Scots business owners say relationships suffer

Business owners in Scotland are experiencing additional strain on their personal relationships as a result of running the family firm, according to a report published today.

Aberdein Considine has unveiled the findings of an Atomik Research survey showing that 78 per cent of Scots business owners feel being in a family firm puts a strain on their families and relationships, compared to 63 per cent for the rest of the UK. The figure was nearly half for Edinburgh, with about threequarters of those in Dundee feeling under pressure and two-thirds in Glasgow. Family businesses account for some 50 per cent of all private sector employment in Scotland.

Naeema Sajid, family law partner at Aberdein Considine said: “Involving family members in discussions or taking advice at an early stage, can go a long way to reducing stressful and complex situations and can lead to better and more efficient decisionmaking.”