News & Blogs
Employee Ownership pioneers and exemplars celebrated at EO sector awards
A night of celebration was enjoyed by 800+ people at the UK Employee Ownership Awards, at the ACC Liverpool, last night (Monday 27th November) with five winners celebrating success.
Retired Owner of Cash and Carry business Parfetts, Steve Parfett was given a special accolade, alongside this four other awards were presented to businesses and one individual.
The UK EO Awards 2023, managed by the EOA, and this year sponsored by GLIDE were held at EOA Conference 2023 Awards Dinner to celebrate the impact employee ownership has for employees and businesses.
This ...
When businesses owners are looking at exit options they should strongly consider the sale of the business to an Employee Ownership Trust
EOA Guest Blog - RVE
This report reinforces our long-held belief that when businesses owners are looking at exit options they should strongly consider the sale of the business to an Employee Ownership Trust (“EOT”). As the reports’ respondents describe, not only do you achieve a fair market price for the business you secure an independent future for the business and its employees.
The Ownership at Work survey provides a valuable insight into the views of the owners of SME businesses (10-249 employees) in the UK, as they consider their ownership succession ...
Research reveals businesses and employees missing out on benefits of employee ownership due to lack of awareness among business owners
EOA Guest Blog - ThinCats
Two recent pieces of research have revealed that there are genuine economic, social and environmental benefits to be gained from businesses adopting an employee-owned structure, however, there is a real lack of knowledge about why and how to do it.
As a long-term funding partner to many mid-sized SMEs, ThinCats provides specialist debt solutions for businesses that need external funding to facilitate the transition to E0 status, typically via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
The benefits of an employee owned structure ...
Action to educate businesses on EO succession could save thousands of ‘at risk’ jobs and businesses
The EOA welcomes new research that shows how many business owners will be looking to sell, divest or liquidate their shareholding over the next 10 years.
In the report Generation EO: The Great Succession Opportunity it details how 40% of older business owners intending to sell their stakes in small and medium businesses (10-249 employees) predict the risk of closure without the right buyer.
New research reveals that:
Over two thirds of older owners of small and medium-sized businesses (10-249 employees) intend to sell or divest their shareholding over the next ...
Report offers insights that map the road to successful leadership succession
The EOA is delighted to welcome a report by two EOA members that focuses on exploring leadership succession in EO businesses.
The report ‘The Road to Succession’ reveals valuable insights from Telos and JGadd Associates who conducted 25 interviews with founders and successors from employee owned businesses (EOBs).
The report also offers tips from those who have navigated the intricacies of leadership succession in EOBs.
James de le Vingne, Chief Executive of the EOA, said: “I extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed to this report, from ...
EOA search for EO member business senior finance professional for crucial board role
The EOA is looking for a senior, qualified financial professional from an EOA member business (partner member) to join the EOA board.
Applicants for the new role will need to fill the shoes of our departing board member and Finance and Audit Sub-committee Chair.
The board needs someone who is a strategist who enjoys providing appropriate challenge to develop and enhance the EOA's strategy, who can also play a pivotal role on the EOA's Finance and Audit sub-committee, becoming Chair in October 2024.
The incoming board representative, who will need to be from an ...
EOA Deputy Chief Executive appointment bolsters transformation and growth plan
The EOA has appointed Oliver Smith as Deputy Chief Executive of the EOA.
The role created in the executive team is part of the EOA’s new structure to meet the evolving needs of the EOA and the sector through its transformation and growth plan.
Moving from his role as Head of Membership and Business Support, Oliver, who has been with the Employee Ownership Association for more than 8 years, will play a pivotal part in shaping the future of our EOA community and how we serve our valued members.
Oliver Smith, Deputy Chief Executive of the EOA, said:
...
New data shows employee owned businesses deliver an 8-12% productivity boost
New research suggests the fast-growing UK employee ownership sector is markedly outperforming the UK’s national productivity trend whilst simultaneously contributing to employee wellbeing, fair pay, community resilience and commitment to net zero.
In the most ambitious study of its kind, independent researchers surveyed over 9% of the UK’s 1,650+ EOBs and compared results to a control group of non-EOBs. They found that EOBs are 8-12% more productive based on Gross Value Added (GVA) per employee.
The study links that productivity uplift to a range of powerful ...
EOA Insights: Our reflections from the Labour Party conference
The EOA attended the Labour Party conference on behalf of our members and the EO sector. Our aim has been to understand the priorities of the Party and how a prospective Labour government’s policy may impact the sector, and to share the success of the EO model and its relevance in overcoming structural challenges in the UK economy and capitalising on opportunities.
We were excited by the energy of discussion around progressive business models including employee ownership. Below are our key reflections on the Labour party, including how employee ownership can fill a ...
EOA Insights: Our reflections from the Conservative Party conference
Our bid to demonstrate the accelerating growth and impact in the employee owned (EO) sector, to represent the sector's policy priorities and to understand the political currents that might affect our future influencing initiatives, began at this week’s Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.
Our conversations and meetings will continue at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool next week.
The impact of this week’s three-day event has of course littered the news cycle with commentary, analysis, and speculation around the announcements and statements made ...
EOA statement: Government must fund NHS pay award for all organisations delivering NHS services
Earlier this year, the Health Secretary announced a pay uplift for NHS staff as part of the 'Agenda for Change' over the course of 2023-34. However, the government is currently not planning to fund the pay uplift for indepdendent companies, including NHS spin-outs, community interest companies, social enterprises and public service mutuals.
Many employee owned organisations in the health and care space are affected, and we have consulted with members to gauge the impact this could have on the sector.
The EOA found that there was a consensus among impacted members: if ...
How an employee owned business model drives success
Guest blog Jo Ritzema, Managing Director of WCF
Established in 1911, WCF operates in the leisure, retail and logistics sectors
At WCF, it has enabled us to grow the business steadily and organically without the pressure to take risks which would benefit stakeholders only in the short-term. We are able to make decisions which put the interests of our employee owners first, with the ultimate aim of handing over the business to the next generation in a stronger financial position than when we inherited it, so future employee owners can benefit from its continued ...
Guidance on responding to the government’s EOT & EBT consultation
There's still time to respond to the government consultation on Employee Ownership Trusts and Employee Benefit Trusts. You can use the information and guidance below to help you complete your response. Don't forget to let us know if you are submitting a response.
About the Employee Trusts consultation
The consultation closes on 25 September 2023. The questions seek your insight on a number of topics, including:
A government proposal to require that former owners and connected persons do not have majority control of an EOT board.
Whether additional ...
Why we’re sharing our policy priorities for the EO sector | CEO Blog
Blog by James de le Vingne, CEO, Employee Ownership Association
In recent years, the EO sector has grown rapidly and is now made up of over 1,400 businesses, more than 90% of which have transitioned to EO in the past decade. This growth, combined with the vast economic potential that EO has for businesses, employees and the wider economy, means that now is an ideal opportunity to advocate on behalf of the sector to government and other key decision-makers.
To take advantage of this opportunity, the EOA has been developing its policy, advocacy and influencing ...
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees visits EOA member Torchbox amid evolving employee ownership landscape
EOA member Torchbox – a 100% employee owned, award-winning digital agency focused on not-for-profit and third sectors - was delighted to recently host a visit from the Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees. The visit aimed to celebrate employee ownership and help to to deepen the mayor's understanding of EO business models, as well as exploring the ways the council can proactively assist these unique companies with the challenges they encounter.
Lisa Ballam, head of marketing at Torchbox said: “At Torchbox, we’re eager to demonstrate how a business can be profitable and ...
Fast growing specialist recruitment company set to thrive and prosper since transitioning to employee ownership
Learn how employee owned, Instinct Resourcing has doubled its turnover since 2019 and is set to reach a turnover of £11m in 2023.
EOA Insights: Government launches consultation on Employee Trusts
On Tuesday 18 July 2023, the government formally launched their consultation on Employee Trusts, which will be open for responses until 25 September. The consultation covers measures on both Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) and Employee Benefits Trusts (EBTs). The EOA sees this consultation as an opportunity to represent the interests of our members and the EO sector, and will be engaging with government to do so.
James de le Vingne, Chief Executive of the EOA, commented: “We welcome this consultation from government on EOTs and EBTs. This comes at a critical time ...
Warwick Ward employees ‘thrilled at the opportunities that lie ahead’ after transitioning to become employee owned
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates Warwick Ward (machinery) Ltd after it celebrated EO Day 2023 in style on 23 June by announcing it has transitioned to become employee owned.
Owners Ashley and Matthew Ward, as part of their long-term succession planning strategy, have sold a majority of their shares to a newly formed Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) – Warwick Ward EOT Ltd.
The business was founded in 1970 by Warwick Ward and has grown into one of the largest stockists and suppliers of new and used earthmoving and material recycling equipment, and ...
Role of the lawyer: Why legal representation is a must for all parties during an Employee Ownership Trust transaction | Napthens Solicitors guest blog
Guest blog by Keith Melling, Partner, Head of Corporate, Napthens Solicitors
A key feature of any well-structured Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) transition is the legal documentation. An EOT sale is a form of corporate transaction where there are at least two parties – a seller and a buyer (and sometimes a third-party funder) – and each requires its own legal representation to protect its position.
The seller needs to know the terms upon which it can receive future payment, while the buying trustee company will likewise want to understand its obligations to make ...
UK’s largest employee owned cleaning company CleanTEC becomes Trustee member of the EOA
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) today welcomes CleanTEC Services Ltd as a Trustee member.
CleanTEC is the UK’s largest employee owned cleaning company and ranks 15th in the Employee Ownership Top 50, which lists the UK’s largest employee owned businesses by number of employees and is produced annually in collaboration with RM2 Partnership.
The Watford-headquartered cleaning business, which also has a site in Birmingham and operates across the UK, joins other Trustee members of the EOA, including the John Lewis Partnership, Arup, Richer Sounds and Go ...
Why putting employees at the heart of our business made perfect sense | Absolute PR and Marketing on becoming EO
An Exeter-based PR and marketing agency has shared with the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) the motivation behind its move to become employee owned.
Absolute PR and Marketing announced its transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in April 2023, with the deal symbolising a “bright future” for the award-winning agency and its employees.
Following decades of steady growth, founder and owner Rachael Whitson has sold a 90% stake in the business to the EOT which will result in employees being recognised more in the future running of the business, thereby ...
UK employee owned sector grows by 37% in just 12 months to over 1,400 businesses
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) has marked this year’s EO Day today by releasing its latest update on the state of the sector.
Produced in collaboration with the White Rose Centre for Employee Ownership (WREOC), the EOA’s figures show that there were 332 businesses that transitioned to employee ownership in the 2022 calendar year alone, and that as of June 2023 the total number of companies owned partially or fully by their employees has reached 1,418. This means another record year for growth of the sector, following a boom in recent years.
To ...
One of the UK’s largest independent marketing agencies announces transition to employee ownership on EO Day
Big Group has celebrated becoming an employee owned business by announcing the big news on EO Day, the annual national celebration of employee ownership.
As one of the UK’s largest independent integrated marketing agencies, which features in the Top 25 Best Mid-Sized Companies to Work For list, Big Group becomes the first LGBTQ-certified company in the UK to transition to employee ownership.
With offices in London, Amsterdam and Bath and a “Think Big, Deliver Excellence, Side by Side” mission statement, Big Group’s clients include Mastercard, Free Now, ...
Employee Ownership Trust ‘provides right mechanism’ for Grapevine to pass IT and communications business to loyal team
IT and communications business Grapevine is “taking the next step in the evolution of the company, bringing the team to the forefront” after transferring ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Now a full-service IT and communications support provider, Grapevine has come a long way from its early days as a reseller of mobile contracts in 1991. Many of today’s team have been a part of that journey, with 30-year and 25-year staff anniversaries taking place alongside this latest announcement from the company.
As an EOT, ownership of the business will ...
7 key takeaways from the EOA’s event featuring Dame Sharon White, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership
More than 100 EOA members turned out for our South East Regional Network Meeting at Arup's offices in London on 7 June to connect, learn and discuss the unique challenges and opportunities they face with other employee owned businesses.
The event, which was sponsored by RM2 Partnership, heard from:
David Whittleton, Chair of Trustees at hosts Arup
Richard Cowley, Director at RM2
Head of Membership and Business Development Oliver Smith and Head of Comms and Policy Fran Lord from the EOA team
Malcolm Clarke, Managing Director and Chairman at employee owned ...
Government launches consultation on share schemes affecting employee owned businesses
HM Treasury has launched a call for evidence regarding two types of share schemes that impact many employee owned businesses: SAYE and SIP.
These schemes – Save As You Earn (SAYE) and the Share Incentive Plan (SIP) – impact many EOA members whose EO structure involves direct ownership.
