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You could say family businesses are the beating heart of the UK construction industry. And I say that, not just as the MD of a construction-focussed business, but as the daughter of the founder of HBXL. From start-up building firms to long-established contractors, family-run companies make a significant impact – employing people, creating opportunities, and helping shape local communities.

At HBXL, with various family members in the business in one capacity or another, we know first-hand both the challenges and the great rewards that come with running a company with family at its core. And if you’re part of a family business, we salute you!

A Report launched this year by the Family Business Research Foundation, together with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), highlights just how crucial family firms are to the UK economy, and in particular, those in construction. The data they worked with came from 2023, so after the Covid-19 pandemic, and in a post-Brexit landscape.

The family business in construction stats

I’m going to hit you with some facts that I hope you agree are fascinating. Across all sectors in 2023, family businesses represented 57% of private sector employment in the UK, and made up 15.8 million jobs. Family businesses represented over nine out of every ten private sector firms in the UK. They generated £985 billion in Gross Value Added. And let’s talk about tax! Wow, do family businesses play their part! Family businesses, across all sectors, contributed a total of £422 billion in taxation in 2023. I’ll let that last fact sit with you for a bit…

In construction specifically, there were 833,188 family firms – the largest of all the business sectors.

These numbers don’t surprise us at HBXL. Every day we speak to family businesses up and down the country – whether it’s a father and son or daughter team pricing up their next job using our EstimatorXpress software, siblings offering Design and Build using PlansXpress, or a husband-and-wife duo using BuildProjex to manage their growing list of projects. Family businesses are looking for ways to stay efficient, profitable, and competitive – and that’s exactly what we’re here to help with.

Sir Michael Bibby, the Chairman of the Family Business Research Foundation, put it well: “…addressing the mounting pressures of innovation, technology and sustainability require targeted support. This report underscores the urgent need to recognise and nurture the unique strengths of UK family businesses through thoughtful and inclusive policies.”

At HBXL we’re proud to play our part in helping construction businesses by providing both stability and innovation – whether it’s through:

• smarter estimating
• introducing in-house design
• multi-tasking better
• managing the crew professionally
• improved health and safety management
• better payment control or
• simply helping keep on top of paperwork.

Well someone has to outside the various governmental departments…

Family businesses in construction are go-getters

We know that many family businesses want to seriously grow in the next 12 months. And many are actively investing in making that happen. Lots intend to improve the skills of their workforce – a trend we’re seeing reflected in the take-up of training through the HBXL Skills Academy. Our fully funded Skills Bootcamps in Estimating, CAD Drawing, and Business Management are giving builders and their teams the know-how to price more competitively, add design to their businesses, and run both their business and projects more efficiently.

This strong work ethic is what drives us to develop new software features, offer a dedicated Estimating Service for when time is tight, and provide free training that fits around the busy life of a small building firm (3.30pm – 5.30pm for your info!).

Diversifying and innovating

For many family businesses in construction, they know to thrive they need to think outside the box. That could mean:

• quoting for different types of projects
• expanding service offerings like Design & Build or
• exploring new build-to-sell opportunities.

Our software and training are designed to support that agility – helping firms cost up new project types, produce professional drawings for planning, and manage multiple jobs more easily.

As a family business supporting family businesses, we get it. We understand the early starts, the late nights doing paperwork, the juggling act of site work and business management – and the pride that comes with seeing your company grow, often with the next generation waiting in the wings.

Want to grow or change? Next step.

So, whether you’re planning to grow, diversify, skill-up your team, or simply want to work smarter, HBXL is here to help. From digital tools to an estimating service to Skills Bootcamps and CITB courses – we’re right by your side, helping you build your family business for the future. Call us on 0117 916 7898, try our software for free or book a short online demo.