Success Through Succession (STS)
Published on 03 October 2018
United Kingdom
Northern Ireland
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About this good practice
Family businesses account for the majority of businesses across the UK, Ireland and elsewhere. Unfortunately some family business owners do not plan for succession and research shows that this lack of planning is one of the major reasons why family businesses fail to sustain or grow their business beyond the first generation of ownership.
The overall aim of the Success through Succession project was to increase the survival rate and growth potential of family owned SMEs across the tri-regional network (Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland).
The key elements for inclusion in the Mentoring Support Programme were: Finance, Legal, Organisation Development/Leadership/General Management and Business Psychology.
Following the programme a Family Business Forum was established in Northern Ireland and is led by the private sector. It was created as a hub for family firms to connect with each other, share experiences, exchange ideas and learn in a friendly and sociable setting. The forum hosts regular events exclusively for family owned businesses, providing an opportunity to meet other business owners, hear stories from guest speakers and benefit from the skills of experts in sector.
The overall aim of the Success through Succession project was to increase the survival rate and growth potential of family owned SMEs across the tri-regional network (Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland).
The key elements for inclusion in the Mentoring Support Programme were: Finance, Legal, Organisation Development/Leadership/General Management and Business Psychology.
Following the programme a Family Business Forum was established in Northern Ireland and is led by the private sector. It was created as a hub for family firms to connect with each other, share experiences, exchange ideas and learn in a friendly and sociable setting. The forum hosts regular events exclusively for family owned businesses, providing an opportunity to meet other business owners, hear stories from guest speakers and benefit from the skills of experts in sector.
Expert opinion
This is an interesting practice aimed directly and only to family owned businesses. The aim of the project was to increase the survival rate and growth potential of family owned SMEs. Multiple regions across Europe have identified the need to offer support services for business transfers (for example see the various good practice from the STOB regions project).
Often, as was the case with this project, support was given in the form of mentoring on specific issues related to succession. It has been deemed necessary to provide both legal and managerial advice to ensure smooth transfers. This practice also stands out with its Family Business Forum which was a network specifically created to support dialogue between family owned businesses. This practice would be replicable in regions that similarly rely on the success of its many family owned businesses.
See also the Good Practice “Generationsskiftenetværk (Local Transfer Network)” on facilitating successful transfers within families. Link: https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/good-practices/item/2308/generationsskiftenetvaerk-local-transfer-network/
Often, as was the case with this project, support was given in the form of mentoring on specific issues related to succession. It has been deemed necessary to provide both legal and managerial advice to ensure smooth transfers. This practice also stands out with its Family Business Forum which was a network specifically created to support dialogue between family owned businesses. This practice would be replicable in regions that similarly rely on the success of its many family owned businesses.
See also the Good Practice “Generationsskiftenetværk (Local Transfer Network)” on facilitating successful transfers within families. Link: https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/good-practices/item/2308/generationsskiftenetvaerk-local-transfer-network/
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
The project was awarded grant aid of up to €1,603,195 in September 2008 under Priority 1, Theme 1 - Enterprise.
Evidence of success
Specific results were:
• 60 succession plans completed
• 5% increased sales in supported businesses
• 100 new jobs created
• 10% increase in turnover of firms after two years of receiving support
• 5% of turnover in assisted businesses after 2 years came from export sales
• 80% participating businesses still in existence after 2 years
• 10% of assisted businesses enter new markets, both domestic and international.
• 60 succession plans completed
• 5% increased sales in supported businesses
• 100 new jobs created
• 10% increase in turnover of firms after two years of receiving support
• 5% of turnover in assisted businesses after 2 years came from export sales
• 80% participating businesses still in existence after 2 years
• 10% of assisted businesses enter new markets, both domestic and international.
Potential for learning or transfer
Family businesses are the lifeblood of any economy. These organisations face formidable growth problems due to family succession issues which limit innovation and diffuse the equity within the firms. This project develops ways of directly working with family businesses to overcome such innate problems to enable them to innovate and increase competitiveness.
The potential for transferring this programme to other regions is high. The overall aim of the Success through Succession project was to increase the survival rate and growth potential of family owned SMEs across the tri-regional network (Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland). The key elements for inclusion in the Mentoring Support Programme were:- Finance, - Legal, - Organisation Development/Leadership/General Management, - Business Psychology.
We would recommend that regions establish a Family Business Forum to create learning and networking opportunities for family businesses.
The potential for transferring this programme to other regions is high. The overall aim of the Success through Succession project was to increase the survival rate and growth potential of family owned SMEs across the tri-regional network (Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland). The key elements for inclusion in the Mentoring Support Programme were:- Finance, - Legal, - Organisation Development/Leadership/General Management, - Business Psychology.
We would recommend that regions establish a Family Business Forum to create learning and networking opportunities for family businesses.
Further information
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Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
University of Ulster
United Kingdom
Northern Ireland
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