Author: Alicia Farinós

The Family Business Institute (IEF), which has links to the Catalan Association of Family Businesses (ASCEF), has called on central government to focus on recovery through a plan for «returning to normality» with «clear rules» for companies, safety protocols and sectoral actions in the face of the impact of COVID-19.

The IEF President, Francisco J. Riberas, said “the most important thing now is to prepare for this economic reactivation” and the important role of family businesses should be taken into account in the recovery process.

Mr Riberas has stated his support for new Moncloa Pacts that would improve the current model.

April 2020.- Family businesses are not only battling to adapt to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are also working on solidarity-based projects to help hospitals function, improve the safety of professionals and care for them in their daily work.

ASCEF members are a good example. These are some of their initiatives:

The veterinary pharmaceutical company HIPRA has made its biotechnology facilities and equipment available to the health authorities. This includes nearly 700 sq. m. of laboratories equipped with the latest diagnostic technology to help manage and obtain results from SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus tests.

In the case of Tous, the company has adapted its 3D printing machines to produce components for ICU oxygen bypass tubes. It has also donated over 100 acrylic sheets for the production of methacrylate urns to protect hospital berths.

For its part, the multinational Puig has made an offer to the Government of Catalonia to produce hydroalcoholic and sanitised solutions for use by health personnel and the public. This will require the adapting of some of its production lines.

The Saica Group, a company that manufactures recycled paper, has made a donation for the acquisition of face masks and diagnostic tests.

Grup Gepork, a veterinary distribution company, has also donated medical supplies to the Vic Hospital Consortium.

The Damm Foundation has positioned itself alongside healthcare professionals with the delivery of over 26,000 litres of mineral water to 12 hospitals and another 4,000 litres to social entities that work with the most vulnerable groups.

Meanwhile, the Anudal company, which is devoted to aluminium carpentry and based in Badalona, has sent pizzas to the Germans Trias Hospital (Can Ruti) for the workers there.

In the case of Planeta, the publishing and communication group has enabled free access to its educational platform. AulaPlaneta is now available to teachers and 5th and 6th year Primary School pupils as well as those in Secondary Schools.

For its part, the Ferran Sendra Studio has created specific content related to creativity with the aim of using confinement constructively.

Barcelona, 30 March 2020.- The Catalan Association of Family Businesses (ASCEF), which comprises over 100 companies representing the Catalan business community, has called on the Spanish government to apply economic measures that improve company liquidity at a time when the halting of non-essential activities due to the coronavirus crisis is placing family businesses as a whole in a “very difficult” situation.

The ASCEF believes that there is a need for immediate economic measures, for Social Security contributions to be suspended without limitations on time or company size, and a moratorium on tax payments. It has also asked the State to take over payment of employees’ recoverable paid leave. “For every company, large and small, a lack of revenue due to the cessation of their activity, which had already been reduced by the decline of the economy as a whole, will deprive many of the money to make payments,” said Amadeu Jori, the President of ASCEF. In this regard, all the business organisations (Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE), Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (Cepyme), Family Business Institute (IEF) and Fomento del Trabajo) have lodged similar requests.

Family businesses in Catalonia account for 88.3% of all private sector companies, contribute 69% of Gross Value Added (GVA) and generate 76% of private sector jobs. “Catalan family businesses are making every effort possible, strengthening the values that have enabled them to endure, such as their commitment to business projects and entrepreneurial leadership despite the difficulties, but everything is happening so quickly that exceptional measures of support are called for.”

The ASCEF has never questioned the lockdown that, for health reasons, the Spanish government has implemented in order to fight the Covid-19 pandemic “because it is evident that people are what matter most.”

January 20, 2020 / The Catalan Association of Family Businesses (ASCEF) and NETMENTORA have signed a collaboration agreement with the aim of identifying potential entrepreneurs who can benefit from the experience, knowledge and resources of both organisations. The non-profit agreement will help to strengthen the local business ecosystem and the creation of employment in Catalonia. One of Europe’s leading non-profit associations, NETMENTORA helps entrepreneurs to consolidate their projects with the support of a network of business leaders.

