90 results for year: 2022
Attending the EOA’s employee voice course showed me the value of making sure everyone is heard in an EO business | Guest blog
Guest blog by Lisa Walker, an accountant at The Peloton, an accountancy firm based in Cornwall that transferred ownership to an employee ownership trust (EOT) in June 2022. Lisa is chair for The Peloton’s monthly EOT forums to feedback views to the trust board, and in this blog talks about the benefits of being among the first cohort to attend the EOA’s newest course titled ‘representing and developing employee voice in an EO business’.
It was a big learning curve after we transitioned to employee ownership, I don’t think anybody really knew what to expect or how it was going to work out, but it’s been a really positive experience so ...
Why we’re calling on employee-owned businesses to become Knowledge Partners and help strengthen the sector | John Lewis Partnership guest blog
Guest blog by Gamal Lewis, the Democratic Vitality Consultant Lead at the John Lewis Partnership and Co-Chair of the John Lewis & Partners Shops Forum. Gamal is also part of the Programme Board for the Knowledge Programme, the largest research project into the UK employee ownership sector ever undertaken.
What are the benefits of employee ownership for businesses?
How does the experience of employee owners compare to that of staff in non-EO businesses?
Is employee ownership a more socially responsible way of doing business?
What does good employee ownership look like?
These are some of the questions those of us in the employee ...
Fire protection company looks to ‘grow, innovate and flourish’ after transitioning to employee ownership
The EOA congratulates Golden Thread Fire Delay Ltd after it transitioned to employee ownership to “provide a motivational platform from which the company will grow, innovate and flourish”.
The specialist, market-leading Passive Fire Protection (PFP) company, which was formed in 2018 and is based in Hutton, Essex, has transferred ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Golden Thread Fire Delay’s services include the installation of fire stopping systems, the inspection, installation and remediation of fire doors, fire compartmentation surveys, the application of intumescent coatings, sprayed cementitious and thermal coatings, ...
Mayor of London commits to boosting city’s economy through promotion of employee and worker ownership
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced an exciting new partnership with Co-operatives UK and the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) to empower employee and worker ownership of businesses in London.
This London Ownership Hub builds on the Mayor’s manifesto commitment to ensure London’s recovery from the pandemic results in ‘more of the prosperity created locally being captured within the local community’. To drive this forward, the Mayor committed to supporting democratic businesses like co-operatives, mutuals, social enterprises, employee-owned, municipally-owned and community-owned businesses.
The Mayor’s team will ...
EOA expands its policy and influencing activity
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) is expanding its policy and influencing activity to solidify its position as the voice of the employee ownership sector and champion of ‘Good EO’.
As the EOA seeks to support the continued growth and impact of the EO sector, with more than 1,000 employee-owned businesses now in the UK, we’ve appointed our first dedicated team member to focus on our policy influencing work.
Sam Blakeborough joins us as Policy & Partnerships Officer, and will be responsible for building relationships with key stakeholders. Sam will support the EOA to harness the collective influence of EOA members and act as the ...
Transitioning to employee ownership will secure our ‘long-term legacy’, says market-leading insulation supplier
Galaxy Insulation and Dry Lining has said its move to employee ownership will secure the “long-term legacy” of the business.
The market-leading insulation supplier moved the majority of shares in the business to an employee ownership trust (EOT) in September – known as the Galaxy Employee Trust.
In a statement revealing the news, Galaxy said: “The restructuring of our business will ensure that we have a long-term legacy by maintaining the integrity, continuity, culture and values of Galaxy.
“We are people focused and giving our employees a vested interest in the company will have a positive impact on achieving our future aspiratio...
EOA congratulates Postlethwaite Solicitors as it advises 100th client to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates Postlethwaite Solicitors, a national practice specialising in employee ownership, after it recently advised its 100th client to become owned by an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Employee ownership in the UK continues to grow at pace and there are now more than 1,000 employee-owned businesses.
The fast pace of growth amongst businesses has taken off with the use of the EOT, introduced by the government in 2014 to encourage long-term employee ownership, and one in every 20 private company sales is now to an EOT.
In most cases, the EOT will have acquired the company from its founders, ...
Why there’s a growing trend of employee-owned businesses wanting to become B Corps | EOA Big Read
Just under 10% of all B Corp businesses in the UK are now employee owned – but why are so many EO businesses wanting to become certified?
This is a question the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) wanted to explore further amid a growing trend of EO businesses meeting the “rigorous standards” put in place to achieve certification by B Lab, whose mission is for “business to be a force for good”.
In the last three years, both the employee ownership and B Corp communities have grown rapidly. There are now more than 1,000 EO businesses in the UK and 1,000 B Corp-certified businesses. And the success of these models is generating additio...
The future of fudge is EO: Award-winning confectionery trailblazer transitions to employee ownership
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates Fudge Kitchen after the business announced to the world it has transitioned to employee ownership.
As Fudge Kitchen stands on the cusp of its 40th year, the artisan confectionery producer has put the future of the business in the hands of the intrepid people that helped build it.
Since it was founded in 1983, Fudge Kitchen has been a trailblazer in the confectionery world, driven by a simple mission, to make the world sweeter; by producing nice things, while making things nicer along the way.
From its multi-award-winning confectionery, to the iconic retail theatre that put them on the ...
Charitable trust Power to Change: How we share a vision with the EOA to ensure businesses and jobs are rooted in communities
Independent charitable trust Power to Change believes its work aligns with the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) when it comes to ensuring businesses and jobs are rooted in communities.
The two bodies exist to champion community businesses and employee ownership respectively, but have a shared vision to help businesses and jobs stay local and accountable.
The EOA believes that, among other benefits, employee ownership “roots businesses in their local area and preserves jobs, putting the direction of the business in the employees' hands – preventing businesses from being sold to the highest bidder who may strip the assets or move the ...
Long-established marketing agency embraces ‘culture of collaboration’ as it announces move to employee ownership
Full-service marketing agency Leader Marketing Partnership, based near Stratford-upon-Avon, has transitioned its ownership structure to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Leader, one of the UK’s longest-established marketing and PR agencies, was founded in 1965 by Bryan Holden. His son James Holden joined the company in 1983, becoming managing director in 1991.
Having successfully guided the Leader team for more than 30 years, James will be departing from his role as MD and the transition to employee ownership was the most logical next step for Leader’s future.
In preparation for the transition, Leader changed its name from Leader ...
