UK FAMILY BUSINESSES AMONGST LEAST STRESSED IN WORLD

44% of all family businesses in the UK saw their stress levels increase or increase significantly over the past year, according to new research conducted by leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton. However, given that this year's figure has increased by 10% since 2005 (34%), stress levels look set to continue rising in the future, it warns.  Only family businesses in Sweden (20%), the US (39%) and Italy (43%) were ahead of the UK in terms of seeing their levels of stress increase at a lower rate over the past year.

At the other end of the scale the results differed quite dramatically, with 90% of Taiwanese family businesses seeing an increase or significant increase in stress levels (nearly double the UK's result and up from 76% in 2005), followed by China (84%) and the Philippines (78%).

Grant Thornton's, head of family business, Howard Hackney, based in Liverpool says:- "As a rule, family businesses experience dramatically high levels of stress, mostly due to the line between personal and business life being all too close for many. Only 10% make it to the third generation indicating all too clearly the effect stress can have on a family business.  Levels of stress appear to be on the increase, with the UK's figure rising by ten percent on last year's figure and Taiwan's figure rising by 14% since 2005. This is clearly an early warning sign for family businesses that they need to deal with their stress levels in an appropriate manner now before they cause even more problems in the future."

Top 5 countries experiencing stress Bottom 5 countries experiencing stress:-

Other Information -

Job Security

Job security is one of the key contributing factors for those who suffer from stress. If employees feel as if their job is secure, then they are less likely to suffer from stress and are more likely to be more productive.

The survey found that only 8% of family businesses in the UK and Ireland felt that job security caused high or extreme levels of stress. These results were well below the EU average of 18% and significantly below the global average of 27%.

Again these results are in stark contrast to those at the other end of the spectrum, with 53% of family businesses in Thailand saying job security caused high or extreme levels of stress - a result that was ahead of Japan (49%) and Turkey (46%).

"These results show that even if you work for a family business, job security can still be a big concern and significantly add to your levels of stress.  Traditionally, UK family businesses are more narrowly owned and have tightly controlled shareholding which is why these businesses are amongst the least concerned for their job. Whereas, in many Asian countries where the business is held amongst a significant number of shareholders, concerns over job security tends to be at a much higher level."  says Hackney.

Business Travel

Business travel is another factor that can significantly add to the stress levels experienced in business, particularly if it is frequent and involves numerous international trips.  Only 7% of UK family businesses say that business travel causes them stress or severe stress - a result not far behind Ireland's family business of whom only 1% say that business travel causes them high or severe levels of stress. Comparatively, 36% of family businesses from India, 25% from China and 21% from Botswana found that business travel caused them high or extreme levels of stress.

Commenting on this result, Hackney says:- "It is clear that family businesses in the UK do not allow travelling to add to their stress levels. They have obviously developed mechanisms for dealing with such stress, such as video and web conferencing, and to be honest, have far greater issues to worry about than travel."

Holidays

French family business owners take the most holidays, taking on average 26 days leave each year. This is followed by UK, Swedish and Italian family businesses who all take 21 days leave per annum.  On the other hand, family businesses from Turkey and Botswana take 10 days leave, Taiwan eight days leave and Thai family businesses only take 4 days leave.

"As a whole European family businesses tend to be a lot less affected by stress than their Asian counterparts. Given that European family businesses take, on average, nearly twice as many days leave as those in Asia, could hint at a direct link between stress and the number of days holiday business owners take."

Summary of findings

"It is stressful enough being in business with your nearest and dearest, where the line between family and business is intertwined on a daily basis.  It would appear that UK family businesses seem to have found the right balance, as they experience amongst the lowest levels of stress in Europe and the world.  A lot of workplace stress comes down to how much control individuals feel they have over a situation. For those family businesses who are experiencing extreme levels of stress, their owners need to develop clear strategies for dealing with stress and work smarter rather than harder, which will ensure that people feel as if they have resumed control of their own destiny".  says Howard.

UK Regional Picture

Family businesses in London and the south saw their stress levels rise by nearly double over the past year, with 59% saying their levels of stress had increased or increased significantly in the past year - up from 37% in 2005. This is in marked comparison to their northern counterparts who actually saw their levels of stress decrease from 33% in 2005 to 32% in 2006.

The survey also found that family businesses in London and the south had higher concerns for job security with 8% saying it caused high or extreme levels of stress, whereas only 5% of businesses in the north believed it caused high or extreme levels of stress.  In addition, business travel added equally to family businesses in the north and London and the south, with 8% saying it caused high or extreme levels of stress.

However, family businesses in the north are more generous with holidays than their London and southern counterparts, with northern family businesses taking on average 24 days in contrast to only 21 in London and the south.

North (2005) London and South (2005)

Increase in levels of stress in the past year 32% (33%) 59% (37%)

Increase in stress over job security over the past year 5% 8%

How much does businesses travel cause high or extreme levels of stress 8% 8%

Number of holidays 24 days 21 days

CO-OP HOSTS CLIMATE CHANGE EVENT

THERE is still time to book places at an event hosted by the Co-operative Group to help people in Liverpool find out how they can tackle climate change.  Whether it is the merits and pitfalls of going nuclear, home wind turbines or carbon offsetting, the Climate Care evening will help people make sense of the issues.

