Search begins to find oldest family business in East Anglia

There is often a lack of recognition and respect for the successful contribution that family businesses have made to the UK economy over the years. Birketts and Family Business United are on the lookout to find the oldest family businesses in the region.

Paul Andrews, founder and managing director of Family Business United explains that "The contribution that family firms have made over the years in terms of revenue generation, employment, contribution to GDP and tax revenues, not to mention their support of the communities in which they operate should not go unnoticed and we are keen to identify family businesses of all sectors and sizes to compile the oldest in the region."

"In the recent economic climate especially, things have been tough, but the one thing that the oldest businesses in Britain have in common is that they have been around long enough that they have seen it all before and have adapted and changed over time and remained in business as it passes from generation to generation."

James Austin, head of the family business team at Birketts added, "Family firms are the true bastions of the British economy and should be recognised for the contribution they have made over the years The research is looking to uncover those family businesses, large and small, which have been at the heart of the East Anglia economy for many years.  With so many multi-generational family firms in the region, we are sure that we will discover some great businesses which can be used to further champion the contribution of family firms in our region to the wider UK economy.  We look forward to uncovering the oldest family businesses in the region. "

An online listing is being compiled for Norfolk and Suffolk: as new family businesses are added the listing will automatically be updated so keep coming back to see the results.

To take part in the research simply send an email with the name of the family firm, the year it was founded and a short description of what the business does to paul@familybusinessunited.co.uk and we will notify you when the business has been added.  Inclusion is free to all participants and by being included businesses are really helping to dispel the myths around family firms and demonstrate that they have been around for generations.