DELEGATES from 50 family-run businesses learned the secrets to success from the managing director of the world’s oldest privately-owned car manufacturer. Charles Morgan was the keynote speaker at the Guernsey Training Agency’s family business conference.

Chief executive Professor Richard Conder said the sector made up an estimated 70% of the island’s economy and therefore it was vitally important to fully embrace and help it.

‘The purpose of this conference is two-fold – to encourage growth of family businesses and to make supporting services such as accountants and lawyers more aware of their individual needs,’ he said.

Mr Morgan spoke alongside local businessman David Cherry, the founder of the Cherry Godfrey Finance Group.

Also presenting were John Tucker and John Gatrell, of the Family Enterprise Centre.

In September, it is launching a post-graduate course in the island for family business advisors. It will be run through the University of Gloucester and taught locally by the agency.

Professor Conder said the agency had been promoting specialist training for family-run businesses for two years.

‘They are a vital part of the economy and have very specialist needs.’

It runs courses in succession training, family relationships within firms, governance and communication.

‘We have been delighted with the take up of the courses and how committed local family-run businesses have been to developing skills.’

Mr Morgan provided a light-hearted overview of the company’s 100-year history and drew on the ups and downs of running a family business.

Among those present were Brian Gabriel, of Gabriel’s, Specsavers co-founder Mary Perkins, Martin Search, of Ray and Scott Jewellers, and architect Andrew Dyke.

The last two brought their Morgan cars along.

Mr Cherry opened the conference.

He co-founded Cherry Godfrey in 1994 primarily to serve the Guernsey market. The family firm has expanded to become one of the leading financial service providers in the Channel Islands.

He highlighted the importance of family firms to Guernsey and outlined some of the difficulties of doing business in an isolated island.

‘I want to emphasise that we are continually looking for entrepreneurs that can export beyond our shores and bring the world back in.’

Cherry Godfrey hopes to generate more than 50% of its business off the island within the next few years.

Mr Tucker is a fellow in family business at the University of Gloucestershire and founder of the Family Enterprise Centre.

He has a wealth of experience from years of working in and with family businesses, both in consultancy and personal development capacity.

He said the new course would be targeted at any agencies that work with family business but do not always appreciate the family dimension.

The post-graduate certificate will be equivalent to a masters level qualification.