Business & Professional
The Great British Family Business Conference 2026
Join us in London for our flagship event that celebrates the significant contribution that family firms make in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation. This inspirational event brings the family business community together sharing insights on all manner of topics to help others achieve their family business goals.
Book your seat for what is always a day packed with learning with plenty of opportunities to make new connections during the networking sessions.
The Programme For The Day*
8.30am Registration and Coffee
9.00am Welcome and Introduction - Paul Andrews, Founder & CEO, Family Business United
9.20am Opening Keynote - Cybersecurity: The Single Biggest Risk To Your Family Business. Daniel Teacher, Managing Director, T-Tech
Daniel is the CEO and Founder of T-Tech and has spent the past 14 years transforming the accounting industry through cutting-edge technology. T-Tech is a leading MSP and Cyber Security provider, driving digital transformation for accountants and SMEs to achieve peak efficiency, lower risk, and maximise value.
Featured as a technology expert on BBC News and Global News, Daniel also a recognised keynote speaker at accounting events across Europe. My expertise spans Accountancy, MSPs, Cyber Security, Tech, AI, Business Systems, and Change Management.
Daniel will share with us his insights on cybersecurity and why it could be the single biggest risk to your family business.
9.50am - Family Business Insight: Stephen Leckie, Chief Executive, Crieff Hydro
Stephen is Chairman and Chief Executive of Crieff Hydro and the fifth generation of his family to run this hotel and estate since 1868. The company is now the oldest trading registered company in Scotland which owns seven hotels with 1,000 staff.
He is currently Chair of Visit Scotland, Past Chair of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, Immediate Past President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, a committee member for UK Hospitality and Lord-Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross.
Stephen has a broad background as an operator of hotels, self-catering and attractions across different parts of rural Scotland, and is well versed in the challenges and opportunities on the ground.
As a longstanding Chair of various companies Stephen is also familiar with working to maximise the impact of boards and organisations.
Stephen’s wife Fiona is a Director of Crieff Hydro and Head of Projects and Interiors, who with their family of four share Stephen’s varied interests - classic cars, Land Rovers, piping, skiing, trials biking and sailing.
10.20am An Audience With Polly Staveley, Managing Director, TL Dallas
Polly started her career as a Graduate Trainee in Corporate Finance at Yorkshire Bank after graduating from Newcastle University. After several happy years at the bank she joined the family business, TL Dallas Group in 1999 and has worked her way through the business and is now Group Managing Director. Polly will share her journey in the family firm and the emphasis that they place on mental health and wellbeing within the business.
Along with her brother Mackenzie they are the fourth generation to run the business, started by their Great Grandfather in Bradford in 1919.
10.45am - Family Business Insight: Balancing The Old With The New & The Next Era Of Growth - Amanda McLaren, Managing Director, AW Hainsworth
Amanda McLaren is the non-family Managing Director of AW Hainsworth, a 242 year old Textile Manufacturing Business, based in Pudsey, near Leeds, where she is charged with leading the Business through a new era of growth.
Backed by family shareholder investment, Amanda was appointed in April 2021, to establish and implement a long-term sustainability strategy for the business, which would ensure it would continue to thrive, for many generations to come.
Amanda has spent over 35 years working across UK Manufacturing – gaining experience in Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, Automotive, Leisure and Textile Sectors. For over 20 of these years’, she has operated at Board level.
She will share with us the story behind AW Hainsworth and their plans to futureproof the family firm for generations to come.
11.15am Coffee and Networking
11.45am - Family Business Matters
An update on the latest developments from Family Business United, key research findings and all the latest news including the National Family Business Lifetime Achievement Awards.
12.15pm Table Talk - Crafting A Family Business Culture
Our experts will discuss the ways in which they have used the very essence of being a family business to create the culture within their organisations, the nature of the underlying values and the steps they have taken, the programmes they have introduced and share the challenges they have faced and the outcomes and benefits that have resulted from their endeavours.
Our presenters include:
1.15pm Lunch and Networking with lunch including cheesecakes from The Pantry.
2.00pm Workshops - Each delegate is able to select and attend one of the workshops that run concurrently.
Workshop 1 - Creating The Legacy You Want To Leave Behind.
Your family story is your superpower and capturing it well can become a real source of competitive advantage, driving the family business to new heights. This session will be facilitated by Dan Cushing, Founder of Para Familia, an agency working with family businesses and challenger brands to capture the real essence of who they are as a business as they plan their evolution.
Workshop 2 - Next Generation Journeys & Insights.
This session will be facilitated by Mairi Mickel, Founder of Mairi Mickel's Business Families.
Workshop 3 - Communication and Balancing The Needs Of The Family & The Family Firm.
This session will be facilitated by Nick Mayhew, Co-Founder and CEO of Alembic Strategy.
Workshop 4 - Grooming A Family Business For Sale & Life After A Liquidity Event.
This session will include insights from Jacqueline O'Donovan, former CEO of O'Donovan Waste and now a strateigc adviser and PR consultant supporting other family businesses as we explore key learnings in grooming a business for sale and lessons learned along the way.
3.00pm Afternoon Tea and Networking
3.20pm Closing Panel Discussion - The Current Family Business Agenda
Given the current econominc and political climate it is not easy running a family business. Things are constanlty evolving in terms of rules and regulations and plenty of conversations are taking place in board rooms the length and breadth of the country and our final panel will come together with plenty of insights, ideas and thoughts on some of the prevailaing issues that are high on the agenda.
Our panellists include:
4.15pm - Closing Remarks - Paul Andrews, Founder & CEO, Family Business United
*Programme subject to change
OUR EVENT SPONSORS
Events like these are supported by a range of sponsors and partners and we are delighted to confirm the following sponsors and partners of The Great British Family Business Conference 2026:
