Family Business Growth Conference 2026: Legacy Sector or Growth Engine?
What would change if family businesses were treated not as a legacy sector, but as a central part of the UK's growth strategy? That was the question the Family Business Research Foundation put to a room of family business owners, policymakers and researchers at The Guildhall in York on 15 September, at a national conference held in partnership with the University of York and led by Professor Kiran Trehan and Sir Michael Bibby. The day explored the issues that shape family business ownership in the UK, with a particular focus on the role family firms play in driving growth in local economies.
Opening the day
In her opening remarks Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York, called for greater visibility for the economic contribution family businesses make in the UK, and for better recognition of their entrepreneurialism and drive — rather than treating them as things to be preserved.
Sir Michael Bibby, Chairman of Bibby Line Group and of the Family Business Research Foundation, then set out the rationale for a proposed family business research centre at the University of York, built on the evidence base the Foundation has developed over the past several years.
The missing piece in growth policy
James Reed CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of Reed Group, and James Farrar, Chief Executive of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, drew attention to the distinctive character of family businesses, and to how defining features such as trust and social purpose can be harnessed as a foundation for growth.
Growth and policy
A panel chaired by Rita Collins of NatWest examined growth and policy with Jennifer Wood, Chair of the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority Business Board and Chief Executive of O&3 – The Oil Family; Professor Khaled Soufani of Cambridge Judge Business School; and Rachel Lewis, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of IQ Engineers.
Rachel Lewis's account of the realities of growing a family business highlighted the importance of investing in people and skills, the particular blend of leadership skills required, and that money is not always the main motivation.
Social value and local impact
Rennie Hoare of C. Hoare & Co., Tariq Shah, Director of Vigo Group and Private Sector Member of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, and Dr Allan Discua Cruz of Lancaster University's Centre for Family Business shared insights on the different ways family firms contribute to their communities.
Tax, ownership and continuity
The final panel turned to one of the most pressing issues facing family businesses in the UK — tax, ownership and continuity — drawing on research the Foundation has commissioned from Cebr, on which Cebr shared early headline findings with the room ahead of publication, alongside contributions from James Reed and Alex Kevill of Leeds University Business School. The full report will be published in the autumn.
Closing the conference
Closing the day, Professor Trehan emphasised that a centre of this kind would have a mission to make a difference and to influence policy in a neglected area. John Hudson of the School for Business and Society at the University of York drew attention to York's own rich history of family businesses with social purpose, asking whether now is the time to revive the glory days of family businesses in building sustainable local economies across the UK. It was an optimistic note on which to end — and, given the track record of family businesses as social innovators and agents of change, a reasonable one.
With thanks to Dr Vicki Belt, Engagement and Impact Director – Research Centres, Enterprise Research Centre and Gillmore Centre, Warwick Business School, whose account of the day formed the basis of this summary.