News

Multi-award winning, metal and waste recycling specialist, Ward, has joined successful family businesses across the UK and become the latest members of Family Business United – the innovative membership organisation for the family business sector.

Family Business United (FBU) was created in 2011 by Paul Andrews who has worked in the sector for over 20 years. It is a membership organisation and unique platform to champion the family business sector, recognising the contribution that family firms make to the global economy and providing a forum to bring together the best resources for those working in and with family businesses.

Over the past decade, Ward has seen metal, recycling and waste management facilities significantly expand to new sites at Immingham, Chesterfield and Ilkeston, as well as maintaining its original site at Swadlincote. The team has also doubled in size to 400 employees, making it one of the biggest employers in Derbyshire. Over 10% of Ward’s workforce are either directly from or have married into the Ward family, plus another 20% are family members in their own right including fathers and sons, brothers, husband and wife teams, so family values and hard work are embedded within #TeamWARD.

Donald Ward, Commercial Manager at Ward, said: “As a fourth generation family business and the largest independent metal, recycling and waste firm in the Midlands we are keen to grow and invest, while maintaining our core family values. This can be challenging at times. The FBU team is passionate about championing family businesses in all sectors and of all sizes and can help us to work with advisory firms and organisations globally, to help us achieve our future goals.”

Family businesses across the UK benefit from membership of FBU who champion the sector, share insights, news and research as well as hosting events for families in business to learn from each other.  As founder Paul Andrews explains: “We are delighted to welcome Ward as the latest members to join our innovative family business community.  Ward is a fantastic example of an innovative family firm that continue to grow, invest and plan for the future and we look forward to learning more about the business in the years to come.”

FBU hosts a number of innovative events throughout the year, publishes insights, news, research and much more besides on the online portal, www.familybusinessunited.com, publishes a bespoke magazine. It runs the Family Business of the Year Awards, of which Ward were winners in 2019 of the Central and Midlands Region and also coordinates The Family Business Road Trip, plus is engaged in multiple activities to promote the sector and support its 250 members across the UK. These include household names like Walkers Shortbread, JW Lees Brewery, Johnstons of Elgin, Sturgess Motor Group and Balsons the Bridport based butchers who date back 26 generations to 1515 and are the oldest family firm in the UK.