Family Business Day 2025: Why Family Firms Matter More Than Ever
By Michael Crossan, Chairman, Powerday
This Thursday, 18th September, we celebrate Family Business Day 2025. It is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the important role that family businesses play in the UK economy and in communities across the country.
For me, as Chairman of Powerday, it is not just a symbolic date in the calendar. It is a reminder of what lies at the heart of our business: family, loyalty, and long-term commitment.
The heartbeat of the UK economy
Family businesses are the unsung backbone of Britain. There are more than 5 million family firms across the UK, supporting over 15 million jobs and contributing billions of pounds to our economy every year. In construction, our own sector, hundreds of thousands of family-run businesses keep projects moving, train apprentices, and create value in local communities.
While some may think of family businesses as small, local shops or tradespeople, the truth is they span every size and sector, from sole traders to large enterprises with thousands of employees. Collectively, they make up more than half of private sector turnover. When family firms thrive, Britain thrives.
Why family matters in business
At Powerday, working with my family is not just about ownership. It is about shared values. Running a business with family brings a deep level of trust and loyalty that you simply cannot manufacture.
When you work alongside those you have known your whole life, decisions come from a place of shared purpose. That creates a flat structure where we can make choices quickly and decisively. In a sector as dynamic as waste management and recycling, that agility has been a major driver of our growth, from a single site to operating some of the most advanced recycling facilities in the country.
Beyond growth, working with family means creating a legacy. We are not building a business to sell tomorrow. We are building something to hand down to the next generation, safeguarding jobs, skills, and opportunity along the way.
Family runs further than ownership
At Powerday, family does not stop with my own. Around 20% of our workforce are made up of families, spanning parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Being a family business means treating staff like family and welcoming employees’ family members into our extended Powerday community.
This approach creates a workplace built on trust, loyalty, and mutual support. It reinforces the values that make family businesses resilient: we look out for one another, celebrate each other’s successes, and work together to grow the business for the long term.
Why now, more than ever, family businesses need support
The past few years have tested businesses across the UK. From global supply chain disruptions to inflationary pressures, many have faced challenges not seen in decades. Through it all, family businesses have shown their resilience because we do not think quarter by quarter, we think generation by generation.
But resilience alone is not enough. Family firms need recognition and support. Policymakers, partners, and consumers must understand that supporting family businesses means protecting jobs, preserving heritage, and investing in sustainable long-term growth.
When you choose to work with a family business, you are choosing more than a service or a product. You are choosing commitment, loyalty, and continuity. You are choosing a business model that values people as much as profit.
Looking ahead
As we mark Family Business Day 2025, I am proud of what Powerday has achieved as a family business, and I am even prouder to stand alongside the millions of family-run firms across the UK. Together, we represent not only a powerful economic force but a set of values such as trust, loyalty, responsibility, and long-term vision that our country needs now more than ever.
Family businesses do not just build companies. We build futures. And with the right support, we will continue to power growth, protect jobs, and leave a legacy for generations to come.
Take a look at our video celebrating Family Business Day! We caught up with family members from across the company to share their experiences of working with friends and family.
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“We were pleased to have awarded this contract to Powerday. They have delivered their services efficiently and reliably, achieved high recycling rates and 100% recovery, meeting our requirements throughout the project. They have been easy to deal with, reasonable and fair. We have been particularly impressed with their account management and waste reporting capabilities.”
Dave France, Project Director, Ecoworld Ballymore