How ‘regular drumbeat’ helps Voice Technologies evolve on its employee ownership ‘journey’
Software provider’s transition to employee ownership in 2013 allowed it to protect its people, its customer base, and the values that had been built into the business over the years.
For Voice Technologies, employee ownership has been a “journey” it has worked at since transitioning in May 2013 – an “evolution” that has allowed it to “progress forward” as an employee-owned business.
Based in Paisley, near Glasgow, and Sheffield, South Yorkshire, the business was set up as an analogue dictation hardware reseller in 1996, but has transformed over the years into a software provider that helps organisations reduce the time and cost ...
Publishing services company transitions to employee ownership to ‘reward people who make our business work’
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates publishing services company Prepress Projects Ltd after it announced that it has transitioned to an employee ownership trust (EOT) model.
The Perth-based company joins over 140 employee-owned businesses in Scotland in a move that will secure the future of Prepress Projects as an independent company and allow it to continue to serve its clients while safeguarding jobs locally.
Prepress Projects was founded in 1991 by Helen and David MacDonald and provides writing, editing, layout and related services to publishers and public sector organisations worldwide – specialising in science, medical ...
Why we want to raise awareness around the benefits of accessing finance to fund an EOT transition | ThinCats guest blog
Guest blog by Mike Dinnell, Director of Regional Business Development, ThinCats
I was delighted to represent ThinCats at the 2022 EOA Annual Conference – where I was able to speak to many of the 670 delegates from our exhibition stand and also during the panel discussion I took part in, which explored your options for accessing finance to transition to employee ownership or as an existing EO business.
During the two days, I had a lot of people ask me ‘why would we go down a funding route?’ Often people don’t think about funding as an option, they don’t think there are lenders out there that will come in and support an employee owners...
North West law firm transitions to employee ownership to ‘retain special culture’ and ‘secure business for the future’
A North West law firm has described its transition to employee ownership as a “natural progression” which will “secure the business for the future”.
Oliver & Co Solicitors, based in Chester, has announced it has become employee owned, with its 85 employees now owning 100% of the business through an employee ownership trust (EOT) and enjoying an equal share of the firm’s profits.
Oliver & Co’s former owners, David Owen and Kay Cook, will remain with the firm in senior positions, while its employees will be eligible to become employee owners after working for the business for six months.
David said: “We’ve always ...
The 13 questions that could help your employee-owned business build a strategy for growth
“It’s not about growth for growth’s sake… it’s about sustainable, responsible growth,” says Adam Campbell, Consultant at Telos Partners.
Adam was speaking during a workshop at the 2022 EOA Annual Conference at the ACC in Liverpool in a session titled ‘Building a strategy for growth’, in which he stressed that to achieve growth you need to think about your ‘strategy, process and execution’.
Telos says that leaders “constantly need to balance managing the present, creating the future and nurturing their organisation’s identity” to achieve sustainable success over time.
It was founded in 2000 by a group of individuals ...
A Tale of Two Conferences: Reflections after Liz Truss’s Conservative Party Conference speech
This week, the annual highlight of the employee ownership calendar – the EOA Annual Conference – took place in Liverpool, after a three-year hiatus. Over 650 delegates representing 210+ companies, from the UK, joined us at this fabulous event to celebrate, learn and connect. At the same time, down in Birmingham, the Conservative Party Conference was taking place, and on the day after a highly successful two-day EOA event, Liz Truss landed her first keynote speech as PM.
Seven takeaways from the 2022 EOA Annual Conference at the ACC in Liverpool
More than 650 delegates spent two days learning more about ‘unlocking the potential’ of employee ownership at the EOA Annual Conference 2022 in Liverpool.
The event, the first in-person EOA Conference since 2019, had 30 sessions involving 43 speakers at the ACC, while delegates also had the chance to network with peers from a range of sectors to share insight and best practice about employee ownership.
EOA Chief Executive James de le Vingne, in his first conference since joining the organisation, launched the event with a keynote speech, which you can read and watch here >>
Here are seven takeaways from the conference, staged on ...
EO Stories competition winners announced during Celebration Dinner at EOA Annual Conference 2022
Six winners were crowned as EO Stories award winners at the EOA Annual Conference 2022 Celebration Dinner.
The accolades highlighted best practice in ways in which businesses develop an effective employee ownership culture that leverages the benefits from employees having a stake and a say in the business.
The EO Stories 2022 competition celebrated the stories of employee-owned businesses and the impacts they are having on employees, the performance of the business, and on the economy and society.
The 28 insightful and inspiring stories submitted were put live for the public vote on EO Day, June 24, and thousands of votes were cast to ...
VIDEO: Why employee ownership can and will be a next generation business model | EOA Conference keynote speech from our chief executive
EOA Chief Executive James de le Vingne gave a keynote speech to start the 2022 EOA Annual Conference at the ACC in Liverpool. Here’s what he said:
What comes to mind when you think about the future?
Maybe it’s a change in where you live or work, or success in achieving a personal goal. Perhaps it’s broader, about family and friends and our wider communities. For many, it will be how do we stand into the challenges that the next few months are likely to throw at us.
Like many parents, I think about my children’s future, about the people they will become. I also think about the world they are set to inherit, and how different it will ...
The place is buzzing with ideas – becoming EO is the icing on the cake as we celebrate our 75th anniversary | Folio Society guest blog
Blog by Tom Walker, Publishing Director at award-winning, employee-owned publisher The Folio Society
It really is celebration time here at The Folio Society! Not only are we still celebrating the fact we became employee owned in the last year, but we also mark 75 years as a business this October.
We’re enjoying our milestone birthday in many different ways, from heading to New York for a big party with publishers, agents and authors – as North America is our biggest market – to attending the EOA Annual Conference.
We’re producing a bibliography of the 75 years of Folio and giving away a library of 75 books from our backlist. Further...
CloudStack company ShapeBlue ‘guarantees future as an independent company’ with move to employee ownership
The EOA congratulates ShapeBlue, the CloudStack company, after it announced it has become a 100% employee-owned business.
The move means 100% of the shareholding of the company is now held by an employee ownership trust (EOT) for the benefit of its staff, while the existing leadership team will remain in place with no planned changes to the company’s strategy.
The company, with offices in London, Bangalore, Cape Town and Sao Paulo, is the largest independent integrator of CloudStack technologies globally. The move to employee ownership was chosen as a mechanism to protect the company’s long-term mission and its involvement in the Apache ...
