Celebrity baker Steve Oxford gave the benefit of wisdom accrued through four generations of his family running a bakery to attendees at a family business event.
Steve, whose artisan English bakery Oxford’s is based at Alweston, near Sherborne and dates back to 1911, was keynote speaker at the latest Family Business Connect event held by chartered accountants and business advisers PKF Francis Clark.
He spoke from personal experience about the bakery maintaining traditional family values while also adapting to the demands of modern business life and the essential need to diversify.
Steve also told his audience at Blandford’s Crown Hotel that he didn’t yet know if the fifth generation was to follow him into the business – his two children are just five and seven.
The event was the latest in a series of dedicated family business events being organised by expanding South West accountancy firm PKF Francis Clark as it looks to bring together family businesses of all shapes and sizes.
James Robinson, Managing Partner at the firm’s Poole office, said: ““As advisors it is fantastic to see the buzz that can be created by bringing like-minded people from all generations together.
“Steve Oxford delivered his insight into the past and future of Oxford’s in a way that only he can. We were all fascinated by his story but also how it relates to family business no matter what their industry.
“We have already lined up a series of guest speakers for our future events along with topics to get the conversation started – I can’t wait!”
PKF Francis Clark which has eight offices across the region and celebrated its centenary last year,
Founded in 1919, PKF Francis Clark has 57 partners and a team of more than 700 employees in offices across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, recently opening their eighth office in Bristol.