Family Affair: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Reveals Top Father's Day Businesses

June 13, 2019 by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

•Figures reveal there are 4.8 million family-owned businesses in the UK

•Tradesmen are four times more likely to follow in father's footsteps than average

•Father & Daughter firms on the rise with 17% of tradeswomen inspired by their dad

•Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles celebrates Father's Day with its customers

British businesses are keeping it in the family this Father's Day with figures revealing there are 4.8 million family-owned firms in the UK employing 13 million people*.

Young business owners are twice as likely to have taken over a family company, while tradesmen are four times more likely to follow in their father's footsteps than the national average**.

It's not just Father & Son firms, though, with 17% of tradeswomen revealing they were inspired by their dad to take up a trade, accounting for an estimated 15,600 building firms in the UK today.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is celebrating these 'Father &' companies this Father's Day (Sunday 16 June) by highlighting four customers who have passed their expertise down through the generations and rely on their vans as part of the family to make their business a success.

Leaf Envy

Founded in December 2018, the London-based business uses a liveried Volkswagen Caddy to deliver plants to customers. Father and daughter duo, Malcolm and Beth Chapman are one of the many small businesses to partner with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to get the job done.

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P Markwick & Son Ltd

Pete and Tom Markwick have been working together for more than a decade having started in March 2005 as a traditional & Sons business. The established plumbing, heating and air conditioning installation company relies on its well-maintained Volkswagen Transporter to reach customers across East Sussex.

Pool Fresh

Established 21 years ago, Pool Fresh is a London-based cleaning and maintenance service run by Jerry and Jordan Abankwah. Using their Transporter, the small business offers a unique pool cleaning service across the capital.

The French Polishing Company

Highlighting the diversity of businesses using Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the London-based furniture polishing and restoration firm has been operating for five years. Father & Son partnership, Andrew and Jay, operate The French Polishing Company using their Volkswagen Transporter.

David Hanna, Head of Service and Parts at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: 'Father's Day is a special time of the year, especially for family businesses where children have followed in the footsteps of their parents – whether that's in traditional trades or some of the more unusual companies who we count among our valued customer base. Father & Son – and increasingly & Daughter – businesses are experiencing a resurgence and bring in millions to the UK economy each year. We're proud to be Working With You and Your Children with our reliable vans and leading aftersales offering.'

For more details on the businesses visit the social media campaign at: https://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenCommercialVehiclesUK/

For more details on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' award-winning range of products and services, or to find your nearest Van Centre, please visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk.