Website review

With the Law Society of Scotland currently engaged in a family-run business initiative (http://bit.ly/98wZxc), the web review turns its attention to business sites with a focus on the family.

Scottish Family Business Association www.sfba.co.uk

This smartly designed site (there are not enough orange and grey websites, I find) was my first port of call and it was from their resources page that I got most of the other links for this review. The site has a lot of good quality material (but mercifully brief and to the point), and it is well organised, with pretty much everything within a single click from the homepage.

From the solicitor’s point of view, it is a good place to get an overview of what is current and/or important in the world of family business. Signing up for the monthly newsletter is quick and easy and may be a good way of keeping up to date. There are details of events which may be of interest and the Association even has a strategy for professional advisers (including lawyers). This includes a commitment to ensuring that (a) lawyers are equipped to provide support which is specific to family business; and (b) all law degrees have compulsory modules on skills relating to advising family business.

Well, it’s good to set your goals high, I always say.

Caledonian Family Business Centre www.familybusinesscentre.com

Part of Glasgow Caledonian University, the family business centre aims to “ensure the longevity of family businesses in Scotland through the provision of excellence in research, teaching and business support” – a noble goal, no doubt.

However, the website has a curious way of trying to achieve this. I would describe it as a brochure site, except that the brochures which are available to download (in pdf) give much more information in some areas than the site does. For example, the main brochure, once you’ve downloaded it, talks about family business audits, and training and awareness seminars. These sound like the sort of things a family business might well be interested in, but they are hidden away, when they should be on the front page (or at least a bit closer to it). This is not only bad web design, it’s probably costing the centre money in lost customers.

Family Business Solutions www.familybusinesssolutions.co.uk

By contrast, the website of this consultancy and training firm does it all right. The homepage begins by asking in bold font and attractive design, three questions which the typical family business is likely to ask itself. By clicking on a question, the visitor is taken to a page which provides a brief answer to the question and then wastes no time in marketing FBS as part of the solution.

However, so much space was taken up by the logo and the accompanying pictures, that there was little space left in my browser window for actual information. I found this a little irritating.

STEP – Business Families Special Interest Group www.step.org/communities/special_interest_groups/business_families.aspx

STEP is the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – some of you may be members of this organisation. Of all the sites reviewed this month, I suspect that this is the one which will be of most practical use to solicitors.

On the pages devoted specifically to family businesses, you will find articles (14, all of which looked useful and well written); news (five not particularly inspiring entries); and events (two, one of which had already taken place).

The wider site remains unexplored by me, but appears to have much, much more in the way of useful resources. As a novice when it comes to trusts, I found the “Trusts explained” document very elucidating.

With thanks to Graham Murray of Wright, Johnstone & Mackenzie’s family business group, (www.wjm.co.uk/services/family_business/– just behind the magenta door) who suggested this month’s topic.