About the research project:
The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and the Family Business Research Foundation (FBRF) are working together to assess the impacts of upcoming Business Property Relief (BPR) reform on UK family businesses.
Announced at the Autumn Budget 2024 and coming into effect from April 2026, the reforms will:
- Introduce a £1m cap on combined agricultural and business assets eligible for 100% relief, with 50% relief applicable thereafter; and
- Reduce the rate of relief to 50% for all previously eligible unlisted shares.
Cebr are looking to evaluate the impacts of BPR reforms by engaging directly with UK family businesses, through interviews and focus groups. Collecting family business perspectives over a 6-month period, the research will focus on areas such as ownership structure and succession, investment and valuation, workforce and business decision-making. We are also interested in how impacts vary between different family businesses and through the implementation period.
Findings will be presented in a report in Summer 2026.
How will family businesses benefit from this research?
This report will raise awareness on the impacts of BPR reforms, specifically for the family business sector. Family business’ contributions will help to draw attention to the impact on their sector, strengthening the project’s credibility.
It therefore represents a crucial opportunity for family businesses to get their voices heard, directly contributing to research that will inform policymaking and the wider debate around BPR.
Participation is also a great way for family businesses to engage and network with one another. It provides an opportunity to share experiences, strategy and best practice around the upcoming BPR reform, and to learn from fellow family businesses.
How can businesses get involved and contribute to the research?
Family businesses can contribute to this research through up to three, one-hour long online interviews. Interviews will be held either one-to-one or within small focus groups (depending on business’ preferences), occurring in three waves over 6-month period during the implementation of BPR reforms. The timings of each wave of interviews and their corresponding focus is as follows:
• Wave 1, December 2025: Planning and expectations ahead of reform;
• Wave 2, February-March 2026: Actions and preparation in immediate run-up to reform; and
• Wave 3, April-May 2026: Impacts and responses post-reform.
Business interviews and the information collected in them will be strictly confidential in line with GDPR rules and Cebr’s data privacy policy. All findings will be completely anonymised unless businesses choose otherwise.
Should businesses be interested in participating in this research, please click the button below.
Additionally, please feel free to direct any queries around this research to bprreview@cebr.com