Sir John Hall heads University event for family firms

Entrepreneur Sir John Hall will lead an event offering tips to those running a family firm or thinking of passing on their business to a relative.

The seminar - Growing Your Family Business and Passing on Your Wealth to the Next Generation - has been organised by Teesside University Business School and will be held from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Thursday 1 October at Wynyard Hall.

Sir John Hall is known for his involvement in developing the Metro Centre, building up Newcastle United and redeveloping the Wynyard Estate, all through his own family business.

He said: 'I’ve worked pretty hard all my life and by most standards I’ve been pretty successful, but looking back now on the one thing I wish I’d had 30 or 40 years ago, the one thing that would have made my business more successful and created more wealth for me and my family, is some sensible, affordable advice from people who know what they’re talking about.'

A range of speakers Speakers at the seminar will be John Blenkinsopp, Reader in Management at the Business School, Andrew Playle, Partner with Dickinson Dees Solicitors, Gill Owens, entrepreneur and Teesside PhD student, Simon Richards, of unw Chartered Accountants and Ken McCracken, co-founder and partner of Family Business Solutions. The event will be chaired by Alastair Thomson, Dean of the Business School.

The aim of the event is to help entrepreneurs avoid the blind alleys and mistakes which can hold other businesses back. Sir John Hall will open the seminar, which will end with a roundtable discussion.

Cost to attend the seminar is £95 (plus VAT) per person, with a group discount of £195 (plus VAT) for up to three people. Places are limited and must be booked by contacting Fiona McQuillan on 01642 342863 or email f.mcquillan@tees.ac.uk.

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