’ is the latest in a series to take place throughout the country, giving family business owners the opportunity to engage in interactive debates, discussions and case studies that offer practical advice and real life examples to share with family members and colleagues.

The forum will be hosted by Paul Johnson, Coutts’ Managing Partner for the Thames Valley and will include the following speakers:

• Gerard Cooper, Joint Managing Director, Allcooper Limited, the award-winning family-owned security solutions company serving the UK and Europe. Gerard will talk on ‘Making a succession of succession.’ He will explain how it all started for the business and the journey taken as it developed. He will explore the challenges faced and how they have managed conflict along the way and are planning for the next generation and future. Allcooper was one of the national winners of the Coutts Prize for Family Business in 2008/9.
  
• Juliette Johnson, Head of UK Family Business, Coutts & Co. Juliette will talk on the subject of ‘Getting the family to work together.’ Using an interactive case study, she will outline the challenges that surround family members working together in their family business and some of the planning needed to manage the issues that arise as a result.

Juliette Johnson said: "Having siblings work together in a family business can create a powerful and cohesive management team yet can bring with it some challenges. Siblings will have their own individual style of working and each will have their own vision for the future. The key to getting families to work together is the careful management of their differences and the development of open communication and clarity in everything they do.

"Working closely with clients over the years has shown us that family businesses benefit from hearing the concerns and thoughts of others that have been in similar positions themselves. It helps families to identify future challenges and provides comfort and support, making them realise that their own situation is neither unique nor impossible."

Paul Johnson added, "Family businesses make up a considerable section of Coutts clients in the Thames Valley and we are delighted to continue to show our support for them with this event. As a company that started off as a family business, we look forward to sharing our experiences."

The forum is free to attend and is open to family business owners and employees of a business with an annual turnover greater than £5m. Contact Rob Jacob on 0207 649 4046 or email robert.jacob@coutts.com for more information on attending.

• Important Information & FSCS
• Security
• Privacy & Cookies Policy
• Accessibility
• Sitemap