THE LUCY GROUP, OXFORD IS A GLOBAL PLAYER

Established: 1812

Employee numbers: More than 1,400 Generations in the business: 2

Lucy Group is an international group which operates across a number of sectors: Lucy Castings, Lucy Controls, Lucy Electric and Lucy Real Estate. Since its origins more than 200 years ago, the Group has evolved significantly and now has factories in 10 regions and trades in more than 60 countries.

From an ironmongery shop on Oxford’s high street, the business moved to a new brass and iron foundry in Jericho in 1825. This site became known as Eagle Works and is now Lucy Group’s headquarters.

Two generations of the family work in the business Richard Dick is Executive Chairman and CEO, and his son Jonathan

Finch-Dick is Executive Director. Robert Dick (Richard’s brother) is also a director.

Jonathan said: “I always wanted to be involved with the Group. I did work experience here when I was younger; but it was important to develop outside the business. After university, I spent 12 years with global real estate advisory firm CBRE, ending up as a senior director. I always stayed involved with Lucy Group and in 2017 the opportunity came to join full-time.

“My father and I have a good relationship. He’s from an engineering background, unlike me (and he does occasionally remind me of that). We have different perspectives on many things, but great mutual respect and similar values.

“Of course, we disagree occasionally but we both think it’s important to challenge different approaches. The important thing is we work together to achieve the best way forward.

The business has developed a “2020 Vision”. This includes targets for net profit across all business streams in preference to turnover, retaining its focus on the excellence of its professional services, increased employee training support, treating all the team as family and meeting its target of planting one million trees in Africa in 10 years.

“One privilege of working for a family business is being able meet with people across all our locations, to understand their motivation, and thank them for their hard work. It is not always easy, and there are often difficult decisions, but hopefully people know we’re striving for the longterm success of the business.”