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University to boost family business growth in rural South West
One of Devon's oldest family businesses has joined forces with the University of Exeter and a world class business school in Switzerland to pioneer a scheme which will benefit hundreds of rural family businesses across Devon and Somerset.
The Family Business Growth Programme was instigated by Clinton Devon Estates, a family-owned land management business.
It will provide legal, financial and land management professionals with access to family business research and learning from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The intention is for the professional advisors to use their expertise to assist those working in agriculture and rural enterprises and to help provide a boost to the rural economy in these difficult times.
The programme is part funded by the Rural Growth Network - a government initiative designed to boost Devon and Somerset's rural economy by £40 million.
The two day master class at the IMD in Switzerland is a pilot scheme - if successful, it is anticipated that it will be rolled-out nationally in 2014.
As an expert in rural family business and farming succession Dr Matt Lobley, Co-Director of the Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter, will be contributing to the delivery of the master class at IMD and will be responsible for the evaluation of the Family Business Growth Programme.
Dr Lobley said:"Britain is a nation of family businesses and here in Devon and Somerset they really are the backbone of the rural economy. Many have been passed down over a number of generations and are extremely important to their rural communities.
"The programme evaluation will involve visiting the family businesses which have been advised by the course participants to see whether the advice they received has had a positive impact. For example if they have implemented a family constitution and succession plan. At the end of the programme we will make recommendations on how the course can be rolled-out nationally,"
John Varley, Estates Director for Clinton Devon Estates explained:"Our family business dates back 700 years, which means that we have experienced many of the pitfalls and opportunities that are typical of family businesses.
"In helping to develop the Family Business Growth Programme we hope to provide large numbers of family businesses with the knowledge and expertise to help secure their future - because they hold the key to delivering the platform for growth that is needed to secure a vibrant economic future for Devon and Somerset."
It will provide legal, financial and land management professionals with access to family business research and learning from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The intention is for the professional advisors to use their expertise to assist those working in agriculture and rural enterprises and to help provide a boost to the rural economy in these difficult times.
The programme is part funded by the Rural Growth Network - a government initiative designed to boost Devon and Somerset's rural economy by £40 million.
The two day master class at the IMD in Switzerland is a pilot scheme - if successful, it is anticipated that it will be rolled-out nationally in 2014.
As an expert in rural family business and farming succession Dr Matt Lobley, Co-Director of the Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter, will be contributing to the delivery of the master class at IMD and will be responsible for the evaluation of the Family Business Growth Programme.
Dr Lobley said:"Britain is a nation of family businesses and here in Devon and Somerset they really are the backbone of the rural economy. Many have been passed down over a number of generations and are extremely important to their rural communities.
"The programme evaluation will involve visiting the family businesses which have been advised by the course participants to see whether the advice they received has had a positive impact. For example if they have implemented a family constitution and succession plan. At the end of the programme we will make recommendations on how the course can be rolled-out nationally,"
John Varley, Estates Director for Clinton Devon Estates explained:"Our family business dates back 700 years, which means that we have experienced many of the pitfalls and opportunities that are typical of family businesses.
"In helping to develop the Family Business Growth Programme we hope to provide large numbers of family businesses with the knowledge and expertise to help secure their future - because they hold the key to delivering the platform for growth that is needed to secure a vibrant economic future for Devon and Somerset."
