Celebrating 60 Years
Celebrating 60 years of the Whitfield family’s group of companies: family businesses mark milestone anniversary
21 November, 2024: A family owned group of leading property companies rooted in the heart of Cambridgeshire, is celebrating six decades in business.
Established in 1964, by founders Dennis and Sue Whitfield, the family business has evolved from the purchase of its first property in Cambridge, into a group of companies run by the first and second generations of the family. OpenArch, and the Whitfield group of companies, now employ 52 people, provide over 1,100 homes and 140 premises for business.
The second generation of the Whitfield family play an active role as non-executive directors of OpenArch, and Dennis Whitfield continues to run his own businesses alongside.
In a company-wide celebration that took place at Madingley Hall, family members, employees past and present, guests and founders Dennis and Sue Whitfield gathered to reflect upon sixty years of success, family values, and resilience in the ever-evolving property sector.
Mike Horan, Managing Director of OpenArch, noted the significance of the milestone: “As a family business, our long-term approach to growth and our local community has enabled us to build trust and long-standing relationships. This anniversary celebrates our strength and adaptability in a dynamic industry, and I would like to thank Dennis for his vision and entrepreneurialism, and the entire team for their dedication and commitment.”
“For six decades, we have helped to facilitate the growth and success of Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas by providing homes for both people and businesses to thrive”.
To mark the 60th anniversary, the businesses are donating £60 on behalf of each individual staff member, allowing each employee to choose a charity that resonates personally with them. This initiative underscores the company’s core values, philosophy and long-term commitment to charitable giving. OpenArch is also a long-time supporter of Jimmy’s in Cambridge, a local homelessness charity, and is now in its third year of providing financial support.
Mike says: “we have always been about more than just bricks and mortar; it’s about people and communities. From helping local entrepreneurs to start-up, to investing in homes for people to live across the county and further afield, we are grateful to all of our tenants – families, students, and businesses - who have continued to put their confidence in us and helped us to become one of the region’s leading residential, student and commercial property specialists.”
This diamond anniversary coincides with this year’s Family Business Week, a national recognition of family businesses and their positive influence on communities across the UK.
As the Whitfield family look towards the next 60 years, a third generation are now involved in the business, highlighting the multi-generational legacy and longevity still to come.