Allcooper Limited wins  Coutts  Prize  for  Family  Business

Gloucester based fire and security systems specialist company named ‘Best UK Family Business £1-5m turnover category’

Last night, Allcooper Limited from Gloucester was named ‘Best UK Family Business, in the £1-5m turnover category of the Coutts Prize for Family Business 2008/9. The family beat off stiff competition from Anglo Recycling Technology and funeral directors, J.J. Burgess & Sons at the national finals held at the Coutts headquarters on the Strand in London.

Allcooper’s are leaders in the fire & security industry, providing installation and maintenance services for their customers. The types of systems include, fire systems, intruder alarms, CCTV cameras, access control and physical security solutions. Based out of Gloucestershire, the company employs 62 full time staff and operates across the UK, servicing domestic and commercial clients and corporations, including a number of government departments. Their London division provides bespoke solutions and consultancy for many private individuals and high net worth customers requiring a unique personal service.

Roger Pedder, former Chairman, C & J Clark Limited (Clarks Shoes) and Chairman of the evaluation committee commented: “As a successful second generation family business, the things that impressed the evaluation committee about Allcooper Limited included;

•  the strong family values displayed; 
• the active use of non-family non-executive directors;
• the involvement of father as trusted adviser and third generation learning the ropes • the families daily performance metrics and lead-by-example management;
• the entrepreneurial flair and track record of continuous innovation;
• the healthy attitude to corporate social responsibility from energy efficient vehicles to recycling; and
• •the meaningful corporate philanthropy from donations to cystic fibrosis and involvement in various community initiatives.

Mark Evans, Head of Family Business, Coutts & Co, commented: “In today’s tough times, it is more important than ever to leverage the competitive advantage of being a family business. Becoming a Coutts Prize for Family Business National Winner is a unique differentiator that can be used in cementing relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees.”

Juliette Johnson, Senior Family Business Adviser, Coutts & Co added "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.”

The Coutts Prize recognises firms in three 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.

More specifically, the independent evaluation committee was looking for examples of best practice including;

• the strength of the family’s values;
• the involvement of the family;
• communication and planning; 
•  the separation of ‘ownership’ and ‘management’;
• the use of external, independent advice;
• the development of a succession planning process;
• next generation development;
• conflict management; and
• philanthropy and charitable involvement.

The independent evaluation committee is overseen by Roger Pedder, former 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, including Spa&Salon International.

The evaluation committee includes: National Chairman Roger Pedder, Former Chairman, C & J Clark Limited and National Committee Members; Lucy Armstrong Chief Executive, The Alchemists (Northern) Limited; Peter Bishop, Deputy Chief Executive, London Chamber of Commerce; Jonathan Hagger, Former Chief Financial Officer, Grosvenor Estate Dr Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Senior Lecturer, Entrepreneurship Henley Business School, University of Reading; David Johnson, Director, Leaders Matter; Peter Leach, Family Business Consultant and Teacher; David Molian, Lecturer, Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurial Performance and Economics; Edward Nicholson, Managing Partner, Mercator Partnership Limited; William Notcutt, Deputy Chairman, Notcutts Limited; Farouk Sheikh, Founder and Executive Chairman, Care Tech Holdings plc.

The National Winners are invited to choose one of the following Prizes:

• To create a video diary enabling them to communicate their family values for posterity;
• To produce a collection of portrait photographs conveying the essence of their family business; or
• To attend a four day Coutts Cranfield Family Business Programme to consider new ways of developing their business.

For further information about the Coutts Prize for Family Prize visit www.coutts.com/familybusiness  
 
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 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, Cheltenham, Eton, Exeter, 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 36695 Registered Office 440 Strand London WC2R 0QS.
• Call may be recorded.