Transitioning to business leaders – 4m 24
While content in their own personal careers, both Hannah and Tom were asked by their Father to be part of the family business. Throwing themselves in the deep end, they were able to see how different the corporate world was to that of the SME/family business world and had to learn how they could improve and make sure they had a core team behind them.
Achieving balance and implementing innovation - 9m 27
Systems and people can be the biggest challenges and learning how to balance both is vital. Dunster’s Farm understood that by implementing modern systems, it would deliver huge benefits. While some employees were concerned about going too corporate and losing the personal customer touch, values of the business never changed, which meant not losing customer service or ethos.
Past experiences helping future transformations 13m 20
With Hannah and Tom having past experience outside the family business, it meant bringing in different skill sets but having the same vision and determination of progressing the business. They were able to find out how they could split the business and use their skills and outside perspective to make improvements and transformations.
Creating buy in 14m 55
It’s important that time is taken to talk to management teams and employees so that your passion and values are recognised. Often, you can find family business values are strong yet unwritten, so it’s important to formalise them so that they are easy to understand and tangible. The more you can ensure management team buy in, the more the results will speak for themselves.
Keeping employees engaged and motivated 17m 57
Dunster’s Farm recognises they’re fortunate to have a workforce that is flexible, have an all hands-on deck attitude and live the same values which keeps employees naturally engaged and motivated. However, Tom and Hannah recognise, there’s more to this than just having a good workforce.
Covid-19 Challenges - 21m
Covid-19 disrupted many businesses and Dunster’s Farm being no exception. Facing 95% of client’s doors closing overnight due to government guidelines, they did not have the option but to keep the wheels turning and come up with solutions to make the business more resilient.
The last 5 years – doing things differently - 24m 19
Tom and Hannah reflect on what they would have done differently over the last 5 years and explain that getting business basics right from the get-go is vital as well as trusting your gut.
Future challenges for family businesses beyond 2020 – 28 m 26
The world has changed meaning things may not go back to how they were pre-Covid-19, therefore keeping a realistic mindset is a must.
Contact Details:
In 2018, we launched our first Family Business survey in partnership with Family Business United. The survey revealed the challenges, opportunities and issues that family businesses are facing on a daily basis. And whilst the specific detail may change because of external factors, such as Brexit and now the global pandemic, it became clear that there are a number of issues that family businesses will always face, so we wanted to continue with our research in 2019 with a second survey and our 2020 survey will be published this Autumn.
To view the Family Business Survey 2019, click here
To request a copy of the Family Business survey when it is released, click here