[en] In this article, a review of the educational and support infrastructure for UK family firms is
undertaken in order to further raise the profile/challenges and support needs of family firms
in the UK. This is important because family firms are a very significant empirical
phenomenon but the educational and policy support infrastructure that addresses the specific
educational and support needs of small family firms in the UK, is still emergent.
Furthermore, perceptions about nepotism and concerns about limited career possibilities
mean that it is sometimes difficult for small/family businesses to recruit high calibre staff.
Much work has to be done to address the negative perception that family firms have as
employers and to recognise the complexity of social forms of organisation involving families.
This situation sits in sharp contrast to the United States where family business interests have
a very strong curriculum presence, with many endowed chairs, family business programmes
and networks/associations dedicated to promoting these interests.
Disciplines :
General management, entrepreneurship & organizational theory