The call for evidence, which was first announced as part of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget, opened on 5 June and will run until 25 August.
As reported by The Daily Telegraph, the call for evidence will “likely be the widest consultation on these schemes since the ...
Riverford’s organic revolution continues as it celebrates five years EO by becoming 100% employee owned
Organic veg box company Riverford is celebrating five years of employee ownership by completing the sale of founder Guy Singh-Watson’s remaining shares in the business to become 100% employee owned.
Guy will remain a co-owner of the Devon-based business, sitting on its Trust Board and acting as a non-executive director, and continuing to act as an important voice in food and farming affairs. All shares will now be held by the Riverford Trust for the benefit of all staff.
Riverford has been owned by its employees since 2018, with Guy retaining 23% of shares. Since ...
Social Enterprise that helps people reach their highest potential through its ‘Outcomes Stars’ transitions to employee ownership
Social Enterprise Triangle Consulting says transitioning to employee ownership is the “perfect way to retain our strong values and collaborative culture”.
Triangle, creators of the Outcomes Star, has become employee owned, with the shares held in Trust to advance its mission and for the benefit of all current and future employees.
Triangle Consulting is an innovative, mission-led organisation that exists to help people reach their highest potential and live meaningful and fulfilling lives, often in the context of social disadvantage, trauma, disability or ...
Move to employee ownership ‘driven by ambition to remain independent global leaders’, says pioneering cellular communications specialist
Smith Myers, the Bedfordshire-based pioneer of global airborne mobile phone detection, location and communications solutions, has become majority employee owned through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Founded in 1987 by Tony Smith and Peter Myers, the multi-award-winning innovators have focused on designing disruptive technology for network operators, government agencies, law enforcement, military, and search and rescue (SAR) organisations.
The successful business model includes partnering with aircraft and ground-based vehicle OEMs (Original Equipment Manufactu...
How our emerging policy proposals will help the EOA unlock the full potential of #TheEOeffect | CEO blog
Blog by Employee Ownership Association (EOA) Chief Executive James de le Vingne
This year we will celebrate the 11th annual EO Day on 23 June with the theme of #TheEOeffect.
As we gear up for our big national day – when we will showcase the impact employee ownership has on employees, business, the wider economy, communities and the environment – I reflect on what the EOA has planned to further grow and strengthen the employee ownership sector.
Our three priority areas
In establishing the effect EO has on businesses, employees, and our wider economy and commun...
National business that provides skills and services to local councils becomes majority employee owned to ‘empower the people who helped make it successful’
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates LGRC Associates Ltd after it announced it has become majority employee owned.
The Bristol-based business, which was founded in 2014 by a small group of three directors, is the leading provider of temporary skills, resources and expertise to the local council sector.
LGRC has been operating with a highly successful shadow arrangement in place for the last 12 months to ensure a smooth transition to employee ownership.
Over the same period, the company has grown significantly, consolidating its position as the ...
Leading furniture manufacturer transitions to employee ownership to ‘maintain collaborative way of working’
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates Opus Magnum on its transition to employee ownership.
The London-based business, which designs, crafts and installs bespoke furniture and fittings for complex and large-scale commercial spaces, said in a statement that the transition “will enable us to maintain our collaborative way of working and continue to produce high quality furniture into the future in a way that might not have been guaranteed in a trade sale”.
The company’s two founders, Chris Turner and John Baulkwill, have transferred 100% of the ...
Employee trustee case study: Why it’s important to upskill yourself when starting this role on an EOT board
In this co-written guest blog, Rachel Hollister-Short and Alice Crowe from employee owned Ecctis offer insights on stepping up to become employee trustees and how attending the EOA’s Employee Trustee course gave them the confidence to have a voice. Ecctis is a provider of solutions and services in international education, training, and skills, and in the development and recognition of globally portable qualifications. It transitioned to EO via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in February 2021, with Information Officer Alice and Head of Membership Services Rachel being ...
Leading sports-specialist marketing agency that worked on London 2012 Olympics transitions to employee ownership
Pitch Marketing Group, a leading integrated marketing agency building brands that people can be passionate about, has announced it has transitioned ownership of the business to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), enabling its employees to have greater involvement in the future success of the business, and to ensure the long-term growth of the agency.
Pitch was founded by Henry Chappell in 2002, with the backing of Freud Communications. The agency was one of the UK’s first sports-specialist comms agencies, and established itself as a market leader in the sector through ...
Why employee ownership proved the ‘perfect solution’ for Welsh company Celvac in its 30th year
The UK’s leading industrial cleaning and waste recovery services specialists reveals employee ownership was the “perfect solution” after it announced its transition to EO.
Welsh company Celvac was established in Pembrokeshire in 1993 by Kim, Joan and Nigel Beynon, but 30 years on will now be owned by its 68 staff members via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
The company has its main manufacturing facility and head office in Tenby, but also has bases in Port Talbot, Connah’s Quay and Slough, as it works throughout the country providing expert services to the ...
10 things to consider when embedding your employee ownership culture globally | EOA Big Read
Employee owned businesses with international operations have shared examples of how they go about embedding their employee ownership culture with staff not based in the UK.
Here, three of our members highlight lessons learnt and challenges faced, and share their tips for ensuring EO is embraced and understood among employees based overseas.
To help EO businesses thinking about expanding globally – but nervous around acquiring or starting international operations and embedding their EO culture – we wanted to showcase how businesses of different sizes, with ...
Specialist technology recruiter becomes employee owned to ‘secure future for the benefit of loyal workforce’
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates Vector Resourcing after it announced that its current shareholders have sold 100% of the business into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
The specialist technology recruiter, which was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in East Sussex, has 26 years of experience supplying technology and business change resource to a diverse client base across the UK and Europe.
The decision to become employee owned came after several offers to buy the business were proposed to the MD, Donna Medway, who believed that there was a ...
Why businesses from a diverse range of sectors are switching to employee ownership | RVE guest blog
The employee ownership sector has been booming in recent years, with companies across a broad range of sectors continuing to switch to employee ownership. The five RVE clients that converted to EO via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in the first quarter of 2023 are a perfect illustration of the variety of businesses switching to a model that gives all staff a stake in the business.
These five companies were valued at c.£100m in aggregate, employing over 150 staff between them (now partners), and operate in a diverse range of sectors:
Manufacturing
Wholesale
...
CEO Blog: Access to patient capital for employee owned businesses is just the ‘rocket fuel’ the UK economy needs
Blog by James de le Vingne, CEO of the Employee Ownership Association
Employee ownership (EO) has been brought to the forefront of many minds by the recent media coverage around the John Lewis Partnership's plans for the future, and the possibility that they are considering selling a stake of their currently 100% employee owned business to external investors.
We don’t comment on individual members' trading or media stories at the EOA, so I won’t be speculating about what John Lewis should decide to do. However, I want to use ...
Why this year’s EO Day theme – #TheEOeffect – is close to our hearts as we become 100% employee owned | Postlethwaite guest blog
Guest blog by EO Day 2023 sponsor Postlethwaite Solicitors
At Postlethwaite Solicitors, we are proud to be sponsoring EO Day 2023, particularly as we’re celebrating a couple of big milestones ourselves this year.
April marks Postlethwaite’s 20th anniversary, and we’ve also just become 100% employee owned through an EOT, so double celebrations are in order!
“This year marks a very exciting chapter for Postlethwaite Solicitors, and we are delighted to mark the occasion by sponsoring this year’s EO Day,” our founder and MD, Robert Postlethwaite, said ...
Industry-leading technology solutions business ‘opens up opportunities’ as it transitions to employee ownership
Bolton’s TVD Group, encompassing TVC Technology Solutions, Mitchell & Brown TV, and TVD B2B, has moved to being majority employee owned, supported by funding from Natwest Bank.
Following another record-breaking year, the industry-leading technology solutions business has facilitated the transition of a 51% stake in the company to employees, with the Brown family retaining a 49% share.
The arrangement sees the creation of an Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) that holds shares of the business on behalf of employees, with every member of staff with 12 months of ...
Our top four reflections from the Spring Budget
In the 2023 Spring Budget, an extensive range of measures were introduced to meet the government’s priorities: halving inflation, reducing debt, and growing the economy.
We’re pleased to see a number of these measures, particularly those aiming to support people and businesses through the cost-of-living crisis, whilst also recognising missed opportunities here that government could have taken, and still can take in the future.
Here are our top four reflections for the EO community:
1. Positive news for EMI share schemes, plus a call to evidence on SIP and ...
Why transitioning to employee ownership was the best option for high-growth IFA | Guest Blog
In this guest blog, EOA supporter member ThinCats takes a closer look at the motivation for high-growth independent financial advisors (IFA) Cheetham Jackson (CJL) to make the transition to employee ownership, and why it sought external finance to fund the move to an EOT.
Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) are often recognised for their tax-saving advantages, but this misses the bigger picture. There are much broader benefits to taking the EOT route, and selecting this model is frequently based on ‘philosophical’ considerations as much as financial ones. There is also ...
Decorative surface distributor owned by four generations of the same family ‘repays contribution’ of employees by transferring ownership to an EOT
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates Blackheath Products after it transferred ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
The Halesowen-based worktop and decorative surface distributor, which has been owned by the same family for over four generations, was previously a private limited company but has now given back to its employees via an EOT.
Blackheath Products holds over £7.5million of worktops, decorative laminates and solid surfaces, which it distributes to kitchen centres, shop fitters and furniture manufacturers across the UK and ...
International Women’s Day: EOA shines spotlight on employee-owned businesses that put gender parity front and centre
To mark International Women’s Day 2023, the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) is shining a spotlight on two of our member businesses that are setting great examples when it comes to gender parity.
International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women and calls for gender parity as part of its mission to forge a gender equal world – with the theme this year being #EmbraceEquity.
Richmond & Towers
The London-based communications agency specialises in brand engagement, mainly in the food and drinks sector. It runs award-winning campaigns for clients ...
Why we resisted a trade sale to transition to employee ownership | Guest blog by Chartered Financial Planners Grierson Dickens
Guest blog by Surrey-based Chartered Financial Planning firm Grierson Dickens Limited (GDL), which transitioned to employee ownership on 1 March 2023, via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Over the last 24 years, we have built many lasting relationships with clients and professionals; we are incredibly proud of the business we have grown, and the talent we have nurtured.
For several years now, a focus of ours has been to prepare for the long-term future of GDL, and we have considered many options. At the heart of our decision, as it has always been, is doing what ...
Sewell Estates takes first step on employee ownership journey to secure long-term future and protect its culture
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) congratulates Yorkshire-based Sewell Estates, part of the wider Sewell Group, on becoming part employee owned.
In a move to secure the long-term future of the business and protect its culture, majority shareholder and Group Chair Paul Sewell has moved 25% of the company’s shares into a trust.
Almost 300 people who work across Sewell Estates’ seven businesses are now co-owners, meaning they will have a greater say in how the business is run and the potential to share in any company profits.
Paul Sewell said: “I ...
Robert Oakeshott Lecture provides ‘food for thought’ on employee ownership being a ‘powerful starting point’ to help redesign business
The 10th annual Robert Oakeshott Lecture, sponsored by Brabners, took place on 15 February at Bayes Business School in London, bringing together more than 140 attendees from across the EOA membership, as well as friends and relatives of the EOA’s late founder.
The EOA’s annual lecture commemorates and celebrates the life, legacy, and work of its founder, and employee ownership pioneer, Robert Oakeshott.
Attendees at the lecture remarked that Kate Raworth’s guest lecture was “thought-provoking”, creating a “palpable sense of ‘wow’ throughout the ...
Employee ownership and immigration law: What is the impact on your sponsor licence if your business moves to an EOT?
Becoming employee owned via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) usually means “business as usual” as far as customers, suppliers and employees are concerned. This is an advantage of the trust model of employee ownership.
There will, however, be a change of controlling shareholder, which can have regulatory and commercial implications. Fieldfisher’s multi-disciplinary Employee Ownership Solutions team has seen how this can lead to an immigration law issue.
If a company holds a sponsor licence, under the Skilled Worker Visa category or other sponsorship route, it ...
Why learning leadership skills is so important for everyone in an employee-owned business, not just managers
Guest blog by Coralie Hooper, consultant at employee-owned Telos Partners who is also the course co-director on the EOA’s Empowering Leadership course
I often get asked, ‘how do you help employees act like co-owners?’
I think a lot of the challenge is that employees don’t really know what it means – they don’t know what it is to have their own business.
Being part of an employee-owned business is about much more than just about the profit share, it’s understanding that it’s ‘my business now’ and that there’s accountability and responsibility ...
Kudos Records becomes the UK’s first 100% employee-owned music distribution company
Employee Ownership Association (EOA) member Kudos Records Limited has announced that it has transitioned to a 100% employee-owned enterprise.
