Partner Article

Perween Warsi CBE becomes a Champion of Families in Business

Perween Warsi CBE, founder and CEO of S & A Foods, is to share her unique experiences and knowledge of leading a family in business as a Family Business Champion of Families in Business (FiB).

FiB works exclusively with family businesses and professional advisers throughout the UK and was created by its CEO Dani Saveker, formerly the fourth generation to lead her family’s business.

One of the country’s most successful business women, Perween Warsi founded her Derby-based family business over twenty-five years ago. She was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours list in 2002.

Perween Warsi joins the elite group of FiB Champions that individually and collectively provide a unique insight into the personal experiences and best practice of leading and growing a family-owned or run business. The other high profile, successful FiB Family Business Champions are James Timpson of Timpson Limited, Trevor Herbert of Hobbs House Bakery, John Hardwick of Grafton International, and Kirsty Davies-Chinnock of Professional Polishing Services.

Commenting on her decision to become a FiB Champion, Mrs Warsi said: “A community that helps family businesses is important as it will help them succeed without losing their uniqueness, at the same time as helping the family enjoy running the business. Family-run businesses differ from non-family businesses and in most cases look upon people as an extension of the family, not employees.”

“FIB is a community for family businesses and those that influence them, own them, work in, with and for them,” Dani Saveker explained. “Each of our Family Business Champions shares FiB’s passion and support for the family business sector. They are all successful leaders of family businesses in their own right, and help FiB and its community by being leading lights for the family business sector, demonstrating best practice, sharing their often personal stories of how they’ve overcome adversity and issues within their families and businesses, and are advocates and supporters.

“I am delighted that Perween is now a FiB Champion and have no doubt that she will provide invaluable insight that will help and support those wishing to better understand and appreciate family business dynamics. Perween shares my own appreciation for the wonderful values and flexibility of many family businesses as well as recognising how lonely and stressful it can be.”

Perween Warsi, CBE, is Britain’s ‘Curry Queen’ and a passionate food-lover. She began making samosas on an initial investment of £2.50. Today, her company S & A Foods - named after her sons Sadiq and Abid - manufactures a wide range of delicious ethnic ready meals for UK and overseas customers, making up to 1.5 million meals a week, under one roof at her purpose-built factory in Derby. Since 2004, she has sat on the strategic advisory board and on the judging panel for the NatWest Everywoman Awards, which celebrate women who have started and run successful businesses.

The FiB Community provides a go-to place of understanding and support for family businesses, together with tailored support packages and programmes for its members. It has a growing network that includes professional advisers and supporters of family businesses. FiB is an approved Growth Accelerator Training Provider and its ‘Introduction Workshop: Working with family businesses’ is certified by the CPD certification service.

FiB has pioneered an all-new concept in networking events for family businesses, Ask the Adviser. The 2014 national programme of Ask the Adviser events continues on the 25th April in Nottingham, followed by events in Birmingham, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Leicester and the Black Country.

For more information: contact Dani Saveker, Tel: 07812 99 27 26, Email: dani@fibcommunity.com, or visit www.fibcommunity.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Families in Business (FiB) .