North West family businesses get ready to tell their stories to a global audience

By The Family Business Network

13 Nov 2020

gfbls-graphic-master-image.jpg

The Global Family Business Learning Symposium taking place next Thursday 19 November, is a new online event run by the Cumbria-headquartered organisation. The event has been designed to unite a community of family businesses from across the world as they engage in peer to peer learning and knowledge transfer.

Sue Howorth, co-director of The Family Business Network, said: “The Family Business Network was founded in the North West of England and as an organisation, we have very strong links to this regional family businesses community.

“We still work closely with many family firms in the area and we involve them in our events and programmes, where possible. It’s wonderful to have so many of them involved in our forthcoming Symposium, which offers superb global exposure and connectivity to like-minded businesses across the world”.

The 24-hour long event will feature an exciting blend of live and pre-recorded interviews, film pieces, panel debates and insight sessions on a diverse range of topics. Examples include careers in family business and the role of the next generation, how to align family values with business values, responsible leadership within a family business and how to develop your family business story.

Joining speakers and contributors from around the world are a number of North West family business owners, leaders and next generation successors.

Newton-le-Willows based Nichols PLC, was founded in 1908 and is best known as the producer of Vimto. CEO, Marnie Millard will deliver a session focusing on the non-family leaders’ perspective of running a family business.

Next generation siblings, Tom Mathew and Hannah Barlow of Dunsters Farm, Bury will join Christian Mancier of Gorvins Solicitors in a conversation around succession planning, finding the right external support & generational learnings.

Matt Hutchinson, programme manager for the Family Business Excellence Programme at Lancaster University Management School is set to host a panel session with the leaders from three North West family businesses, Partingtons Holiday Parks, Atkinsons Coffee Roasters & First Trace Heating Direct Ltd.

The Symposium will also feature the unique stories and real-life accounts of several North West family businesses through a series of short films. Featured in the first film are Liverpool-based JJ Smith Woodworking Machinery Ltd and in the second film are Cumbrian farming diversification business, Dodgson Wood, financial and mortgage advisers Stan Sherlock Associates Ltd and artisan cheesemakers, Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses.

In a pre-recorded three-part interview, Matt Bennett of Cheshire-based family business, DRB Group emotively tells his story and personal journey to becoming CEO.

In a second pre-recorded interview, Sue Howorth and Dave Clarkson along with Joanne Stronach of Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors will chat to AGMA Director, Pippa Franklin on a family businesses’ place within the community and what it means to be a next generation successor.  

Dave Clarkson, co-director of The Family Business Network said, “It’s a privilege to be able to share the diversity, history, knowledge and talent found within family businesses in the North West. We hope many more from the region will join us next week at the Symposium to learn, celebrate and share what the sector has to offer”.

The event is aimed at families and those working within family businesses, as well as those supporting the sector. The academic nature of the event is also valuable for students, who can take advantage of a special, reduced ticket price. 

Subscribers of The Family Business Network are also entitled to a discount on tickets, which are priced at £45 including VAT.

To find out more about the Global Family Business Learning Symposium, or to book tickets, visit https://fambiznet.co.uk/globallearningsymposium/

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin