NORTHERN FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Last Friday the family run business announced a record profit share and this week they have succeeded again.
Yesterday saw JW Lees take the title as Northern Family Business of the Year 2015 in the national family business awards hosted by Family Business United. The awards ceremony took place in London where 18 family firms were recognised for their achievements.
The Family Business of the Year Awards were created to celebrate the UK family business sector, to recognise the diversity of family firms across the country and to celebrate the contribution that they make.
Paul Andrews, Founder and Managing Director of FBU, and chairman of the judging panel added “JW Lees is an exemplary family firm that has clear values that are important to the family and pervade the entire business. The family have clearly demonstrated that this is a successful family business, owned by a happy family that has worked out how to balance the pressures of owning and running a business. Governance of the business is all about the ‘we’ culture and JW Lees will be great Northern ambassadors.”
Sixth generation family member, Anna Griffin, JW Lees’ Non-Executive Director & Pensions Secretary said: “To be recognised for an award that highlights the importance of family run businesses is an honour to us. There were plenty of companies who would have made worthy winners so we couldn’t be any more pleased to be crowned as the Northern Family Business of the Year 2015.“
Drew McNeil of Sandaire, sponsors of the Northern Family Business of the Year added, “There are some amazing family firms in the North and the judging was not easy given the quality and calibre of the entrants this year. JW Lees were selected by the judges as the overall winners in this category for their advocacy of the sector, demonstrated values and successful balance of the family in, and with the business.”
About JW Lees
JW Lees is a family brewery company founded in 1828. Based in Middleton in North Manchester the family own JW Lees Brewery, JW Lees Pubs, The Alderley Edge Hotel, The Trearddur Bay Hotel and Willoughby’s Wine Merchants.
JW Lees is a sixth-generation family business which employs just over 1,000 people, 140 at the brewery and site in Middleton Junction in North Manchester and 865 in its 35 managed pubs, inns and hotels, as well as letting a further 110 tied pubs to self-employed tenants.
Cask beer is at the heart of JW Lees and we brew six cask ales as well as three lagers, three smooth beers and eight limited edition seasonal cask ales which are available throughout at different times of the year. We also have the sole UK distribution rights for Bohemia Regent Premium Lager from the Czech Republic. Willoughby’s is our wines and spirits company and we stock over 500 wines from all over the world.