David Erdal wins Philip Baxendale Fellowship Award

Chairman of the Employee Ownership Trust and Chancellor’s Assessor at The University of St Andrews, David Erdal Is one of five winners at the UK Employee Ownership Awards 2016

David Erdal was declared the winner of the Phillip Baxendale Fellowship Award at the UK Employee Ownership Awards 2016on Monday 21^st November. The awards, delivered by the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), celebrate the success of the employee ownership sector, and are sponsored by Baxendale.

Presented as part of the EOA Annual Conference, this award recognises the achievements of an individual who has in the past made, or is currently making, an outstanding contribution to the growth of employee ownership in the UK. The judges recognised that David has an indisputable commitment to employee ownership and his influence and impact within the sector is clear and widely recognised.

David Erdal started his career at the family business Tullis Russel, during which time he introduced the employee ownership model in 1978.The company, based in Glenrothes, began the distribution of shares to the entire 1,700-strong workforce before becoming completely employee owned by 1994. Building on David’s vision for employee ownership and engagement, the company fostered leaders that have subsequently gone on to found and grow other employee owned businesses.

Deb Oxley, Chief Executive of the EOA said:

“I am delighted the Phillip Baxendale Fellowship Award has been presented to David, who has dedicated so many years of his professional life to the continued growth and success of employee ownership in the UK.

“As a champion for our sector, David has communicated the force for good, better business and positive contribution that can be achieved for the UK economy through employee ownership. “

From the year 2000, as Managing Director of Baxi Partnership Ltd, David launched a capital fund that supported the creation of over 20 employee owned companies, employing in excess of 2,000 people

David Erdal said: “Employee ownership is definitely the right way for businesses to go. It works for the businesses and it works for the people. Collecting this award tonight was humbling, but to have your efforts recognised in this way feels incredible”

Ewan Hall, Director of Legal, Baxendale, said: “Congratulations to Philip Baxendale Fellowship Award winner David Erdal who we are celebrating for his outstanding contribution to the growth of employee ownership in the UK.

“Employee ownership is at the core of what we do so we’re proud to sponsor the UK Employee Ownership Awards, run by the EOA, for a second year and delighted to celebrate the stories of success. The awards hold a special significance as the successor to the Philip Baxendale Awards, which grew over 10 years from our internal celebration of success into a national celebration of the UK’s employee owned sector.”

A full list of the UK EOA Awards is available to view here.