John Good Group is a sixth-generation family-owned, purpose-led group of businesses with interests in Shipping, Business and Leisure Travel, Warehousing and Haulage, Property, and Business Services. Headquartered in East Yorkshire, the Group has become a proud 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. By signing, John Good Group is publicly affirming what has always guided its approach to business: 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.”
John Good Group is one of the UK’s oldest family-owned businesses, with a heritage dating back to 1833. Headquartered in Hessle, the Group is a dynamic, diversified group of businesses made up of John Good & Sons, TEPS, Nothing But Padlocks, The Good Travel Collective, and The Maritime Division (DAN Shipping, Bay Shipping, and Arthur Smith.
Today, the business employs hundreds of people across multiple locations and remains committed to building long-term relationships with clients, colleagues and partners. Its business model is to create strategies and provide investment in businesses to enhance their performance and growth, ultimately improving lives for long-term success. Through its diverse portfolio of companies and investments, John Good Group continues to combine innovation with the values that have guided the business since the Victorian period.
The Seven Principles of the Family Business Pledge
By signing the Pledge, John Good Group has committed to the following principles:
- Stewardship over short-termism: Making decisions with the next generation in mind, prioritising long-term health over short-term profit.
- People before profit: Fostering a people-first culture built on trust, respect and long-term relationships where employees are valued as individuals.
- Rooted in our community: Actively investing in the communities where the business operates, recognising that its success is inseparable from the wellbeing of those around it.
- Governance with integrity: Upholding transparent, ethical governance and welcoming accountability at every level.
- Sustainability for future generations: Taking environmental responsibilities seriously, knowing that the world left behind matters as much as the business.
- Preserving the founder’s spirit: Honouring the values, purpose and entrepreneurial drive on which the business was founded through every transition and generation.
- Sharing knowledge, lifting others: Sharing experience and expertise with other family businesses and mentoring the next wave of family entrepreneurs.
Paul Andrews, Founder & CEO at Family Business United, said: “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, and the seven core principles reflect the very essence of what family businesses are all about.
“This is our latest campaign to celebrate the significant contribution family firms make to economies the world over via the jobs they provide, wealth they create and income they generate, not forgetting the impact they have on the communities in which they operate. The Family Business Pledge brings together the principles by which they do business, and we are proud to run this campaign and see so many family businesses get behind it.”
About Family Business United
Family Business United is a globally recognised organisation championing family businesses of every size and sector. Through research, advocacy, events and resources, Family Business United supports family firms to grow, evolve and thrive across generations. The Family Business Pledge was created to enable family businesses to stand together, affirm their shared values and demonstrate that doing business the right way and doing business successfully are one and the same.
Find out more at www.familybusinessunited.com