The State of the Nation: The UK Family Business Sector 2017-18

This report from the IFB Research Foundation and Oxford Economics provides a comprehensive economic assessment of the UK family business sector in 2017-18. It investigates the characteristics of family firms: their size, structure, and concentration across different industrial sectors. The report seeks to estimate the contribution family businesses make to the UK economy - to the UK’s GDP, employment, and to the public finances, providing in depth analysis of the geographical and sectoral spread of family firms. The report also presents evidence on how small- and medium-sized family firms with employees are performing, drawing on survey evidence from thousands of businesses across the UK. The report also seeks to shed light on the unique challenges facing family businesses and their plans for the future in 2018.