The Great Survivors

Nigel Cope looks at some of Britain’s oldest-established firms still in the hands of their founding families to ask what lessons other companies can learn from them

‘Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how businesses can re-invent themselves to survive over a century or more’ Matthew Lynn, columnist with The Daily Telegraph and Washington Post

Family businesses are the backbone of the UK economy. There are five million of them, accounting for 90 per cent of all private-sector employment. Yet their importance is often overlooked. From Tiptree jam and Walker’s Shortbread to Barbour jackets and the brewer Shepherd Neame, some of the UK’s most trusted trading names are still owned by their founding families. 

How have they survived for two or three centuries when so many other companies fall by the wayside? Could it be that family businesses, with their long-term thinking, conservative approach to financing and broader definition of success, offer a compelling alternative to the approach of the big PLCs? 

Focusing in detail on a dozen great survivors, from household names to the silk weaver which made the fabric for Princess Diana’s wedding dress and a 300-year-old chain of funeral directors, Nigel Cope distils their experience into lessons from which other companies can learn – and which could be vital in helping our economy grow.

‘A fascinating page turner about many of Britain’s locally loved, but frequently overlooked, family businesses. Their stories demonstrate that success is down to committed, passionate individuals who take limited risks and prioritise sustainability over short term growth’ Alan Giles, former CEO of HMV and managing director of Waterstones

‘A brilliant book for anyone interested in families and business. In a business world where the headlines are dominated by big corporates, he brings to life the history of these family businesses, and their lessons for the future’ Sir Ian Cheshire, Former CEO of Kingfisher plc

OUT SEPTEMBER 2026. AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW

Hardback: 288pp

Published: Eye (September 2026)

ISBN: 9781785634116