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Family Business Week: Celebrating the People, Relationships, and Legacy of Forbes

Family Business Week offers a powerful moment to recognise the essential role family-led organisations play in the UK’s economy and communities. For Forbes, it is also a moment of heartfelt reflection as we prepare to step into our Centenary year this January.

A Group that serves both homes and businesses

Founded by F. Donald Forbes in 1926, What began as a small family enterprise has evolved into a nationwide Group consisting of two pillars:

• Forbes Rentals, providing service-led home appliance and technology rentals to households across the UK.

• Forbes Professional, delivering managed appliance, TV and AV solutions to a diverse client case spanning hospitality, healthcare, education, and corporate environments.

Together, these two arms enable Forbes to serve an exceptionally broad customer base – all with a consistent commitment to quality, service, and long-term partnership.

A family legacy carried forward – in many forms

While several members of the Forbes family continue to work within the business today, the true heritage of our family business lives within its people as a whole.

Many of our team members have been with us for decades, contributing skills, loyalty, and continuity that define our culture. This depth of experience is matched by the loyalty of our customers – families, organisations, and partners who have stayed with us across generations.

These long-term relationships are central to who we are. They are the reason we continue to prioritise service, personal connection, and reliability in everything we do.

Nationwide reach, personal service

With regional depots throughout the UK, a Surrey-based Head Office, and a highly experienced fleet of field engineers, Forbes combines national capability with a local, service-first approach. Whether supporting a homeowner or a multi-site organisation, our standards remain the same.

Looking to our Centenary year

This year’s Family Business Week arrives just as we prepare to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime milestone.

In January, Forbes will officially launch our Centenary year ‐ marking 100 years of trusted service to both households and businesses across the UK.

Across 2026, we will share stories from our past, recognise the people who shaped our success, and outline our vision for the next century.

As we celebrate Family Business Week, we extend our sincere gratitude to every colleague, partner, and customer whose commitment and loyalty have made this journey possible.

Here’s to 100 years – and many more to come.