Why being headline sponsor feels like a milestone in our journey at Baxendale Employee Ownership | EOA Annual Conference 2022 guest blog
In this guest blog, Emily Alston – employee ownership consultant at Baxendale Employee Ownership – talks about its sponsorship and involvement at the EOA Annual Conference 2022 at the ACC in Liverpool on October 3 and 4.
As employee owners ourselves, Baxendale Employee Ownership is extremely proud to be the 2022 headline EOA Conference sponsor.
It makes it even more special to do so as representatives from the 1,000-plus strong sector come together in person for the first time in three years.
We’ve been involved in the Conference for a long time via the UK Employee Ownership Awards, but to be going into this year’s event as ...
Pioneering founder of employee-owned Alan Nuttall Partnership passes away
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) passes on our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Alan Nuttall after the pioneer of retail environments passed away following a short illness at the age of 80.
Alan Nuttall was the “visionary” founder and former chairman of The Alan Nuttall Partnership, which comprises Flexeserve and Nuttall brands, who wholeheartedly served the business for 56 years before taking a less active role in 2022.
Born on July 3, 1942, this year Alan celebrated his 80th birthday and assumed the position of the Partnership’s Founder, having placed the employee-owned business in a strong position ...
Founder of security and cleaning company transfers ownership to employees to give them job security
The founder of a Yorkshire-based security and cleaning company wants his employees to have job security… so he’s transferred ownership of the business to its workforce.
Paul Cody founded security and cleaning company Britsafe 30 years ago which now employees 500 people throughout the UK.
Rather than sell the company to a rival or risk it being taken over with the possibility of job cuts, the former soldier has turned it into an employee-owned business so they’ll be in control when he retires.
This means the employees effectively all have a stake in the company and will get tax-free bonuses if the business continues to do well. ...
A tribute to Her Majesty The Queen, 1926-2022
The EOA is deeply saddened at the passing of Her Majesty The Queen and send our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family at this time of national mourning.
We join the rest of the UK and supporters across the world in paying our respects to Queen Elizabeth II and her immense contribution after an amazing lifetime of service.
The Queen leaves a magnificent legacy of inspirational leadership – a figurehead that was respected and admired the world over.
Her Majesty was the epitome of duty and her dedication to service to the people of the UK and the Commonwealth during her unprecedented 70-year reign made her an ...
EOA sets out series of asks of Government after appointment of new Prime Minister | CEO Blog
Blog from Employee Ownership Association (EOA) CEO James de le Vingne
It’s great to see the end of uncertainty for the leadership of the Conservative Party and the country.
As Liz Truss becomes the new Prime Minister, we will use this change in leadership and ministerial roles to kick-start a national conversation around employee ownership.
Now is a fantastic opportunity for the EOA to articulate what we would like from the Government, as well as demonstrate how we can use our insights and connections to support business resilience in the UK.
As we seek to capitalise on the accelerated growth and impact of the employee ownership sector, ...
International materials technology group completes transition to employee ownership to secure its ‘legacy’
Newcastle-based Key-Tech International Group has transitioned to employee ownership after its founder, Dr Patrick Ferguson, transferred his entire shareholding in the parent company, Key-Tech International Limited (Key-Tech), to an employee ownership trust (EOT).
Key-Tech’s subsidiary NEL Technologies Limited is a leading manufacturer of flexible heater assemblies. It started business in 1984 in Consett, County Durham, before relocating to Newcastle. Continued product development and innovation have enabled it to become a supplier to global blue-chip companies with the majority of sales going to export markets.
Key-Tech has a dedicated ...
How Creative Space Management’s move to employee ownership helped staff understand how they can influence ‘taking the business forward’
The property management and urban regeneration consultancy opted to transition to employee ownership to secure the future of the business for its teams, which operate across the North of England. Read its story here:
Creative Space Management has worked in partnership with the public and private sectors since 2006 to deliver ambitious new workspaces and economic regeneration in the North of England.
Shares in the property management and urban regeneration business had previously been owned by Chris Brown, Toby Hyam and Paul Taylor, but over a decade into their journey, discussions began at Board level around succession planning with the age of ...
The Howden story: How hybrid model of employee share ownership and equity partners helps it achieve ‘best of all worlds’
“One of the unique things about Howden we’ve been able to create is liquidity, because one of the challenges of employee ownership is sometimes if all the employees own the business and it ticks along, how do they grow? If they want to invest and grow through either organic means or by acquiring a competitor, how do they do it, how do they raise that funding?” says Peter Blanc, Executive Chairman of Howden UK & Ireland.
Peter was speaking to the EOA alongside his contribution for Episode 7 of the EOA Podcast, and highlighted the benefits of the employee ownership structure Howden Group has in place to help it achieve growth.
Howden, a ...
M&A advisor BCMS announces new ownership structure with creation of EOT to ‘benefit staff and clients alike’
The EOA congratulates Thames Valley-based corporate finance advisor BCMS after it announced its transition to employee ownership.
BCMS, which specialises in advising privately owned businesses on company sale transactions, is now majority owned by its employees, under an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) model. The majority shareholding has been acquired from the founders of the business, on behalf of its employees.
The change in ownership is the latest positive news for BCMS, which has completed a number of sizeable transactions in 2022, and posted its highest end-of-year profits since 2016.
Jonathan Dunn, CEO at BCMS who led the EOT initiati...
How Scott & Fyfe’s innovation tree puts employees at the ‘heart of the business’ and ensures ‘everyone grows it together’
“Employee ownership is so important for us – because for us as a business everyone needs to have that empowerment, that voice, and feel that the organisation they own is something they’re proud of and something they want to be part of.”
For Scott & Fyfe, it’s all about employees being at the “heart of the business” – and its innovation tree, pictured, based in the centre of its site in Tayport, Fife, is testament to this.
Having created a colourful, “open and collaborative” innovation space described by Operations Director Michelle Quadrelli as “Google meets Teletubbies”, the company has incorporated this innova...
EOA congratulates Hardscape after creating ‘enduring ownership structure’ with transition to EOT
The EOA congratulates Hardscape Products Ltd after announcing its transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Hardscape Products Ltd was founded in 1992 by Mathew Haslam to provide an optimum choice of hard paving materials for use in the streets, towns and cities across the UK and overseas.
For 30 years, working with a global supply chain, Hardscape has provided designers and construction partners with a choice of materials. Combined with technical expertise, an open and honest approach, an ambitious ‘it-can-be-done attitude’, with a sophisticated logistics and production facility, this offer has aided the creation of many award-win...
