We are proud to announce that John Good Group has become a signatory of the Family Business Pledge, joining a growing community of family firms committed to responsible, values-led business.
The Pledge sets out seven core principles spanning stewardship, people, community, governance, sustainability, heritage and knowledge-sharing. For us, signing is a public affirmation of what has always guided our approach: that long-term thinking, integrity and genuine care for people are not a compromise on commercial success, but the very foundation of it.
Adam Walsh, Chief Executive Officer at John Good Group, said, “As a family business now in its sixth generation, we understand the importance of thinking beyond the next quarter and focusing on the long-term success of our people, customers and communities. The principles of the Family Business Pledge reflect values that have shaped John Good Group for almost two centuries, from acting with integrity and supporting our people to creating a positive impact wherever we operate. We are proud to join fellow family businesses in making this commitment and demonstrating the enduring value of responsible, purpose-led enterprise.”
With a heritage dating back to 1833, John Good Group is one of the UK’s oldest family-owned businesses. Headquartered in Hessle, East Yorkshire, the Group brings together John Good & Sons, TEPS, Nothing But Padlocks, The Good Travel Collective, and The Maritime Division, comprising DAN Shipping, Bay Shipping, and Arthur Smith. Across those businesses, hundreds of people are employed across multiple locations, united by the same values that have guided the Group since the Victorian era.
Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO at Family Business United, welcomed the Group’s commitment, “We created the Family Business Pledge as a way to further bring family businesses together as a collective voice, to demonstrate their commitment to doing business the right way. The seven core principles reflect the very essence of what family businesses are all about. We are proud to run this campaign and see so many family businesses get behind it.”
The seven principles John Good Group has committed to are: stewardship over short-termism, making decisions with the next generation in mind; people before profit, building a culture of trust, respect and long-term relationships; rooted in our community, actively investing in the places where we operate; governance with integrity, upholding transparent and ethical accountability at every level; sustainability for future generations, taking our environmental responsibilities seriously; preserving the founder’s spirit, honouring the values and entrepreneurial drive on which the business was built; and sharing knowledge, lifting others, mentoring the next wave of family entrepreneurs.
These are not new commitments for us. They are the principles we have tried to live by across six generations, and we are glad to stand alongside fellow family businesses in making them explicit.
To find out more about the Family Business Pledge, visit familybusinessunited.com.