Consultancy
We are all naturally proud of our friends or relations achievements and would want them to succeed. This feeling is never more apparent than in a family business. A successful family business is more than just a money making machine, it is a capsule full of emotion; feelings of history, successes and failures, relationships; good and bad and a sense of belonging.
Research shows that family businesses are more likely to be driven to survive than their non-family counterparts. If the family cannot retain ownership or control, all of the important family history and many generations of dedication, blood, sweat and tears will cease to be. This can cause huge amounts of conflict, anguish, pain and sorrow as different family members can see things so very differently.
ICFIB’s Consultants work with the family in a very different way focusing on ensuring the best outcome for the Business rather than who said what to whom and why!
Of course there may be the usual Director level conflict and disagreements about retirement, strategy, drive, remuneration, etc., but when this is coupled with, sometimes deep rooted, relationship issues the ‘Business’ can often be overlooked and can suffer badly.
ICFIB’S team of consultants have a wealth of experience and knowledge of working with family owned and run businesses and their professional advisers, both in the UK and around the world. We specialise in working with families in business facing change and transition, particularly management and ownership succession. It is in times of change from one generation to the next that families working together often feel the most strain on their relationships. Our consultancy services address the issue of family relationships and the often devastating impact these relationships can have on the individuals, the family and the future sustainability of the business.
The Consultant Team
- Consultants
- Alistair Beckett
Alistair Beckett
During a professional career spanning more than twenty years Alistair has accumulated a wealth of technical knowledge and experience relevant to families in business.
View Alistair Beckett's CV- Richard Coombs
Richard Coombs
A partner with law firm Foot Anstey Richard has worked with family businesses for many years as a corporate lawyer. He specialises in advice to family businesses and corporate and commercial work with particular emphasis on succession planning and governance.
- Emma Fordyce
Emma Fordyce
Emma works closely with ICFIB in connection with consultancy projects and has undertaken some innovative and challenging consultancy and legal work in collaboration with ICFIB.
- Caroline Gourlay
Caroline Gourlay
Caroline is a business psychologist with a particular interest in medium-sized businesses, though she has also worked with clients in large corporate organisations and the public sector.
- David Pierce
David Pierce
After winning a national prize in his professional exams, David qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1978 and the following year joined Hazlewoods, becoming a partner in 1983.
- Nick Smith
Nick Smith
Nick has worked closely with ICFIB for 10 years in connection with a number of consultancy projects, training and education programmes for family businesses and advisors.
- David Wragg
David Wragg
A fully qualified practicing Chartered Accountant with over 25 years experience, David is a partner in the top 20 firm of accountants working closely with a range of family owned organisations.
- John Tucker
John Tucker
John is one of the leading experts in the field of family business in the UK. He is a Director of the International Centre for Families in Business and a Senior Lecturer in Family Business at the University of the West of England.
- Bob Gorzynski
Bob Gorzynski
Bob Gorzynski is the Founding Partner of Wilde Geese Partnership and specializes in developing strategic thinking and leadership.
- Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall
Jim is a highly experienced and commercial non-executive director and business advisor. Prior to building a portfolio of interests he has over 25 years successful experience as a senior director in the UK, mainland Europe, and the USA.
- Sally Mason
Sally Mason
Sally has a successful track record of working with business owners to develop a framework designed to attract, retain and motivate their employees whilst steering them through the maze of employment legislation.
