Express & Star Business Awards 2025: Meet the finalists - Family Business of the Year

The award, sponsored by Crowe LLP, celebrates inspirational and successful family firms. Judges will be looking to hear about what has made the family business a success, how family values have impacted on the business's development, plans for growth and for the future including intergenerational involvement.

A. Perry Ltd

From humble beginnings, Cradley Heath-based A. Perry Ltd has grown to become the UK’s leading manufacturer and distributor of agricultural, architectural and landscaping hardware. Arthur Perry founded the business in 1925 and was later joined by his two sons, Cliff and Ernie. 

The company is now directed by the third and fourth generations - Cliff's son Guy Perry who is managing director, his two sons Chris Perry (operations director) and Steve Perry (marketing director) and Ernie's grandson Ian Dunnaker (commercial director).

Each family member plays a pivotal role in the business, bringing their own unique skills, experience, and passion to their areas of responsibility.

Steve Perry said: "We don’t answer to shareholders — we answer to each other, our people, and our customers."With more than 300 employees across the UK and India, and offering more than 7,000 product lines to over 6,000 customers, A. Perry Ltd has grown from a small ironmongery toolmaker into a market leader. 

The company operates sub-brands including Primus Garden Décor, Perry Equestrian, and Perry Manufacturing and has a manufacturing base in Delhi, India, in addition to its automated robotic warehouse in the UK. Family values underpin the company's mission and strategy, including quality, customer focus and commitment to sustainability.

Steve said: "As a family business, we see growth not just in financial terms but in legacy. The next generation is already involved — learning the business from the ground up, absorbing its culture, and helping to shape its future. We are building a business that will remain strong and values-driven for generations to come."

Gough Group Holdings

Gough Group Holdings is a family-owned construction and refurbishment company with 125-year history and an emphasis on family values.

Founded in Wolverhampton in 1900 by painter and decorator William Gough, the company has been passed down through generations - with current third-generation owners John and Jonathan Gough continuing the family legacy.

They recently invested more than £2million into their Tudor House headquarters - transforming it into six serviced and furbished offices to provide a professional working environment for small businesses in Bilston and Wolverhampton.

A company spokesperson said: “We believe in giving back to the region that has supported our family and our business for 125 years, and we are proud to invest in initiatives that improve the lives of local residents." The business operates with a 'company before self' ethos, prioritising the well-being and stability of its employees and their families. 

Many employees have worked for Gough Group since leaving education at 16, creating a home-grown workforce that has been supported by the company for more than 40 years. John and Jonathan take pride in providing structure and safety for more than 100 directly and indirectly employed people allowing them to support their own families.

Values such as quality, honesty and integrity are deeply ingrained in the company culture, with a motto of 'to do the best possible job and show a keen eye for detail'. The values, combined with a tradition of training apprentices and developing skilled tradespeople, highlight the family’s long-term vision and dedication to their employees and the community.

The firm also has a strong commitment to the local community. Chairman John Gough was instrumental in establishing The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton and served as its first chairman - reflecting the family's desire to provide opportunities and support to young people in the area.

S Jones Containers

S Jones Containers is a family-owned firm based in Aldridge with more than 40 years’ experience as a leading shipping container specialist. Led by fourth generation family members, the business specialises in container hire, sales and conversions to support the diverse needs of clients regionally, nationally, and globally in industries as wide-ranging as engineering, energy, education and healthcare.

Founded by Sammy ‘S’ Jones in 1914, who transported his first consignment by horse and cart, S Jones Containers has a long and proud heritage. 

The business has since been led by Sammy’s descendants to develop operations into what they are today, including being at the forefront of the UK’s container revolution in the 1970s, offering depot services to the shipping industry and container manufacturers at the firm's Aldridge depot – which remains one of the largest in the region. 

Family values are central to S Jones Containers' operations. The company prides itself on exceptional customer service and strong relationships with customers, employees and stakeholders which is reflected in its 97.5 per cent customer satisfaction rate. 

The Jones family’s active involvement is key to the company's success. Andrew Jones, great-grandson of the founder, serves as managing director and maintains an open-door policy with all 51 employees, knowing each by name. Melanie James, Andrew’s sister, plays a vital role in the accounts team, ensuring healthy cash flow, despite battling physical disabilities and brain damage. Michael Jones, their father, is the chairman of the board of directors. All three actively participate in the business's decisions.

S Jones Containers celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2024, marked by a company-wide sports day and support for The James Brindley Foundation. Its long history as a family business drives the company's growth and influences its operational values and this has all helped the business to achieve a 30-fold increase in trading activities in the past 15 years and a turnover of £13.67m in 2024.