Amadeu Jori, the President of ASCEF, said that “we know that a person’s entrepreneurial vision is often the origin of what will later become a family business. Therefore, as entrepreneurs, we bear a responsibility to commit to the future and help, using our own experience, those with a business initiative.”

In the view of Nuria Basi, the President of the Basi Group and Vice-President of NETMENTORA Catalonia, “through a clear commitment to the individual, we foster the exchange of knowledge and experience that feeds back to all parties. A community of 14,000 people who share values and the same goal: to create employment, helping to create companies. With ASCEF, we will keep promoting the entrepreneurial spirit, company growth and consolidation and the creation of workplaces in Catalonia.”

December 2019/ Over recent months, the ASCEF has been very active in promoting the relationship between members, publicising business experiences and addressing issues that engage and concern us.

In this quarter, we have made 3 visits to the headquarters of different companies from very different business sectors: Juvé & Camps, Sagalés and Cartonatges Petit. Our meetings were very interesting and enabled us to get to know the day-to-day experiences and challenges of these business organisations.

As for the training sessions held in this quarter, we have discussed start-ups, non-productive assets, tax developments, succession and continuity (with the experience of Juvé & Camps and La Farga) as well as internationalisation. With the participation of experts in the different areas, these activities have been possible thanks to the sponsorship of entities such as Mirabaud, Banco Santander, Degroof Petercam, EY, PwC, Cuatrecasas KPMG, Deloitte and Banc de Sabadell, with the collaboration of the Chambers of Commerce of Barcelona and Girona.

In addition, the Youth Forum carried out its first Company Speed Dating in which Albert Borras from Gestarnal; Vanesa Martínez from Carinsa and Albert Vicens from Ausa explained their projects. It was an innovative 10-minute idea that involved a presentation and round of questions.

12 December 2019/ Dual Vocational Training enjoys a long tradition in countries such as Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands or Switzerland, where young people choose this educational path. Our country is a long way off despite a growth in recent years. For companies in general, Dual Vocational Training is highly beneficial as it enables them to attract specialised, highly qualified professionals, previously trained in the content that interests them, thereby increasing their skills and future job performance.

Dual Vocational Training is also an important tool for family businesses as they work with a long-term vision and, in this context, training and adapting this to company needs forms a cornerstone.

In December, an interesting conference took place with the participation of the Director-General for Planning in the Area of Universities and Research of the Government of Catalonia, Mercè Chacón; the Territorial Manager in Catalonia of the Bertelsmann Foundation, Guillem Salvans; the Global Pharma Operations Director for Almirall, Marc Pérez Puigdengoles, the Director and member of the Executive Committee of Simon, Ricard Aubert, and Joan Corona, Director General of the Family Business Institute (IEF).

19 November 2019/ Over 200 European business people have participated in the Sixth edition of the European Family Business (EFB) Summit that took place in Madrid on November 19-20. This is a unique event with lectures by representatives of important European and Spanish institutions and analysis of the main issues affecting the family business in a context of constant change. In Europe, family businesses represent 50% of GDP and more than 60% of private sector employment, with over 14 million companies.

The EFB, in collaboration with KPMG, recently published the eighth edition of its barometer on the situation of family businesses in Europe. This shows that the future perspective of European family businesses, at a time of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, continues to be positive. Innovation, diversification, training and education are key priorities as they adapt to a rapidly changing world, while succession planning is increasingly on the minds of families. This year, the family business community has sent a clear message abroad: we must improve the single market and focus on promoting world trade.

ASCEF forms part of this international organisation, which was founded in 1997 and represents 10,000 companies from 12 countries.

29 October 2019/ The 22nd Family Business Congress, which took place on 27-29 October in Murcia, has tested the opinions of attendees by means of a survey on economic perspectives in the current political and social situation.

The results indicate that, for the majority, 2019 showed a moderate increase in activity with limited net job creation while identifying governance and structural reforms as the main challenges. 46% of family businesses predict that there will be an increase in sales in 2020, with 35% believing that these will be similar to those of 2019.

With regard to investment, family businesses continue to commit decisively; 73% say that they will increase this next year.

Boasting a large representation from the ASCEF, the Congress brought together prominent personalities from the national economic and political landscape.