Postlethwaite helps Minehead Medical Centre become first individual NHS GP practice to move to an EOT
Postlethwaite Solicitors, a specialist advisor of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), has advised on the transaction of the first individual NHS GP practice to move to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) after Minehead Medical Centre announced its transition to an EOT.
Postlethwaite advised on establishing the employee ownership trust, working alongside MLP Law, which acted for the transferee company and the ongoing GP shareholders. Porter Dodson Solicitors acted for the transferring GPs.
As an employee-owned entity, employees now have a say in how the practice is run without needing to invest their own money, and profits made are invested ...
EOA pays tribute to ‘True EO Champion’ Godric Bader after he passed away, aged 98
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) team would like to pass on its heartfelt condolences to the Bader family after Scott Bader Life President Godric Bader passed away at the age of 98.
Godric played a pioneering role in the employee ownership sector and important role in the history of the EOA since its inception – with his contribution being marked in 2021 when he won the ‘Celebrating a True EO Champion’ accolade as part of our EO Stories competition.
In a statement, EOA Trustee member Scott Bader announced “with a heavy heart” that he had passed away peacefully at home.
It added that Godric made an “incredible contributio...
Transition to employee ownership ‘signals start of exciting chapter’ for long-standing industrial metal finishing specialist
Industrial metal finishing specialist Pym & Wildsmith (Metal Finishers) Ltd has announced that the founders have transferred 100% of the business's shares into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), “signalling the start of a new, exciting chapter for the company”.
Founded in 1979 by Stephen Pym and Tony Wildsmith, Pym and Wildsmith has established itself as a leading metal finishing business in the Midlands, employing over 60 people at its Bramshall-based facility.
Having been tirelessly involved in the running of the company, and following a considerable period of discussions around the succession of the business, the Pym family decided to ...
‘I can’t think of a better succession plan than handing the reins over to my amazing team’ | Chartered Accountancy The Peloton transitions to EO
The founder of a Chartered Accountancy firm says he “can’t think of a better succession plan” after The Peloton transitioned to employee ownership.
The Peloton, based in Penryn in Cornwall but serving clients across the UK, has created an employee ownership trust (EOT) – going forward, all employees will have a say in the running of the business and share in the profits.
In a statement, the business said the transition marked “a huge moment for our founder, Mike Hutchinson, the wider team and the accountancy profession as a whole”.
Reflecting on the occasion, Mike said: “Just over 11 years ago I set up a firm of Chartered ...
Seven key considerations to ensure you’re ready for employee ownership | Postlethwaite guest blog
As a business owner, you’ve made the decision to become employee owned but are you and your business ready for this transition?
This guest blog from Postlethwaite, a specialist advisor of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), outlines seven things to consider to ensure that you are ready for employee ownership.
Prepare to give up control: Control of your company will go to the trustees of the employee ownership trust (EOT), and as the owner you will need to feel comfortable with that. It may need some adjustment to your behaviour and mindset.
Trust is key: Is there a good level of trust throughout your company? Is there trust between ...
Why the move to employee ownership ‘made sense’ for the ‘Airmaster family’ | member case study
Air conditioning firm Airmaster was founded in 1992 and established an employee ownership trust in July 2021 to help safeguard the culture it had already created as an ‘employee-driven’ business. Here is its case study story:
“Airmaster is a family-feel business with a close-knit team, the ethos of employee ownership was already there,” says Managing Director Lisa Pogson.
Recently marking 30 years since it was formed, South Yorkshire-based air conditioning experts Airmaster made the transition to employee ownership on July 1, 2021.
The company, which has 37 employees, designs, installs and maintains bespoke energy-efficient systems ...
Finding my feet through employee ownership | UMi Employee Director guest blog
UMi Content Editor and one of the directors of UMi’s Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), Richard Dawson, shares how employee ownership has helped him find his voice in business. Read his blog here:
Millennials have been described as the generation of workers that want it all – good pay, lots of benefits, work-life balance, an employer that cares about their wellbeing, and a role that aligns with their values.
And in today’s labour market, who can blame any jobseeker for thinking a little more deeply about value alignment and company culture before taking a job?
When it comes down to it though, I think all early career workers really want is ...
‘A wonderful example of the benefits of employee ownership’ – Scottish Labour leader attends Jerba Campervans’ EO Day event
The Scottish Labour leader pitched in to celebrate the 10th EO Day at a fun-filled afternoon with staff at a leading campervan convertor.
East Lothian-based Jerba Campervans, a 100% employee-owned business since 2018, welcomed Anas Sarwar MSP along with fellow MSP Daniel Johnson, before downing tools and hosting a staff barbeque.
Jerba Campervans founder Simon Poole has been a flagbearer for the employee ownership movement and EO Day marks his last full working day before he hands over the reins to new MD Paul Kimberlin, before taking on a part time role as Chair of the company.
Simon said: “EO Day is a great way of raising the profile and ...
Priority Appointments marks its silver anniversary and EO Day by announcing transition to employee ownership
We would like to congratulate Priority Appointments after it marked its silver anniversary by announcing its transition to employee ownership on our 10th EO Day.
The business, specialists in manufacturing, distribution and precision engineering recruitment, has been helping companies find the right people in Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire since 1997 and has now become a fully employee-owned company.
The transition makes Priority Appointments one of the first independent recruitment consultancies in the south-east to become owned by its employees.
Founder and current Managing Director Barbara Law said: “Although our ownership structure ...
EO UK sector rockets past 1,000 on the 10th EO Day
EO Day 2022 is bringing together thousands of employee owners to celebrate and grow employee ownership on June 24, as the UK EO sector surpasses its 1,000th milestone.
The sector, which recorded fewer than 500 employee-owned businesses (EOBs) in 2020, has more than doubled in the past three years, with many reporting that they looked to EO to increase resilience and support productivity in the face of the unprecedented challenges they faced during this time. Once again, the key growth sectors include professional services, construction, manufacturing, retail and wholesale, and Information and communications.
The EOA is calling for further ...
‘We transitioned to employee ownership to preserve our way of working into the future for our employees’ | Grafton Banks’ story
Recruitment company Grafton Banks has transitioned to employee ownership to “preserve our way of working into the future for our employees”.
After trading through a challenging period during the pandemic, the business was able to consider succession planning and completed the transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in December for the benefit of its employees.
The firm specialises in the provision of accountancy and finance staff to businesses and practices in Sussex, Surrey and Kent, with offices in Hove, Reigate and Maidstone.
