London based passenger boat operation business named ‘Best UK Family Business, London and Greater London Region, £5-25m turnover category’
City Cruises Plc from London, has been named ‘Best UK Family Business, London and Greater London Region’, in the £5-25m turnover category of the Coutts Prize for Family Business 2009/10. The company will now go on to compete in the £5-25m category at the national finals to be held in central London on 8 June 2010.
The awards, now in their fifth year, represent the only regional programme in England and Wales celebrating the overall best-performing medium-sized and large family businesses within three regions: Northern England and the Midlands; London & Greater London; and Southern England & Wales. Within the three regions, there are two turnover categories: medium (£5-25m) and large (£25m+).
City Cruises Plc is one of the leading operators of passenger services on the River Thames, carrying over two million people each year on its extensive sightseeing, entertainment and charter services. Run by the first and second generation of the Beckwith family, City Cruises operates 14 passenger carrying boats along with a fleet of support vessels and barges
Christopher Oughtred, Regional Chair of the evaluation committee commented:
"As a successful first and second generation family business, the things that impressed the evaluation committee about City Cruises included:
Juliette Johnson, Head of UK Family Business, Coutts & Co added "We're delighted to provide recognition to this special family business and showcase their achievements for the benefit of other family businesses. What really shines through is the strength of the family's values and culture that runs right through this business which influence how and why things get done and acts as a real competitive advantage”
With the current economic downturn, businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to survive, which therefore increases the value of recognising these family businesses and their work. The companies that scored most highly were the ones that were able to give examples of what they had achieved.
Mark Evans, Head of Coutts institute, Coutts & Co, commented: “Success factors that can help family businesses adapt to the current economic downturn are at the heart of the fifth Coutts Prize for Family Business. It will be equally important to take active steps to manage the family as well as the business to survive the current recession.”
Gary Beckwith, chairman, City Cruises Plc and second generation member of the Beckwith family said: "We are extremely pleased to receive the Coutts Prize for Family Business in recognition of our hard work and family unity. To win an award is a confirmation that what we have been doing is working well and will be a helpful endorsement to our business."
The Coutts Prize for Family Business 2009/10
The Coutts Prize for Family Business, endorsed by organisations such as the British Chambers of Commerce, Cranfield University and the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners, recognises the best run family businesses in England and Wales. It is the only regional and national awards programme in England and Wales celebrating the overall best-performing medium and large family businesses. The Prize complements Coutts’ successful Family Business Forum that is held throughout the UK.
As part of the process, nominations are reviewed by an independent evaluation committee comprised of family business owners, academics and advisers.
The Coutts Prize recognises firms in two categories – medium (£5-25m) and large (£25m+) that demonstrate a combination of high standards of family and corporate governance; a competitive market position; consistent financial growth; and a track record of charitable giving or involvement in the local community.
Entrants have to be companies or firms headquartered in England or Wales that consider themselves to be a family business, wholly or mainly carrying on a trading activity, and that have been profitable in at least two of the past three years.
More specifically, the independent evaluation committee looks for examples of best practice including;
The independent evaluation committee is overseen by Roger Pedder, who was Chairman between 1993 and 2006 of C&J Clark Ltd (Clark Shoes), one of the UK's largest private family companies. It was 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. Roger remains Chairman or Non-Executive Director of several private family and private equity backed companies and runs his own company, Fullzone Limited
The evaluation committee for the London and Greater London region includes: Christopher Oughtred, Former Chairman, William Jackson & Son Limited; Professor David Grayson OBE, Director Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield School of Management; Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Senior Lecturer, Entrepreneurship University of Reading Business School; Peter Leach, Peter Leach LLP; Ian Mash, Mediator and Founder, familydr; William Notcutt, Deputy Chairman, Notcutts Limited; Jack Stopforth, Chairman, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Robert Wilson, Chairman, Nelsons.
Renowned cartoonist, Robert Duncan, will create a unique cartoon for each of the winners, to tell their own story. The cartoons are framed by second generation family business John Jones. Silver plaques are made by third generation family business, Piccadilly Jewellers of Birmingham
- Ends -
For further media information on Coutts contact:
Steve Ainger, Coutts & Co on 0207 753 1255 or e-mail steve.ainger@coutts.com
Notes to Editors
