Pentland Centre Seminar Highlights ESG Opportunities and Challenges for Family Businesses

Last week, family business leaders, policymakers, and academics gathered at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) for a seminar, "ESG: Its Landscape and Implications for Family Firms”, delivered by Professor Mat Hughes of the University of Leicester. The event, hosted by the Pentland Centre and the Centre for Family Enterprise at LUMS, presented insights on the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) from a new report published by the Family Business Research Foundation. The report, ESG in Family Firms: A Review of Research, Regulations, and Practice Guidance, reviewed recent research evidence and regulatory developments relating to ESG, and drew out some of the practical implications for family firms.

The seminar, held on 24 May 2025, highlighted the growing importance of ESG practices for sustaining trust and ensuring long-term business success. Family firms, with their long-term and generational outlook and value-driven leadership, are in a strong position to strategically leverage ESG as a competitive advantage. Professor Hughes pointed to some of the challenges, particularly concerning the stringent reporting requirements and the complexities smaller firms face in meeting global sustainability standards. He called for greater support mechanisms and pragmatic approaches tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigating ESG regulations.

To view the slides from Professor Hughes' presentation, please click here: ESG Seminar Slides.

The full report, ESG in Family Firms: A Review of Research, Regulations, and Practice Guidance, is available https://www.fbrf.org.uk/s/IFB_RF_ESGreport_2025_digital.pdf

For ongoing updates and further research insights, stay connected with FBRF and join our LinkedIn community at https://www.linkedin.com/company/family-business-research-foundation/