The results of the 2025 Family Business Survey, compiled by Family Business United (FBU) and conducted in July 2025, reveal overwhelming dissatisfaction among the UK’s family business community with the level of government support for the sector.
When asked whether they felt the government was doing enough to support family businesses, a resounding 92% of respondents said no — a clear signal of growing frustration within a sector that forms the backbone of the UK economy.
Respondents were also asked what single policy amendment or change they would most like to see to better support family enterprises. The most frequently mentioned areas were Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), with many expressing deep concern about recent and proposed changes to inheritance tax, national insurance increases, VAT on school fees, and the ongoing impact of business rates.
One respondent commented: “Reconsider the punitive BPR changes which will damage family businesses that have healthy balance sheets, built up over decades, with limited liquid assets where the intention was passing on a viable business to the next generation.”
This sentiment was echoed by another who added: “Look at BPR, which seriously undermines family business plans and the ability of family firms to invest more for the future, employ more people with confidence and support local communities. A longer-term outlook has shifted to short-term with less investment as a result.”
A third respondent urged policymakers to take a more informed and empathetic approach:
“We need those in power making decisions to really understand the way that family firms operate — their long-term vision and desire to do business the right way, creating growth and opportunities across the country."
"Too many increases are causing difficult conversations in family business boardrooms across the country, and there will undoubtedly be casualties as a result of the increasing costs and taxes being applied to these businesses.”
Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United, said: “These results are deeply concerning. Family businesses are the lifeblood of communities across the UK — they provide jobs, reinvest profits locally, and take a long-term view on sustainability and growth. Yet the message from this year’s survey is crystal clear: many feel ignored and increasingly burdened by government policy.”
“The strength of family businesses lies in their values, resilience, and commitment to doing business the right way — but these qualities can only go so far when faced with mounting tax pressures and constant policy uncertainty."
"The government needs to recognise the unique contribution that family firms make and ensure that tax and regulatory frameworks support, rather than hinder, their ability to invest, grow, and plan for the next generation.”
The findings on government support follow other data from the 2025 Family Business Survey, which also revealed that 70% of family business owners feel less optimistic about their business prospects than last year, underlining the difficult environment the sector continues to navigate.
