It is heartening to see businesses do well in the teeth of a recession and even more so, perhaps, when they are family businesses with a strong sense of responsibility towards their staff and customers. So GoldFinger was happy to witness Coutts’ UK family business awards ceremony earlier this week.

Banks such as Coutts and JP Morgan can use award events such as these to deepen ties with this important sector of client, build relationships and a future pipeline of business.

Winner in the £1-5million turnover category was Allcooper, from Gloucester. The firm works in the fire and security sector, installing and servicing systems like CCTV, access control and intruder alarms. In the £5-25 million turnover category was Norbar Torque Tools, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire. As the name implies, it is a maker of wrenches and other tools – it is good to see a manufacturing business get an award in a country infamous for having run down its manufacturing base.

And in the third, £25 million-plus turnover category, the winner was Nelsons, a firm that develops and supplies complementary medicines and natural remedies. It is based in Wimbledon, southwest London.