EO Day 2024 – Proudly Showcasing the Answer to a More Thriving and Resilient UK Economy

From Scotland down to Cornwall, from Wales across to Hull, businesses that are growing and investing in the UK for the longer term are celebrating and raising awareness of a growing sector that is #ProudlyEO

Image: Canva Photos

It’s EO Day (21 June 2024) - if you’re looking for thousands of empowered employees celebrating their role in creating better livelihood outcomes, economic performance, and powering businesses to be 8-12% more productive, we’ve got you covered! 

For EO Day, the eoa, backed by its 780+ members, and on behalf of a growing sector of about 2,000+ employee owned (EO) businesses and those exploring EO, is calling on those elected on July 4th to: 

• future-proof the EOT, 
• flex current tax incentives to support the growth of flourishing EO businesses,
• deliver robust succession planning as an essential business support intervention to root wealth and jobs for the longer term. 

James de le Vingne, Chief Executive of the eoa, said: “Happy EO Day to our members and the wider EO Community who will celebrate and demonstrate the impacts of sector that is Proudly Employee Owned. A pride, ambition, and pioneering spirit that should be harnessed by a target-driven government commitment to grow EO.  

“A nation that works hard to invest in growth, without the equal focus on retaining wealth will continue to stagnate. It’s time UK Government builds on the drive from Scotland, Wales, West Midlands, Greater London and South Yorkshire to support EO succession and prevent the devastation to hundreds of thousands of livelihoods by a decade-long silver tsunami of unprepared business owners reaching retirement.”  

EO Day sponsor, 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, will celebrate its 40th anniversary and 10 years of being Proudly Employee Owned this EO Day with the eoa in attendance.  

CEO, Chris Mc Dermott, said: “This EO Day we are reflecting on how our journey to 100% employee ownership has enabled us to develop a more positive and collaborative work environment, and a level of trust that is difficult to replicate by other means.  

“We proudly support a sector that through engagement, governance, trust and transparency, shifts workers to partners in the enterprise, contributing more ideas and effort to deliver a more competitive and successful operation. Offering good jobs rooted, innovating and investing in Corby for the longer term, offers benefits for the area and is something to celebrate, nurture and replicate across the UK.” 

Our members will celebrate and showcase examples of a Proudly Employee Owned sector that’s evidenced as delivering: 

• better employee wellbeing and livelihood outcomes
• increased business growth and productivity - 8-12% more productive
• and a range of positive impacts for stakeholders and communities. 

How EO Businesses are Celebrating EO Day

As always larger employee owned businesses Richer Sounds, Go Ape and Gripple are celebrating the big day, but here’s 10 examples of EO Day celebrations in the UK: 

1. Howden (insurance not kitchens) will celebrate 30 years of employee ownership with 5,200 employees owning shares in the company after successful 2024 Internal Share Offer. They have also put their support as sponsor for the UK EO Awards 2024 which launches today. 

2. Parfetts, Cash and Carry, employee owned since 2008, are celebrating together as employee owners with a profit share. 

3. Hockley Mint, British crafters and manufacturers sitting at the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, transitioned to employee ownership in 2023, and will celebrate EO Day holding a BBQ and get together.  

4. West Mids Ownership Hub while supporters of the OH including J Gadd Associates is joining our Ownership Hub coordinator Jo Ind in West Mids for a session on EO with local advisors and businesses. While Greater London Ownership Hub, which last year committed to extend its Ownership Hub Project, has been working on a case study with employee owned business Quiet Storm. 

5. EO Day transitions Aspect, Aberdeen-based strategic communications firm, is transitioning to employee ownership, while Postelthwaite is supporting food and drink brand agency ‘The Collaborators’ to be another business that will call EO Day 2024 its first day as an EO business. 

6. City Health Care Partnership based in Hull, a for better profit co owned provider of health and care services across the north, is holding a team event and outreach event. 

7. Ison Harrison, in Leeds, is having a party with its colleagues this EO Day. 

8. Peninne Healthcare – medical manufacturer held its EO Day celebrations on Wednesday with an event, at Pride Park Stadium in the heart of Derby to celebrate their collective achievements, including awards for sustainability and innovation. 

9. Built environment firm Matrix is hosting events at its London as well as an online café to include people not in those locations. 

10. While Zoonou, a software testing company in Eastbourne, is hosting a presentation online.