The entire share capital of the London-based business has now been sold to a newly formed Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
As beneficiaries of that Trust, each employee automatically becomes a co-owner in the business. As well as immediately benefiting from profit distributions, employees also have more input into the running of the company.
Kudos founder Danny Ryan will remain with the company as MD for at least the next ...
Technology software recruitment consultancy creates Employee Ownership Trust to ‘connect long-term future of the employees and Group’
Specialist technology software recruitment consultancy Understanding Recruitment Group has formalised its move to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), making its staff a 60% stakeholder in the business.
This decision has been made to “connect the long-term future of the employees with the long-term future of the Group”, while also protecting and enhancing the business culture that has been at the core of the success.
The sale by the Board of the Understanding Recruitment Group is designed to allow employees to take a stake in the business and share in the longer-...
MM-Eye starts ‘new chapter’ as it becomes latest market research agency to transition to employee ownership
The EOA congratulates member firm MM-Eye after it announced “a new chapter in our story” by becoming employee owned.
The London-based market research agency finalised its transition to employee ownership on January 11, meaning all its employees will now have a say in how the business is run and will share in the profits it generates.
MM-Eye was formed 15 years ago and has transitioned through several owners, most recently being acquired in 2020 by its longstanding management team.
Damien Field, Alison Phillips and Deborah Fitzpatrick, the directors who secured ...
Employee ownership: Strengthening your board to lead in a recession | J Gadd Associates Guest Blog
Uncertainty, instability, change. It’s a turbulent time to transition to employee ownership (EO) and the pressure is here to stay.
So, if you’ve chosen this path for your succession planning, how can you prepare your business to survive a recession once it becomes employee owned?
Most company founder/owners start by sourcing the expert legal and financial advice they need. They use this to confirm their underlying business is fit for purpose pre-transition, and secure an up-to-date valuation to satisfy accountants, the executive board and HMRC.
These are ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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-o...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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....
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 mechan...
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 ...
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 Partne...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 logist...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
‘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 ...
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: ...
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 ...
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?
...
‘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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
‘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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
‘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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, sanitis...
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 demons...
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, ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
‘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 ...
‘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, ...
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 ...
‘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 ...
‘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 ...
‘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, ...
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 ...
‘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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
‘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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
‘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 ...
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 ...
‘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 ...
‘How being on the EOA Membership Council builds our skills and improves the member offer’ | EMC showcase
The EOA Membership Council (EMC) is eager to “put itself out there more” to showcase the work it does to help the Employee Ownership Association “develop and deliver a compelling membership proposition”.
In a bid to raise awareness of the work of the EMC, some of its representatives have shared their insights on how it seeks to “hold the EOA to account and represent its members”.
Representatives from the EOA network are recruited to the council to represent member views and support the organisation develop its services.
Oliver Smith, Head of Membership ...
‘Seek invaluable advice from like-minded businesses before you transition to employee ownership’ | Horizon Platforms case study
A platform hire company from West Yorkshire admits one of the most important lessons it has learnt from its transition to employee ownership is to take advice from other businesses that have been through the process.
Horizon Platforms became employee-owned in February 2021 and found it “so helpful to get other perspectives” during the year-long process.
The Normanton-based company says the “invaluable advice” it received from Employee Ownership Association (EOA) members helped it see the benefit of taking its employees “on that journey with us”.
The ...
EOA welcomes debate by MPs on contribution of co-ops and mutuals
The EOA welcomes today’s debate at Westminster Hall on co-operatives and mutuals, which included the impact businesses owned by its employees can have on the economy.
Steve Baker, the Conservative MP for Wycombe, brought the debate – titled ‘The contribution of co-operatives and mutual societies to the economy and public life’ – on behalf of Co-operatives UK, which has tabled a brief and policy proposals to the Government.
The parliamentary session heard contributions from MPs across all the main political parties, who championed examples of co-operatives ...
‘Why I’m passionate about making sure the younger generation are moving the employee-ownership sector forward’ | Guest blog
Following his contribution as a speaker at the EOA Annual Conference 2021, Jake Hallatt – a 22-year-old graduate management trainee at employee-owned Gripple – has produced a guest blog on why he is so passionate about spreading the employee ownership (EO) message to younger people. Jake is an elected employee representative on the Glide council, which represents all the shareholder members who work in its partner companies like Gripple. A former apprentice of the year award winner, read Jake’s blog here:
When I was elected to the Glide council, I was just 18 and ...
EOA announces new Chief Executive to lead growth and transformation plan
The EOA has recruited a new Chief Executive to lead the EOA through its ambitious transformation and growth plan.
James de le Vingne, who has spent the past 5 years leading the Development Unit at Cooperatives UK, will join the EOA in February 2022.
The search for a new CEO began back in August when current EOA Chief Executive Deb Oxley OBE announced that she would be stepping down from her role at the EOA after 9 years - 3 as Membership Director and 6 as CEO.
James, whose work at Cooperatives UK includes establishing the Ownership Hub in partnership with the EOA, ...
Essential Recruitment moves to Employee Ownership
The EOA welcomes Essential Recruitment's move to employeeownership.
HR Essentials Ltd T/A Essential Recruitment, based in Chesterfield, has sold 100% of its shares to HR Essentials Trust making the business wholly owned by its 50 employees.
The business, which has offices in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, saw Owner-Directors of the recruitment business; Marc Orli, Kristyan Rachael, Lisa Smith, Alison Wilby, Gary Wilson and Carl Wootton sell their shares for an undisclosed sum. With the exception of Gary Wilson, who will step down from his role as Chairman, ...
EOA congratulates Graeme Nuttall OBE as international award recognises him as employee ownership champion
The Employee Ownership Association congratulates Graeme Nuttall OBE on being recognised for his work championing employee ownership in the UK and internationally.
Graeme, partner at law firm Fieldfisher and head of its Employee Ownership Solutions practice, was the recipient of the 31st ‘Txemi Cantera’ International Social Economy Award, handed out by the ASLE – which is the business association of employee-owned and investee companies in the Basque Country.
The employee ownership trust (EOT) was introduced in the UK as a result of the 2012 Nuttall Review of ...
Industry experts offer top tips for employee-owned businesses accessing finance for the first time
Employee-owned businesses thinking about funding for the first time have been offered top tips for what they should and shouldn’t do when accessing finance.
Speaking at the EOA Annual Conference 2021, three industry experts provided their insights into the role banks and investors can play in unlocking the potential that employee ownership can bring in terms of benefits to businesses, employees and customers, both in financing the transition and investing in future growth.