Grafton Banks was founded by husband and wife directors Nigel and Julia Jeyes, and Managing Director ...
Six questions to consider when capturing employee voice | Helen Moreton blog
Many organisations are experiencing a significant amount of change. Hearing employee voice, responding to this meaningfully and being influenced by this voice is becoming increasingly important.
This way of working is a key and fundamental principle of employee ownership (EO) that can and should be leveraged, and not just in times of adversity. It also ensures employees feel well informed, connected to their organisation, and able to contribute in a way that is meaningful and valued.
Data indicates EO businesses perform favourably when compared to other UK businesses on business performance and employee satisfaction measures.
I believe this ...
Family law specialist transitions to EO to ‘provide a platform for everyone to contribute and benefit’ as the firm grows
The EOA congratulates Evolve Family Law after it transitioned to employee ownership to “provide a platform for everyone to contribute and benefit” as the business grows in the future.
The North West family law specialist, which was established in 2015 by Robin Charrot and Louise Halford, pictured, is now 100% owned by a newly established employee ownership trust (EOT) which will look after the interests of the firm’s 13-strong team.
The deal will preserve the future independence of the £1 million-plus turnover business, which has offices in Holmes Chapel and Whitefield, with both founding directors continuing to play an active and ...
10 years EO: What MyCSP has learned about employee ownership and what it’s doing for our 10th EO Day
MyCSP recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and, to mark the occasion, it has shared some of the lessons it has learned about employee ownership in the past decade.
MyCSP Ltd, which was the first mutual created from a central government service when it was launched on May 1, 2012, is one of the UK’s leading pension administrators, with one of its largest clients being the Civil Service Pension scheme, with over 1.5 million members and 340 employers.
The business, which is based across two sites in Cheadle and Liverpool, is a mutual joint venture partnership between employee partners, who own 25% of the company held in trust for them, ...
Five tips for owners asking ‘what next?’ after selling to an EOT | London & Capital guest blog
London & Capital has provided a series of tips to help owners consider what to do next after completing the sale of their business to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
The wealth management firm, a supporter member of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), works with clients to “organise their affairs into a coherent global strategy, invest assets for preservation and growth, and provide clear, concise global consolidated reporting”.
Dan Sawyerr, Executive Director at London & Capital, pictured, has spoken to the EOA to offer advice to owners considering investing the proceeds of their sale.
He says building an investment ...
EO optimism and insight create ‘beneficial’ experience for delegates at first face-to-face network meeting in over two years
‘Valuable’ insights were shared and discussed at the EOA’s first face-to-face network meeting in more than two years in London yesterday.
Hosted by Fieldfisher, one of our specialist advisers, at their offices on the banks of the Thames, the EOA South-East Regional Network Meeting was our first in-person event since a network meeting in Glasgow in March 2020 prior to the pandemic.
A room full of delegates listened to guest speakers and had the chance to network in smaller groups, with the event hearing that there’s “lots to be optimistic about among our incredible employee-owned community” and that the “sector seems well placed to ...
Why there’s no ‘catch’ when it comes to employee ownership | Brabners guest blog
Brabners is one of the UK’s leading independent law firms and an EOA supporter member, with more than 400 colleagues across its offices in Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool and Leeds. Partner Stephen Hadlow is part of a team that helps corporate clients with their acquisition and succession strategies, with Brabners helping around a dozen companies a year transition to employee ownership. In this guest blog, Stephen shares his thoughts on why employee ownership is “very much a viable option” for business owners:
I was sat across from a client talking about employee ownership recently when he leant over and said ‘Stephen, what’s the ...
‘Ensuring our younger employees have an equal say in direction of the business is vitally important’ – LUC
LUC is empowering its younger employee owners to contribute to the decision-making process, believing it is “vitally important” to ensure they have an equal say in the direction of the business.
The EOA trustee member, which was set up in 1966 and has around 250 skilled professionals across six offices in the UK, formally transferred ownership on Christmas Eve 2019, ready to embrace being employee-owned fully at the start of 2020.
LUC, which stands for Land Use Consultants, is an award-winning environmental consultancy providing planning, impact assessment, landscape design, ecology and geospatial services. It says: “We care about the ...
Together we can aim to grow twice as much in half the time! | CEO blog
This year is the 10th EO Day with the theme of #GrowEO - today, at 50 days to go to the June 24 celebration, I reflect on the moments that really helped the sector grow.
Together with you our members and stakeholders we have driven the growth of the EOA and the sector over the past 10 years. We have reflected the learnings of this journey in our asks for this year’s EO Day.
In 2012, the EOA was working with Graeme Nuttall and John Lewis Partnership to influence government on what became the employee ownership trust (EOT), an activity that followed up on the Nutall Review of Employee Ownership in 2012.
In 2013, the late Nigel ...
Lyon Equipment ‘enhances employee-owned status’ with EOT move as 82-year-old founder ‘takes a back seat’
Lyon Equipment Ltd – the UK’s leading specialist outdoor and access gear distributor and training provider – has passed control of the company to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Founder Ben Lyon, 82, started making caving ladders in a shed back in 1967, little thinking that over half a century later that tiny business would develop into the present-day Lyon Equipment Limited, with around a hundred staff and an enterprise that encompasses manufacturing, distribution and training from its base in Tebay, Cumbria.
Here, Ben explains the rationale and future structure of the business as an EOT.
“We have always been fiercely indepe...
People and preparation just as important to consider as finance when funding an EOT | ThinCats guest blog
ThinCats’ slogan is ‘helping the mid-size thrive’, with its sights set on filling the finance gap for SMEs that are evidenced as struggling to access the finance they need. In the lead-up to ThinCats publishing its Guide to EOTs, Head of Credit Greg Beamish, pictured, shared his insights in this guest blog:
For the founder of a company, handing over the reins can be one of the most difficult things to do. They have spent years building up a business, may know every individual employee, and know what they want for the future of the company.
Once they have decided to sell, business owners have a range of succession planning options ...
How ‘flat management structure’ helps Quintessa ‘share control’ with its employee owners | EO Stories
EOA member firm Quintessa has highlighted how its flat management structure helps it “share control” and “delegate responsibility” to its employee owners.
The scientific, mathematical and strategic consultancy firm has spoken a year on from making its submission for the Employee Ownership Association’s EO Stories 2021 competition in the Delivering Good Governance and Engagement category.
Launched as part of activities in the run-up to EO Day, the EOA is again asking members to submit their stories in one of four categories where they have excelled, with these stories published on EO Day on June 24, after which voting starts.
