Rather than rushing to exit, entrepreneurs should consider building a business to last, says family business owner Andrew Nisbet.

There is an enormous wealth of business confidence in the West and East of England, and it is home to some of the UK’s most successful companies. Take Bristol-based Nisbets for example, founded by Andrew Nisbet in 1983; it is now the UK’s largest catering-supplies company and exports globally. 

It is positive that the UK then has a number of large family businesses who should be expecting to provide this balancing influence; businesses such as Associated British Foods founded by W Garfield Weston in 1935; Laing O’Rourke founded by Ray O’Rourke who launched the business from his garage; Bestway Group created by Sir Anwar Pervez in 1956, and others such as Nisbets, the catering supplies business founded by Andrew Nisbet in 1983.

This approach to customer service is supported by many of the UK’s leading businesspeople. Andrew Nisbet, the founder of Nisbets, says: “Focus on delivering your customers the best service possible, and most other things will follow. Stay alert, and constantly re-evaluate the basics. Ultimately, trust your team and give them your full support.”