The office

BSMM was set up in 2004, after the family sold the engineering business it had run for three generations. Seven people work here.

History

  1. A clockmaker builds the longcase clock that still stands in the family home.

  2. The family opens a small engineering works making pumps and valves.

  3. The second generation takes over and grows the works into a national supplier of industrial pumps.

  4. The third generation sells the business, and four siblings set up BSMM to look after the proceeds.

  5. Members of the fourth generation join the family council.

The name

BSMM is made up of the first initials of the four siblings who set up the office, oldest first. Like the rest of the people here, they prefer not to be named.

The clock

A longcase clock is tall because it has to hold a pendulum about a metre long, which takes a full second to swing each way. It keeps good time by doing one small thing steadily for a very long time. The family thought that was a fair description of the job, and the pendulum on our home page is there as a reminder.

People

We don't publish names. If we're talking with you, you'll know who we are.

Chief executive
Since 2004
Investment director
Since 2009
Investment manager, private businesses
Since 2014
Investment manager, property
Since 2017
Finance and reporting
Since 2006
Legal counsel
Since 2012
Office manager
Since 2004

Governance

Family council
All adult members of the family. Meets twice a year to agree what the family wants from its capital.
Investment committee
Three family members and two independent directors. Meets monthly and approves every investment.
Audit
An external firm audits the accounts each year and reports to the family council.