One ...
Employee-owned MSL Solution Providers scoops Queen’s Award for International Trade
The UK’s leading microbiological testing and regulatory specialist, MSL Solution Providers, has been honoured with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.
Celebrating business excellence across the UK, this year 226 organisations nationally have been recognised for their contribution to International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility).
And the EOA would like to congratulate employee-owned MSL Solution Providers after it was commended for its excellence in international trade, specifically for its outstanding short-term growth.
Just three years ago, ...
Employee-owned Flexeserve wins Queen’s Award for Innovation for its food-to-go hot-holding technology
The EOA congratulates Flexeserve after its ground-breaking developments in hot-holding technology received royal recognition with a Queen’s Award for Innovation.
Flexeserve, the world expert in food-to-go hot-holding, which is a brand of The Alan Nuttall Partnership, an employee-owned manufacturing company employing 90 partners based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2022.
Hailed by CEO Jamie Joyce as “Flexeserve’s greatest achievement to date”, the award will be marked with a reception hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on July 12.
Recognising and ...
ProTech Recruitment transitions to employee ownership after getting the ‘inside track’ from EOA member in the same building
Hemel Hempstead recruitment company ProTech has announced its transition to employee ownership.
ProTech, which is one of the fastest growing technology and engineering recruitment agencies in the UK, has transferred 100% of shares to an employee ownership trust (EOT) for the benefit of its 14 employees.
The decision to become EO was triggered by a conversation with another employee-owned businesses that is based in the same building.
The Hertfordshire firm, which was founded in 1988 and specialises in the scientific, technology, engineering and manufacturing sectors, was 60% owned by Managing Director Antony Cox – who bought the company ...
EOA welcomes employees at our member firms ‘pulling together’ to help the people of Ukraine
The EOA welcomes the efforts made by its members to help the people of Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A number of our members have been in touch to highlight things they have been doing to help and the Employee Ownership Association wanted to showcase these examples.
Derby-based Pennine Healthcare, one of the UK’s leading employee-owned, medical technology manufacturers, for example, donated £200,000 worth of medical equipment to help support the people of Ukraine.
The emergency donation, made up of face masks, dressings, bandages, sanitiser, gowns and more, has been sent to Nova Poshta (Help Ukraine), a Ukrainian ...
EO Stories 2022 launched as competition looks to shine a spotlight on the impact of ‘Good EO’ on our members
The EOA is marking 75 days to go until EO Day by launching its EO Stories 2022 competition and celebration.
In 2021, the EOA launched EO Stories to celebrate how being employee-owned had supported businesses during challenging times due to the pandemic.
We heard from employee-owned businesses of all sizes about how their focus on their people had supported employee health and wellbeing, helped the business adapt and delivered benefit for multiple stakeholders.
And this year, we want to shine a spotlight on the good news stories from our community that demonstrate the impact of good employee ownership, or ‘Good EO’, and ‘Better ...
Consultancy firm Quod transitions to employee ownership to ‘formalise’ its culture as a people-focused business
Planning and development consultancy Quod says becoming employee-owned has “formalised its long-held belief that the success of the company comes from having a great, positively engaged team”.
Quod has announced its transition to become an employee-owned company, with the shares held in an employee ownership trust (EOT) for the benefit of all current and future employees.
Since its founding in 2010, Quod has experienced significant growth creating an award-winning, independent and dynamic consultancy at the cutting-edge of planning, development economics, socio-economics and environmental planning.
Based in London and Leeds, it says it ...
Vox Pops International transitions to an EOT to give its employee owners ‘collective control of their futures’
Vox Pops International says its transition to employee ownership will enable its employees to have “collective control of their future” and “share in the success” of the business.
The company, which is based in Epsom, Surrey, announced the move to employee ownership at the end of March and “can’t wait to embark on this new journey together”.
Vox Pops International operates in the UK and worldwide for major brands and agencies to bring consumer insight to life and put the consumer at the heart of the business.
The firm has been at the forefront of using video for research and training purposes for over 30 years, and also has an ...
New CEO uses first formal speech in role to announce two major programmes and a return to face-to-face events
New Chief Executive James de le Vingne has given his first formal speech as CEO since joining the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) in February. In his keynote speech at our Better Business Together event, which incorporated the EOA AGM, James spoke about his vision for the organisation's digital transformation, the most ambitious research programme to date called the Knowledge Programme, and also made an announcement about our 2022 events. Here is what he had to say:
I have spent the past few weeks on tour meeting many employee-owned businesses, supporter members, as well as some of our partners such as Ownership at Work. I have been inspired ...
How formalisation of Smile Together’s elected body has helped improve people’s understanding of their role as an employee owner
When the pandemic brought Smile Together’s Staff Council “even more sharply into focus”, the dental care provider decided to take the opportunity to relaunch this as its Shareholder Impact Board (SIB).
After discussions with colleagues and on the EO Hub platform’s forum with EOA members helped it make this decision, Smile Together recruited an additional three representatives to join the existing four that initially made up the elected body; revised its objectives; and produced a visual roadmap to outline its collective ambitions.
This formalisation, says Managing Director Paul Critchley, has “improved people’s understanding of not ...
Employee Ownership Trusts – In search of best practice: Seven key takeaways from research paper on the governance of employee-owned businesses
New research is published today to offer comparative insight into how employee-owned businesses are structuring their employee ownership trusts (EOTs).
The study into the governance of EOTs, titled ‘Employee Ownership Trusts – In search of best practice’, has highlighted a series of key findings on common practices.
The employee ownership sector is growing at an incredible rate and that growth has been driven by the introduction in 2014 of the employee ownership trust (EOT), which holds company shares for the benefit of all employees.
Many companies in the sector are small or medium-sized businesses (SMEs), who share ownership and voice ...
Becoming even more connected is the ‘silver lining’ for HLM Architects after transitioning to employee ownership
Award-winning architectural practice says employee ownership was ‘right for our next generation’ and the ‘natural next step’ to further ingrain a culture that already existed at the ‘people-centric’ firm.
“Our mantra is ‘everything is connected’. We work as one team without boundaries, sharing ideas and resources to an international client base. We’ve always had great relationships across our studios, and the silver lining of becoming employee-owned is that these connections have strengthened even further,” says Karen Mosley, Managing Director of HLM Architects.
The business, listed in the Sunday Times’ top 100 best ...
