Trust, transparency and open lines of communication have never been more crucial than they are today.  They are key to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment between the workforce, customers, supply chain and external stakeholders.

This webinar will share stories from employee owned businesses that demonstrate good practice when communicating through a crisis. It will help all businesses understand the impact this can have on their recovery.

Founder and Managing Director of Jerba Campervans, Simon Poole, will share how they have been communicating with furloughed colleagues during Covid-19 and the approach they have taken to engaging with their smaller suppliers to ensure they keep trading in such uncertain times.

Finance Director of Scott Bader UK and EOA Board Member, Rob Knight, will share Scott Bader’s approach to managing the international supply and demand of their chemical products during the crisis whilst preparing the workforce for shutdown. Rob will be elaborating on how transparency, trust and innovation has been at the heart of the business during this unprecedented time.

Andrew Harrison, Partner of Co-ownership Solutions will share his expert knowledge and insight on the importance of employee engagement and how inclusive communications are integral to a business.  He will draw on his vast amount of experiences as a specialist employee ownership advisor and being an independent Chair of Trustees and a Trustee Director.

Speakers
Deb Oxley OBE, Chief Executive, Employee Ownership Association (Chair)
Simon Poole, Founder and Managing Director, Jerba Campervans
Andrew Harrison, Partner, Co-Ownership Solutions

Simon Poole, Founder and Managing Director, Jerba Campervans

Simon Poole is the founder and MD of Jerba Campervans. Simon formed the business in 2006 with his wife Cath. In 2018 they transferred 100% of the company shares into an employee owned trust. With 14 employees and a turnover of £3m Jerba Campervans is a registered converter for Volkswagen and has customers across the UK. Simon and Cath currently still work full time in the business whilst their deferred consideration is paid out and will soon be entering a phase of bringing in two new company directors.

Rob Knight, Finance Director, Scott Bader UK

Rob Knight is Scott Bader UK Finance Director, having joined in 2007. He is responsible for all aspects of accounting in their UK, Eire, Scandinavian and Head office divisions. Scott Bader is a long established specialist chemical manufacturer with a Trustee Model of ownership. With 730 colleagues selling globally, manufacturing on 4 continents. Until recently he spent 6 years (2 terms) as the elected Chair of Members’ Assembly (International Democratic Governance Body) responsible for holding the Group Board to account and working closely with the Trustee Board of Scott Bader Commonwealth Limited (a registered charity and share vehicle).

Andrew Harrison, Partner, Co-Ownership Solutions

Andrew has been involved in the employee ownership and worker co-operative sector for over 15 years. Andrew worked at the eaga Partnership for 8 years where his roles included Chair of Eaga’s Staff Council and employee elected Trustee. For the past 7 years Andrew has worked with over 30 companies, varying in size from 5 to 500 employees and across different sectors, providing expert advice and project managing their move to employee ownership. Andrew is independent Chair of Trustees for a number of successful employee owned businesses and supports the sector through his role as a Trustee Director of Co-operative and Community Finance.