Final call for family business awards

Oct 20 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

THE final call is going out for North East family businesses to enter this year's Coutts awards.

The deadline for the family business competition, which is now in its fifth year, is October 31. The competition is looking for winners from three regions - the North, London and Greater London and Southern England and Wales.

David Simpson, senior client partner for Coutts in Newcastle, said: “Up to 75% of businesses in the North East are run by families and across the UK these family businesses account for a large share of UK GDP and employment.

“They also enter each and every one of our lives far more than we realise, from the wine we drink and the cars we drive to the offices and homes we work and live in.

“Yet even today, much of their work goes largely unrecognised by society.”

To qualify for the free to enter awards, businesses must:

Have their headquarters in England or Wales.

Be wholly or mainly carrying on a trading activity.

Be companies or firms over which the family have significant influence.

Consider themselves to be a family business, though family members need not be involved in the management of the firm.

Have been profitable in at least two of the last three years.

Nomination forms are available by telephoning (0207) 649 4046 or emaining robert.jacob@coutts.com.