Family firms have the edge, says Liverpool building boss

After more than 50 years, Liverpool family building firm Frank Rogers is trading as strongly as ever and current boss and owner Dean Rogers says ‘control and continuity’ are key to its ongoing success. Tony McDonough reports

Dean Rogers
Dean Rogers, managing director of Liverpool building firm Frank Rogers

 

Liverpool family building firm Frank Rogers saw a 25% increase in revenues to £25m in its most recent financial year and the current year is on track to see more growth.

Managing director and owner Dean Rogers says the “control and continuity” that comes from running a family business is a powerful asset when it comes to surviving and thriving in one of the most competitive business sectors.

Over the past year staff numbers at Clubmoor-based Frank Rogers are up by 38%. The company has opened offices in Manchester and Newcastle and is set to establish a London base. With projects across the UK it is transforming into a truly national business.

But Dean has not lost sight of the fundamentals that have seen the business ride the waves of the UK’s changing economic fortunes since the business was founded by the man whose name it still carries back in 1973.

“Few sectors are more vulnerable to economic downturns than the building trade,” Dean Rogers told LBN. “This business has had to endure some lean times over the past few decades but expertise, experience and commitment to excellence has seen us through those tough times.

“The building and construction sector continues to be highly competitive. For example, when things are tight some of the bigger firms will start looking to win smaller contracts. That can put the squeeze on mid-sized firms.

“What gives us an advantage is that Frank Rogers name. It has become a synonym for quality and reliability. Everyone in this industry knows who we are. And the fact the firm is still in the same family is a big plus.”

Family firms are huge drivers of the UK economy. Some of the UK’s biggest and best-known companies such as JCB and Dyson are family-owned and controlled. However, the bulk are SMEs such as Frank Rogers that are at the heart of their local communities.

There are more than 4.5m family-owned firms in the UK. While there is no set legal definition a family-run business is typically one where family members have at least 25% of the right to vote according to their share capital.

Across the country they employ around 14m – that is more than 40% of the working population – and their annual GVA contribution to the economy is estimated to be around £575bn.

Fiona Graham, chief advocacy officer for the not-for-profit Family Business UK, said in an interview in 2024: “Family businesses are the backbone of the UK economy and the bedrock of our communities.

“For generations, family businesses have put people at the heart of business. They offer a sustainable and responsible business model that others can learn from, be part of, work with, and even adopt.”

In 2024 Frank Rogers was shortlisted for Family Business of the Year at the Employers Excellence Awards. It was also named Contractor of the Year at Northern Housing Awards.

It is renowned across the UK construction sector for its expertise in construction, new-build, refurbishment, planned maintenance and repairs. But in recent times it has enjoyed rapid growth in its passive fire protection division, FR Fire Protection.

Work in this area includes fire door renewals, fire door maintenance and compartmentation works. Fire safety is top of the construction industry’s agenda.

This week the Government pledged to accelerate the raising of fire safety standards prompted by the Grenfell tragedy in 2017. Over the past 12 months FR Fire Protection has carried out in excess of £10m of fire safety works.

 

Members of the FR Fire Protection team at building firm Frank Rogers

 

And, despite its growing national profile, Dean Rogers and his team are determined the company does not lose sight of its importance in the local community. In its mission statement, the firm says…

“We believe that lasting relationships are critical to our business, and we want our clients to feel that the service we offer is an extension of their own, and not merely a contractor/client relationship. This is our core competence that we believe distinguishes us from our competition.”

To this end, in September 2023 the business launched the FR Foundation to mark 50 years of trading. This has led to the donation of thousands of pounds to good causes within the communities it serves.

The foundation’s aim was to “uplift individuals and communities” and “create a ripple effect of hope and empowerment”. And to mirror its 50 years Dean Rogers committed to giving away £50,000 to good causes.

In the last 12 months the FR Foundation has made direct donations totalling more than £57,500, has created more than £84,000 in social value from volunteering activities as well as creating a further £44,737 in value through the provision of apprenticeships and work placements.

READ MORE: Window firm Warwick to accelerate social value in 2025

“We remain a family firm in more ways than one,” explained Dean. “Frank Rogers remains in the Rogers family but our wider team itself is part of that family. People who work here believe in what we do and what we are trying to achieve.

“When it is done right, there is nothing more effective than a well-run family business. Our clients know who they are dealing with and know what to expect. I believe that gives us an outstanding chance to continue to thrive for the next 50 years.”

Comments (0)
Add Comment