Albert Goodman welcomes Government’s Family Business Growth Programme

SOUTH PETHERTON, U.K. - April 5, 2013 - PRLog -- Leading South West accountancy firm, Albert Goodman, has announced it is among the first to participate in the Government’s Family Business Growth Programme.

The programme, launched at the end of March at Exeter University, will see participants attend a two day master class at renowned business school, the Institute for Management Development, in Lausanne, Switzerland, in May 2013.

If the programme is successful, it will be rolled out nationally, in 2014. Responsible for monitoring and evaluating the programme is Dr Matt Lobley, co-director of the Centre for Rural Policy Research, at the University of Exeter.

Dr Lobley says, "The course will develop the skills and knowledge of the professional advisors who enhance the rural family businesses that support and grow the region’s rural economy. The programme evaluation will involve visiting the family businesses to see whether the advice received has had a positive impact.”

Paul Hake, Head of Family Businesses at Albert Goodman, comments, “This scheme is fantastic for Albert Goodman and enables our team to impart vital knowledge to our valued family business clients. It will enhance our offering in areas such as succession planning and developing family constitutions.”

Paul will take part in the programme along with colleagues, Mike Cahill and Kevin Parsons.

The Family Business Growth Programme has received funding from the Government’s Rural Growth Network, designed to boost the county’s rural economy by £40million and will be administered by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership. Commercial organisations involved in this programme are contributing towards the cost of the masterclass and will be expected to provide initial business advice free of charge to family firms on a first come, first served basis. The firms will then be expected to engage with between 40 and 100 firms and businesses - 30 per cent of which are farming businesses.

Albert Goodman has offices across the region including Taunton, Chard, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Weston-super-Mare and Weymouth. For further information, visit www.albertgoodman.co.uk.