The trio showcased the “many different options available for accessing finance – all with ...
Why you should value your values if you are considering entering an award | Synergy Vision’s story
‘Fresh. Smart. Open. Real. That’s Synergy Vision’s commitment to delivering the difference’ – this set of values is what has helped the medical communications agency claim industry recognition and numerous awards over the years, according to founder and Global CEO Ffyona Dawber.
Synergy Vision has achieved Investors in People (IIP) Platinum accreditation – something less than 2% of organisations in the UK achieve – and been named the 3rd Best Small Workplace by Great Place to Work.
“I do believe it was our values and sticking to those values that ...
Postlethwaite – 5 Tips to a Successful Employee Ownership Transition – Guest Blog
You’ve done the research and are convinced of the multiple benefits of transitioning to Employee Ownership (EO) and how it can have a positive impact on your business, your employees, their productivity and also your legacy.
You realise the employee ownership option provides the best exit strategy for you and your business, so what happens next?
To assist and ensure your business’s transition to employee ownership is as smooth and as successful for the long term as possible, there are some key considerations you should take the time to think about and address.
...
Why employee-owned Wave Refrigeration is putting ‘Generation Z’ at the forefront of its sustainable development goals
Wave Refrigeration’s vision for future success is built around the belief that its next generation programme and sustainable development goals initiative “will ensure that the business continues to grow and thrive”.
It is an approach that helped the West Yorkshire firm become the first refrigeration engineering consultancy to achieve Investors in People (IIP) accreditation in 2019.
The employee-owned business, which is also an Investors in People Awards 2021 finalist, was founded by James Bailey in 2015 and as well as its main base in Keighley, it has a ...
Why HLM Architects is ripping up the rule book when it comes to reward strategies and ways of working | Guest blog
Employee-owned company HLM Architects, 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, has studios in London, Sheffield, Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff and a workforce of 190. Managing Director Karen Mosley – who joined the company as an apprentice at 17 more than 33 years ago – details how and why it is ripping up the rule book when it comes to reward strategies.
We know that a feeling of belonging and sense of reward can be achieved or indeed eroded in so many ways. At its most basic, ...
Video case study: Claremont Group Interiors
Claremont Group Interiors, which became employee-owned in late 2020 and is a longstanding workplace design and build agency with headquarters in Warrington and a second office in Bristol, produced a video case study of its employee ownership journey after winning the President’s Pick award as part of EO Stories 2021.
Watch its story here:
Video case study: Scott Bader
To mark 100 years of Scott Bader Company Limited, and 70 years of the Scott Bader Commonwealth Limited, and after Godric Bader won the Celebrating a True EO Champion award as part of EO Stories 2021, the global manufacturer of adhesives, resins, gelcoats and functional polymers based in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, and with offices across the world, produced a video case study of its employee ownership journey.
The work of Godric and his father Ernest helped Scott Bader become the first company to hold a Common Ownership Certificate, a trailblazer of this new type of ...
Video case study: Seetec
Seetec, which has its head office in Hockley, Essex, and delivers employment, skills and rehabilitation services, produced a video case study of its employee ownership journey after winning the Promoting Employee Wellbeing award as part of EO Stories 2021.
Watch its story here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYzJMBqWwy4
Video case study: Community Dental Services (CDS) CIC
CDS CIC, which delivers community dental services and has locations across the country and a base in Bedfordshire, produced a video case study of its employee ownership journey after winning the Delivering Good Governance and Engagement award as part of EO Stories 2021.
Watch its story here:
Video case study: The National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC)
NSBRC, from Swindon, which has 17 employees, produced a video case study of its employee ownership journey after winning the Developing Business Resilience award as part of EO Stories 2021.
Watch its story here:
https://youtu.be/36pomLyA8Sw
Seven takeaways from Day Three of the EOA Annual Conference 2021
The third and final day of the EOA Annual Conference 2021 showcased employee ownership from a variety of different voices all at different points of their EO journey.
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) leads the campaign for growing employee ownership in the UK – with government, the media and across the wider business community.
The purpose of the EOA is to unlock the potential of people, businesses and communities, which was reflected in the conference video content, written case studies and support materials that were created to deliver the event. This ...
EOA Annual Conference 2021 hears of Japan’s ambition to create employee-ownership ‘movement’
The Japan Employee Ownership Association (JEOA) is eager to learn from the “front-runners of employee ownership in the UK” in embedding the model in its country.
Art Hosokawa, chairman of the Japan EOA, who is helping pioneer employee ownership in the Far East nation, attended the EOA Annual Conference 2021 to take on board lessons from attending sessions and networking with delegates during the three-day virtual event.
Art revealed at the conference that he has helped around 20 companies to become employee-owned since establishing the Japan EOA around five years ...
Why Purcell’s pathway to employee ownership ‘took some considerable time in comparison to others’
As one of the world’s leading architectural heritage conservation experts, Purcell took seven years from initially finding out about employee ownership to becoming an EO business in May 2021 – a structural change for the company “the likes of which it has never seen before” in its 74-year history.
“Purcell’s pathway to EO took some considerable time in comparison to others and of paramount importance was our desire for the transition to succeed. We firmly believe the length of time and effort taken to realign our culture will pay off in the longer term as we ...
Seven takeaways from Day Two of the EOA Annual Conference 2021
The theme of “happy people, happy workforce” was championed as Day Two of the EOA Annual Conference 2021 continued the theme built up on day one.
This theme was abundant in the EO Stories Celebration as 6 winners were announced at the event, kicking off the second day of the conference. To read up on the winners click here >>
Here are seven takeaways from Day Two of the event on Wednesday 17th November:
1. Our survey said: ‘It’s not mandatory to be miserable at work’
Employee-owned Clarasys was on hand to share its employee engagement strategies ...
EO Stories competition winners announced at EOA Annual Conference 2021
The EO Stories competition has crowned six winners at the EOA Annual Conference 2021, where the more than 500 delegates has heard from companies such as Go Ape on their transition to an employee ownership model.
EO Stories, delivered in partnership with Baxendale, is a celebration of the exceptional stories of employee-owned (EO) businesses and the challenges they have faced over the last year.
Thousands of votes were cast by the EO community for their favourites this summer as part of the Employee Ownership Association’s (EOA) EO Stories competition, which ...
Seven takeaways from Day One of the EOA Annual Conference 2021
More than 500 delegates were on hand as Day One of the EOA Annual Conference 2021 offered them the opportunity to learn more about ‘unlocking the potential’ of employee ownership.