It will include talks and demonstrations highlighting some of the practical steps people can take to reduce their impact on the environment.  There will also be an update on what the co-operative movement is doing to make a difference.  Friends of the Earth will be running workshops and promoting its Big Ask campaign, which calls for new legislation to tackle climate change.

Co-operative affairs officer Madhusudhan Roy said:- "The issue of climate change is increasingly in the spotlight but all the discussions and conflicting messages have left some people confused.  The Co-op is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and this informal event will help to raise awareness of how individuals can make changes that will help tackle climate change."

The event will take place at The Marriott Hotel, Liverpool, on Tuesday, 7 November, from 7pm until 9pm.  For details and to book, call 0161 246 2233.

Letters To Editor:- "Help Find Irene Bond"

"I am doing my family history and believe she can help me with a member of my family.  If possible would like

I am looking for an Irene Bond (nee Russell). she was originally from Heywood? I believe moved to Southport with her husband who was a funeral director. Her sister Vera was married to my gt uncle Clarence Tattersall who died in 1949.

I would love to speak to anyone who knew her or her family as she may be able to help me with my family history.

I can be contacted at 13 Brook Street, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9EB or phone on 01283 221924

If anyone can help please let me know." Regards Mrs. Andrea Stokes

New Liverpool civil and family courts official opening

THE Lord Chief Justice officially opened the new state-of-the-art civil and family courts in Liverpool on Friday 3 November 2006.

The building was opened for business in May 2006 and is based in City square, will centralise all civil and family law cases in Liverpool under one roof. With 29 courtrooms, 31 consultation rooms, a Children and Family Courts Advisor and Support Service room, a vulnerable and child witness room and a Citizen's Advice Bureau, the new building shows the determination of Her Majesty's Courts Service to ensure that courts effectively serve their local communities.

Area Director Shaun McNally said:- "This is great news for Liverpool and Merseyside - as well as the excellent facilities of this new building, there are immense practical benefits for both court users and support agencies of having all family and civil proceedings in a single location. Centralising these proceedings will improve the speed and efficiency of dministering justice in Merseyside"

Family and civil law cases were previously heard at a number of venues in Merseyside including the combined court at the QEII Law Courts in Derby Square and at Birkenhead county court across the River Mersey. The new courts building will centralise all family and civil hearings for Liverpool, allowing the QEII Law Courts to concentrate on criminal cases. It will also hear lengthy and complex civil and family cases from elsewhere in Merseyside.

The new building is situated on the corner of Tithebarn Street and Vernon Street in City Square, a recently redeveloped area of Liverpool. Conveniently located next to Moorfields railway station with good transport links, the courts centre is the largest business lease in Liverpool's history, covering four floors (ground to third floor) of the five storey building.

North West leads UK manufacturing

THE North West is the top UK region for manufacturing performance, new government statistics reveal.

The latest Annual Business Inquiry data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the region leads the country in the three key areas of manufacturing turnover, approximate gross value added (an indicator of profitability) and net capital expenditure.

The figures, which cover the period up to the end of 2004, show that the North West’s manufacturing turnover during the year was £61.0 billion – amounting to 13.5% of the UK total. The South East achieved £56.8 billion, with the West Midlands third on £46.2 billion.

The same three regions make the biggest contribution to the manufacturing economy. The North West is top for gross value added with £18.7 billion, or 12.7% of the total UK figure, knocking the South East into second place (£18.6 billion). The West Midlands was third with £14.9 billion.

The North West’s manufacturing dominance is sealed by its performance in terms of net capital expenditure, totalling an impressive £1.8 billion of investment in the region, and accounting for 15.7% of the UK total. This was £0.5 billion ahead of any other region and showed a rise of 2.0% between 2003 and 2004, contrasting with a general UK average decline of 7.8%.

"This is extremely good news for the North West economy. Manufacturing is alive and kicking in the region. Our businesses are showing the way for the rest of the UK by developing a skilled workforce, exploiting innovation and transforming their manufacturing processes to create nimble companies that are competing across the globe." commented Dr Julie Madigan, chief executive of The Manufacturing Institute.

The Summit, which ran from 31 October 2006 to 2 November 2006, brought together best practice companies from both sides of the Atlantic, featuring many North West success stories, such as Jaguar, Flowcrete, ColorMatrix, Hitachi, James Walker, Siemens, BAE Systems and PZ Cussons.

The Manufacturing Institute delivers the DTI’s Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in the North West and over the past four years has helped the region’s manufacturers to reap £215m worth of savings.

BBC Children In Need @ the West Lancashire Light Railway

THE West Lancashire Light Railway is a short 2’ gauge line situated at Hesketh Bank, approximately midway between Preston and Southport. On Sunday 12 November 2006 from 12noon to 5.00pm the railway will be holding "Steam trains for Children in Need." West Lancashire Light Railway will be running two locomotives in steam of its four historic steam locomotives. You can Ride the train free of charge with donations invited for the BBC Children in Need Appeal. Not only that but you will be able to see the other two locomotives and the ones undergoing restoration. The line runs above a former clay pit which served a brickworks adjacent to the old West Lancashire Railway and is ideal for children to have a quick ride on. Car parking is available on site. The no. 2 Preston-Southport bus passes the entrance to the Railway, opposite the Becconsall Hotel.

For further information please contact the West Lancashire Light Railway on 01772 815881.