Spring Statement: EOA welcomes cut to fuel duty and extra support for SMEs
The EOA has welcomed the cut to fuel duty and extra support for SMEs announced by Rishi Sunak in his Spring Statement in the House of Commons today.
Against a backdrop of rising fuel, energy and food costs amid the war in Ukraine, the Chancellor was under pressure to deliver some much-needed respite for people and businesses in the UK.
His statement came on the day it was revealed that prices had risen by 6.2% in the 12 months to February and that inflation is likely to average 7.4% for the rest of this year.
Mr Sunak began by announcing that fuel duty will be cut by 5p a litre from 6pm today, until March 2023, to combat a record-breaking ...
EOA congratulates Collective Architecture’s Jude Barber on her RSE Fellowship
The EOA congratulates Jude Barber from member firm Collective Architecture after receiving a Fellowship from the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy.
Jude is among 80 names from the arts, business, public service, and civil society, as well as academia, from Scotland and beyond to be made a fellow, including singer Annie Lennox.
She joins the RSE’s current Fellowship of around 1,700, who are recognised as being some of the greatest thinkers, researchers and practitioners working in or with Scotland today.
Jude is a director and key founding member of employee-owned Collective Architecture, and one of Scotla...
100 days to go: EOA launches 10th EO Day celebration of employee ownership
The EOA is today launching the countdown to EO Day 2022 with a call to action for members, supporters, and stakeholders to come together to collectively raise awareness about employee ownership.
Today marks the 100-day countdown to EO Day, which this year takes place on Friday, June 24, and – as recently first announced in Episode 2 of the EOA Podcast – has a theme of #GrowEO.
Each year, thousands of employee owners, EO businesses and supporters from across the UK come together to celebrate and raise awareness of the benefits and impact of employee ownership on EO Day.
The campaign routinely reaches more than one million users ...
‘Our role holding the Employee Ownership Association to account to help it hit its targets and mission’ | EOA Board showcase
A member of the Employee Ownership Association’s Board has spoken of its role in helping to “hold the EOA to account”.
We want to raise awareness and highlight the work of our Board, for example in helping during the recent recruitment process to find a new chief executive.
To gain a perspective from someone that sits on the EOA Board, Charlotte Tickle has revealed how it “helps the EOA be successful in hitting its targets and its mission”.
Charlotte, pictured, who is the People and Culture Director at EOA member Riverford Organic Farmers, has been a member of the EOA Board for more than two years.
The EOA Board, which meets ...
‘Why you need to keep that momentum after transitioning to employee ownership and ensure it doesn’t just feel like business as usual’ | HLM Architects
HLM Architects has revealed one of the main lessons it learnt in the first year of being employee-owned was how important it is to “keep that momentum in the early months” after transitioning.
The EOA member, which was listed as third best architectural practice in the UK and in the top 100 best companies to work for in the Sunday Times 2021, transitioned 100% of its shares to an employee ownership trust (EOT) in December 2020.
The Architects’ Journal AJ100 Employer of the Year 2020 and 2021, which has a workforce of 190 spread across studios in London, Sheffield, Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff, has an ambition to “create better places ...
International Women’s Day: Seven reasons why employee ownership can help break down gender bias in the workplace
The EOA is marking International Women’s Day by highlighting the opportunity employee ownership has to break down gender bias in the workplace.
International Women's Day celebrates the achievements of women, while calling for gender parity across the globe – with the theme this year being #BreakTheBias.
To highlight this ‘opportunity’ employee ownership has to #BreakTheBias, Helen Moreton has provided her insights into why being EO can create gender equality.
Helen, pictured, is well placed to offer a broad view on the employee ownership sector as an experienced non-executive director, consultant, and learning and development ...
‘Give employees time to understand what becoming employee-owned means for them’ | Ovation Finance guest blog
In this guest blog, EOA member Ovation Finance provides tips to any company starting out on the process of transitioning to employee ownership. The Bristol-based firm of independent, chartered financial planners, which has over 20 years’ experience helping clients, became employee-owned in March 2018 when founder Chris Budd sold the majority of his shares to an employee ownership trust (EOT). Director Tom Morris and Tammy Devonald, Ringleader of Creative Operations and employee trustee, provide their insights looking back at their own transition as they celebrate four years EO. Read their joint blog here:
When it first happened back in 2018, we ...
‘It would be great to see more companies consider the EOT route’ | Fuel distribution firms transition to employee ownership
The EOA has welcomed the news that northern-based fuel supplier Craggs Energy Ltd and its sister company in Devon, Moorland Fuels Ltd, have transferred ownership of the businesses to their 55-strong workforce.
The directors have transferred 100% of shares in the businesses to their teams by establishing an employee ownership trust (EOT), funded by future profits.
The companies, both of which have been in operation for over 10 years, have grown into significant players in the UK fuel industry, providing fuel delivery services and wider solutions to homes, farms and businesses.
With bases in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, and Padiham in ...
‘We believe the people best able to run – and indeed own – a recruitment business are those who work in it’ | SSQ transitions to employee ownership
The EOA has welcomed the news that SSQ has transitioned to employee ownership, with the international legal talent consultancy stating that it “believes the people best able to run – and indeed own – a recruitment business are those who work in it”.
The market leading global legal talent business is now 100% employee-owned by an employee ownership trust (EOT) after announcing its transition this month almost 20 years since it was formed.
SSQ, which was founded in 2003, operates out of London, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Madrid, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore, with additional coverage in the US, ...
EOA highlights benefits of member online platform the EO Hub as it reaches 2,000-user milestone
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) is celebrating after reaching 2,000 users of its EO Hub platform and is using the milestone to highlight the benefits of the site for its members.
The EO Hub, which was launched in 2017, is the EOA’s online platform for member networking. The member-only site enables businesses, stakeholders and advisers to connect with fellow members from across the network, register for events, read the latest news, join conversations in the forum and access documents in the resource library.
This week the EOA approved the 2,000th user of the platform, with members of the site representing more than 400 businesses or ...
‘A must for a new employee director or trustee’: Four key takeaways Family Psychology Mutual highlighted after attending EOA course
Family Psychology Mutual CIC has pinpointed four key takeaways from sending a group of its employee owners to the EOA’s ‘How to be an Effective Employee Director or Employee Trustee’ course.
The EOA member sent four people on the course in 2021 – with one attendee remarking it’s “a ‘must’ course for a new employee director or trustee”.
Taking on the role of employee trustee or employee director as a business transitions into employee ownership can be a little daunting at first, particularly for candidates without prior experience.
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA), therefore, puts on this course six times a year – ...