The virtual three-day event put on sessions on exploring succession, ‘Good Employee Ownership’, and delivering ‘Better Business’. The EOA is providing seven hours of learning to choose from across these three topics, as well as the chance to network on virtual round tables.
EOA Chief Executive Deb Oxley OBE launched the conference with a keynote speech, which you can read by ...
What swung it for Go Ape to realise employee ownership was the right path to safeguard its ‘very unique’ culture?
What started out as a drawing and a vision of a future involving “trees, tepees, tree houses and bonfires” has evolved into an adventure company welcoming more than a million visitors a year – and one that is now employee-owned after Go Ape’s founders handed over control to their 1,000-strong workforce.
During the almost 20 years that Go Ape has been in existence its founders, husband and wife team Rebecca and Tristram Mayhew, have always wondered ‘where do we see this going?’
Safeguarding the “very unique” culture and values of the treetop adventure ...
Why it’s critical the EOA and its members remain constant and authentic champions of ‘Good Employee Ownership’
Deb Oxley OBE, Chief Executive at the Employee Ownership Association, gave a keynote speech to open up day one of the EOA Annual Conference 2021. Here is what she had to say:
Believing that business and society are better when people have a meaningful stake and a say in their work, the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) has a clear mission to unlock the potential of people, businesses and the economy through employee ownership.
And arguably the opportunity for employee ownership (EO) has never been greater as businesses seek to be more sustainable, equitable and ...
EOA Conference Headline Sponsor – J Gadd Associates Guest Blog
Guest Blog by Jeremy Gadd, J Gadd Associates
Where has the last year gone to? How can we be on the eve of the 2021 EOA conference already?
We are delighted to be Headline co-sponsors for the third year running, along with Postlethwaite, supporting the first fully digital EOA conference. We know the EOA team have been working hard alongside First Event to bring together more opportunities to experience case studies, discussions and share best practice, in addition to formal and informal networking.
Some of the benefits of attending any conference, are the opportu...
Demonstrating how larger companies can consider Employee Ownership as part of their future. – RVE
Guest Blog by Tom Lethaby, RVE Corporate Finance
TTP Group Ltd (“TTP”) – the largest company to convert to an Employee Ownership Trust (“EOT”) structure demonstrates how larger companies can consider Employee Ownership as part of their future.
Statistics compiled for the Employee Ownership Association (“EOA”) show that, since the changes introduced in the 2014 Budget made it easier to convert a business to employee ownership through use of a John Lewis style trust structure, over 600 UK companies have chosen this path.
This includes ...
Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs): Key considerations – Moore Kingston Smith
Guest Blog by Harpreet Gill, Moore Kingston Smith
Moore Kingston Smith is a leading UK firm of accountants, lawyers and business advisers. With over 60 partners and more than 500 staff based in and around London, we are a leading member of the international accounting and consulting network, Moore Global.
As well as providing accountancy, tax, legal and corporate finance services, one of the areas we specialise in includes Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). EOTs continue to grow in popularity as a way of engaging with employees while providing an alternative ...
We predicted that employee-owned resilience would be an advantage in the face of a global pandemic. But were we right?
Guest blog by Simon Everingham, Baxendale Employee Ownership
According to two recently published surveys by Ranstad UK1 and Autonomy2, almost a quarter of UK workers are planning on leaving their current employment in the next few months. Some are calling this ‘The Great Resignation’, and fear a mass exodus may be on the cards if companies do not act to improve their offer to employees soon.
While the reasons for workers to move jobs are diverse (on average it’s expected that 11% of workers will move jobs every year1), in some sectors such as care, ...
GO APE founders hand over control of adventure company to staff
The founders of EOA member Go Ape are handing control of the adventure group to staff, in a move that will give all employees an equal stake in the ownership and success of the business.
Founders Rebecca and Tristram Mayhew announced 90% of Go Ape shares will be transferred into a John Lewis-style trust, for the benefit of all current and future employees. They will tell their story at the EOA Conference on November 16 to kick-off the event which offers 40 networking and learning sessions live on the afternoons of the 16-18 November, as well as being available ...
EOA Conference content programme launches
The three key learning strands are employee ownership as a succession plan, building good employee ownership and delivering better business.
Here are our five picks for this week, which have a better business focus:
Tuesday 16th November: Hear from CEO of UMi Nicki Clark’s story on how they achieved the maximum of three-star accreditation for workplace engagement and how they are now working towards BCORP status.
Tuesday 16th November: Karen Mosley, Managing Director of HLM Architects, shares her thoughts as part of a discussion on how reward strategies and ...
EOA growth plan drives team expansion
The UK’s employee-owned economy is growing at pace as an increasing number of business owners consider and then convert to employee ownership.
With a 30% increase in the number of employee ownership transitions in 2020 and an ambitious growth strategy and transformation plan, the EOA is looking to expand its team.
The EOA passed the 500 corporate member milestone in the first half of 2021. Its plans to evolve its offer to its growing community of businesses, will continue to support businesses through their employee ownership transition as well as supporting them ...
EOA urges EO community to contribute to e-book in honour of Nigel Mason
The EOA is encouraging those who knew one of the EO sector’s leading lights, Nigel Mason, to share their condolences, stories and memories that celebrate his life, with his loved ones through an e-book.
Nigel, who sadly passed last week, was a close friend of the EOA, having worked on behalf of and for the EOA /Job Ownership, latterly as Policy Director.
More recently, Nigel had worked in partnership with the EOA to publish the annual UK Top 50 and the EOT Survey – two key publications which have directly supported the EOA’s ability to promote and ...
EOA condolences on the passing of Nigel Mason
The EOA is saddened to hear of the passing of Nigel Mason and sends its heartfelt condolences to his family and all those who worked with him at RM2.
Nigel, a friend, colleague and adviser to many in the EOA network and wider EO community, has had a long association with the EOA, from being its Policy Director to working closely with the EOA on research, and as noted by RM2 was a leading light in the sector being instrumental in the growth of employee ownership.
He will be missed by the EOA team, all of whom appreciated his advice, support and innovative ideas.
Member News | LDA Design becomes employee-owned business
Independent design, environment and planning consultancy LDA Design has become a 100% employee-owned business.
LDA Design has set up an Employee Ownership Trust to acquire all the shares of the nine owners, which provides a route to succession that builds on everything they have done over the last 42 years, and assures the long-term independence of the business.
