Now in their 11th year, these awards celebrate family businesses of all sizes and in all sectors across the UK. Winners will be announced in June 2023 across the different categories, which include regional, sectorial and national awards.
Hydraulics Online has been shortlisted in the Northern Family Business of the Year.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be part of these awards,” said Helen Tonks, who co-founded Hydraulics Online with husband Mark. “Family is the bedrock of everything we do. It is exciting and gratifying to be recognised by an organisation which shares one of our fundamental values – supporting family businesses in the UK.”
Our work to support other family businesses to achieve more
Hydraulics Online’s involvement with the Family Business of the Year Awards builds on the work our team has been doing to support family businesses in our local community. Two years ago, the Northwest Family Business Community reached out to Helen. Since then, Helen has been sharing her insights and experience to support other regional business leaders within their network.
Sue Howarth, Director at Northwest Family Business Community, commented, “Helen has been a valued mentor and advisory board member for our family businesses over the last two years. Her passion, input, understanding and empathy to the family business sector has ensured that, for every conversation or meeting she has been involved with, there has always been a positive impact to the individuals personally and to their business.”
This proactive mentoring work has grown thanks to Hydraulics Online’s status as relatable role model to other family businesses in the region. So much so that last year Manchester Metropolitan University signed Helen up as mentor in their delivery of the UK Government’s Help to Grow Management programme. Her efforts have aided more than 20 businesses over the last 12 months.
Building on our community involvement with family businesses
Given Helen’s role in supporting other family businesses, Hydraulics Online’s involvement in the National Family Business of the Year Awards is especially poignant.
She commented, “Being parents to seven, we see how our children benefit from the support and encouragement they have at home. That’s why making time to ‘pay it forward’ through our work with schools, universities and the Young Enterprise UK community is so important to Mark and me. I’m excited at the prospect of how these family business awards will bring us together with other family businesses across the UK who share these values.”
“These values extend into the culture of our business and they way our team approaches a problem or interacts with a customer. As a team, we’re tenacious, focused on the individual needs of each of our customers and always willing to go the extra mile.”
Vote for Hydraulics Online in the Family Business of the Year Awards
The good news doesn’t end there! It’s possible for Hydraulics Online’s customers and supporters to get involved in the awards too.
Any family business nominated for an award can opt to be part of the People’s Choice award. If you’d like to vote for us in this category, in recognition of our values and purpose as a family firm and our desire to pay it forward in support of other family businesses, please cast your vote for us online.
You can vote only once – but every vote counts. Thank you to anyone who does decide to cast their vote for us.
The importance of celebrating family businesses was underlined by Paul Andrews, founder and CEO of Family Business United, which organises the awards. He commented, “Family firms are the backbone of the UK economy and contribute significantly in so many ways. Family firms deserve all the recognition they can get for the good that they do in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation, not forgetting their continued charitable endeavours and investment in the communities in which they operate.”
He continued, “All of those shortlisted deserve their moment in the spotlight and we look forward to crowning the winners in the summer.”
