Allcooper Limited won the award in the Coutts Prize for Family Business 2008/9.
The family beat off tough competition from a recycling technology company and a funeral directors at the national finals held at the Coutts headquarters on the Strand in London.
The company provide installation and maintenance services covering fire systems, intruder alarms, CCTV, access control and physical security.
It has 62 full time staff and operates across the UK, servicing domestic and commercial clients and corporations, including a number of government departments.
Their London division provides bespoke solutions and consultancy for many private individuals and high net worth customers requiring a unique personal service.
Roger Pedder, chairman of the evaluation committee said: “As a successful second generation family business, the things that impressed the evaluation committee about Allcooper Limited included:
The strong family values displayed;
The active use of non-family non-executive directors;
The involvement of father as trusted adviser and third generation learning the ropes;
The family’s daily performance metrics and lead-by-example management;
The entrepreneurial flair and track record of continuous innovation;
The healthy attitude to corporate social responsibility from energy efficient vehicles to recycling; and
The meaningful corporate philanthropy from donations to cystic fibrosis and involvement in various community initiatives.”
Two members of the Cooper family operate on a daily basis within the company, Gerard, chairman and Roman, managing director.
Gary Cooper, father and joint founder with Gerard in 1987, retired from the business several years ago.
Tim left the business in November 2005 after 15 years in the business to explore other opportunities.
Mark Evans, head of family business at Coutts & Co said: “In today’s tough times it is more important than ever to leverage the competitive advantage of being a family business.”
The Coutts Prize recognises firms in three categories ( GB pound 1m-5m, GB pound 5m- GB pound 25m, GB pound 25m+) that demonstrate a combination of high standards of family governance and corporate governance, a competitive market position, consistent financial growth, and a track record of charitable giving or involvement in local community.
Entrants must be companies or firms where two or more family members together have control of over 25 per cent of the voting shares and consider themselves as a family business.
For further information about the Coutts Prize for Family Prize visit www.coutts.com/familybusiness