New Chief Executive takes the helm at the EOA
Today (February 14) the EOA welcomes James de le Vingne as the new Chief Executive.
James, who has spent the past 5 years leading the Development Unit at Co-operatives UK, joins the EOA as it embarks on an ambitious transformation and growth plan.
James will build on the legacy of Deb Oxley OBE’s tenure at the EOA which saw the association double its number of members and creating relationships that have helped drive both the success of the EOA and the growth of the employee ownership sector.
James, whose work at Co-operatives UK includes establishing the #1MillionOwners campaign in partnership with the EOA, joins the association as it ...
Leadership versus ownership: Why decision-making at Middleton Hall Retirement Village more ‘considered and thoughtful’ since transition
The former owner of Middleton Hall Retirement Village says he had to adapt his leadership style after the business transitioned to employee ownership.
Middleton Hall, a premium retirement village based in Darlington, Co Durham, became employee-owned in April 2019 – although the impact of the pandemic hindered the start of this journey.
Jeremy Walford, the former owner who joined a then failing nursing home in 1996, had been the managing director for over two decades until Suzanne Graham was promoted to the role in January 2021.
During the EOA’s January Virtual Network Meeting for members, Jeremy was asked a question around ‘ownership ...
Outdoor entrepreneur sells Nikwax and Páramo brands to employee ownership trusts to safeguard their ‘guiding principles’
The EOA welcomes the transition of Nikwax and Páramo to employee ownership, with founder and outdoor entrepreneur Nick Brown making the move to safeguard “the guiding principles” of the two brands.
Back in 1977, Nick Brown was living in London and had just finished university; he was both unemployed and in love with the outdoors – specifically long-distance walking and backpacking.
Nick also had a flair for chemistry and he utilised this talent to create his first product – Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather, which he supplied to the 1980 Royal Geographical Society Karakoram Expedition, and which went on to sell in more than 50 ...
How employee ownership aligns with the Government’s ambitions to ‘Level Up’ the UK
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) has welcomed the Government's Levelling Up plan announced by minister Michael Gove in Westminster.
The drive to boost opportunity and productivity in the regions aligns with our own regional plans to grow employee and worker ownership, thereby driving increased business performance, innovation and resilience.
Anything that makes sure more people can take advantage of improved opportunities, wherever you live in the UK, is to be welcomed.
As a national organisation once based in London, but for the past eight years based in the East Riding of Yorkshire, one of the nine regions invited to discuss county ...
‘Acting like an employee-owned business during our transition journey helped make the process a success’ | LDA Design Blog
LDA Design, a planning and design consultancy with 180 staff and eight UK offices, started its journey towards 100% employee ownership in 2018, before transitioning in August 2021. It told the EOA Annual Conference it felt the success of the process was helped by the fact it started acting like an employee-owned company before it became one during that journey. Here Lindsay Tilley, LDA Design’s Head of People who led its culture and communications project during the process, details how it became employee-owned by bringing its people on the journey:
It all started with a workshop on a snowy day in London and as a group the owners defined what ...
EOA launches new monthly podcast to highlight EO best practice, insight and news
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) has launched a monthly podcast series to support its work to champion, promote and provide insight into employee ownership.
The EOA Podcast aims to bring employee ownership (EO) best practice and insights to life and further raise awareness of the impacts of good employee ownership.
Each month, The EOA Podcast will bring you interviews from a range of guests across the employee ownership sector – including founders, employee owners, specialist advisers and esteemed stakeholder partners – as well as learning insights on the theme of that episode, and news on the EOA’s latest events and course...
Delegates look to implement ‘little gems’ from ‘light-bulb moments’ during EOA’s empowering leadership course
The first cohort of delegates on the EOA’s leader course have spoken of the “little gems” and “light-bulb moments” gained from attending the virtual learning sessions.
Run across five mornings, our first ‘Empowering Leadership In An EO Business’ course finished in December 2021, with the delegates commenting on the “good balance” of topics covered and many saying they were “very likely” to recommend it to others.
Recognising that management and leadership in an employee-owned business requires a different approach to that seen in other ownership structures, Telos and J Gadd Associates, in partnership with the EOA, developed ...
How forming an employee council helped bring ‘tangible’ change for 3P Innovation after its transition
Automation company 3P Innovation says giving its employees a say has resulted in a “tangible” change for the better in its business a year on from transitioning to employee ownership.
The Warwick-based firm, which “makes the machines that make pharmaceuticals”, became employee owned in late 2020 and states its top tip for any company doing the same is to “talk to your employees and set up a council”.
After transitioning, 3P said the “next natural thing” was to form an employee council and it shared its lessons from doing so to delegates at the EOA Annual Conference.
Dr Dave Seaward, Founder and Engineering Director, said: ...
‘Make sure you shout about employee ownership from the start,’ says Jerba Campervans founder after double award
Jerba Campervans founder Simon Poole admits the biggest benefit from winning a double accolade at the IoD’s Scotland Director of the Year Awards was the chance to further shout about employee ownership (EO).
Simon won the Institute of Directors’ National Small-Medium Business and Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Director of the Year awards in December 2021.
The wins recognise his work managing employee-owned Jerba Campervans, which he co-founded with wife Cath in 2006, with the judges describing Simon as a great example of an authentic leader.
“I’ve never actively pursued awards, it has never been on my agenda as I have been ...
Gripple’s employee owners ‘go that extra mile’ after making financial commitment
Gripple, which designs and manufactures precision engineering products for export to more than 80 countries, employs more than 800 people across 15 global locations and wants them all to share in its success and ‘realise how good it is to be employee-owned’
“Our employee owners are committed because they personally have shares in the business – this leaves us in a great position to innovate and grow,” says Hugh Facey, founder of Gripple.
Gripple, which is a market-leading manufacturer of wire joining and tensioning devices for construction and agricultural markets, is 100% employee-owned.
This has been the case since 1994 and was ...
‘In my last month as CEO, I can look back on 2021 as a year of adaption and innovation for employee ownership’
As we start 2022, looking back to this time last year, I guess no one could have imagined we would still be deep amid the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
After almost 24 months of significant restrictions to our personal and business behaviours, and with the tragic loss of so many lives, most of us were hoping that 2022 would be the start of a new, Covid-free, or at least restriction free, future.
However, humankind is highly adaptable and innovative therefore I’m sure that in time we will overcome and learn to live with the ‘new normal’ of coronavirus. And it is this adaptability and innovation which has also marked the last year of ...