LDA Design has been working towards this move for a number of years, confident that a business in which all employees have a stake will enjoy greater success. The time has been used to develop new more ...
Member News | Hawkins\Brown moves to Employee Ownership
Hawkins\Brown has transitioned to an Employee Ownership model, having established an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) which has purchased the business of Hawkins\Brown from current partners and will operate it for the long-term benefit of all its employees.
Over 33 years, Hawkins\Brown grew from two founder employees to an international practice with offices in the UK and US, with a staff of over 260 led by 21 Partners who jointly owned the business through an LLP. The decision to transition to Employee Ownership has been taken to provide the best option for the sustain...
EOA partners up to launch new course to support businesses to develop good EO
The EOA is launching a new course aimed at leaders and managers in an employee owned business to helps businesses develop good employee ownership and unlock the potential of people and their business.
Telos and J Gadd Associates, in partnership with the EOA, have developed a programme to equip leaders and managers with the right tools and mindset to drive success in an employee-owned business.
The Ownership Dividend report 2018 evidenced that when then the interests of leaders and employee owners are aligned it unites them behind a common purpose allowing them to ...
Member News | CDS to host Employee Ownership Explained Webinars 2021
Following last year’s successful ‘Employee Ownership Explained’ webinar series, Co-operative Development Scotland, part of Scottish Enterprise, will be hosting a further 3 webinars on employee ownership that will go beyond the facts and figures. These 3 webinars will focus on the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT); using the legislation to achieve the best outcomes, financial planning for an EOT transaction and the role of the bank in an EOT transaction.
Aimed at professional advisers these expert webinars will explore different aspects to help advisers broaden ...
Levelling up our economic recovery: the regional opportunity for employee ownership
The ambition to ‘Level Up’ the economy is a familiar phrase but it’s not necessarily clear how this ambition will be realised, what it means to families, businesses and the regions in which they are based or how its impact will be measured. However, what is clear is that imbalances in economic activity across the country, with wealth and prosperity in some areas driven by investment whilst other areas struggle to shake off their post-industrial decline must be addressed if there is to be a level, UK-wide, post-Covid economic recovery.
In addition, the UK’s ...
Case Study – Experiences of an Independent Trustee
We spoke to Helen Moreton, Founder and Director of Boombox Consulting, to ask her about her experiences as an Independent Trustee for employee owned businesses.
What would you say are the top three things you gain from being an independent trustee?
There are many things that I could say in answer to this question, but primarily I would say it is the kind of organisations and people that I get to work with. By the very nature of being an independent trustee you are working with people that are willing to consider a better and fairer way of doing business. I feel ...
EOA seeks new CEO to lead new era of growth
The CEO of the EOA Deb Oxley OBE has announced that she will step down from the EOA once she has supported the recruitment and induction of a new CEO – expected to be late 2021 early 2022.
Deb has announced she will be leaving the EOA at the end of 2021 after 9 years - 3 as Membership Director and 6 as CEO. The move to pass on the baton of CEO comes as the EOA welcomes its 500th member and progresses with a transformation programme and strategy to ensure its future sustainability and continued growth and influence.
Supported by the EOA team, Deb is ...
Guest Blog | The Eternal Business Consultancy – Avoiding The Shop Steward
One of the key functions of trustees in an employee owned business is to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries for the employees. They need to hear the employee voice, and so inspire the team to step up and think like business owners.
Crucially, the trustees need to hear the voice of employees on ownership issues – not to act as a shop steward for employees interests.
There are lots of positive steps to take to instil the feeling among employees that they are being heard. But there are also a few pitfalls to avoid.
For example, the trustee body which is ...
Guest Blog | J Gadd Associates – 5 Ways Governance and EO Go Hand in Hand
Governance was once a topic that could empty a room in seconds, but things are a little different these days. Attitudes are changing, and fast.
Top line, governance is about the way an organisation is managed, at the highest level. It is also about the systems and practices in place for doing this. It is focused on direction, control and accountability.
In practical terms, governance is about having the right things in place to preserve and strengthen stakeholder and shareholder confidence. Governance is about making sure the basis for a high performing organisation ...
Howden Group Holdings joins the Employee Ownership Association as Trustee member
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) today welcomes Howden Group Holdings (Howden) as a Trustee member. Howden is ranked number six in the Employee Ownership Top 50 2021, which lists the UK’s largest employee-owned businesses by number of employees. Howden joins other Trustee members of the EOA, including the John Lewis Partnership, Arup and Mott MacDonald.
Howden recently acquired A-Plan Group, which increased its number of employees to 8,500 globally, meaning it could be ranked number five on the list in 2022.
When the international insurance group was ...
Kingsland Drinks Group Makes Move Towards Being Employee Owned
Leading independent drinks firm Kingsland Drinks Group, including Kingsland Drinks, and newly established Ten Locks, has made a move to being partially employee owned.
Current director shareholders, Andy Sagar, Karen Wilson, Michael Forde, and Mark Dixon have successfully managed the business for 17 years, investing significantly in capability and capacity and diversifying the business into new markets.
After a period of careful consideration and planning, the owners have agreed that the time is now right to restructure the ownership model whilst recognising any ...
How the employee ownership model protected Aardman Animations’ intellectual property and legacy
As the Oscar-winning animation studio responsible for world-renowned titles such as Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run and more, Aardman’s transition to employee ownership caused ripples in the media industry when it was announced in 2018.
Peter Lord and David Sproxton co-founded the business in 1972 and after 40 years of producing award-winning content, decided it was finally time to prepare for their own future, as well as the business’s.
But the co-founders didn’t want to opt for a conventional trade sale as part of their exit ...
Member News | DJS Research announces move to employee ownership on 20th anniversary
North of England market research agency, DJS Research, has become an employee-owned company following two decades as a highly successful family-owned business.
The company, which has offices in Stockport and Leeds as well as a growing network of permanent remote-working staff, is now one of 500+ employee-owned trust (EOT) businesses in the UK, and one of just three employee-owned market research companies nationwide.
Taking the business forward in this way will ensure DJS Research remains independent for many years to come and stays firmly in the hands of the ...
Member News | Merlin celebrates being Employee Owned for 5 years
Merlin Energy Resources Ltd. (MERL) was originally formed by 6 former colleagues of Clyde Petroleum on 1st May 1998, as a subsurface geoscience and data management consultancy. Initially the shares were owned by the founder members supported by a third party company. Over subsequent years, as employee numbers grew, the third party was bought out and individual shareholders changed. As many of the principal shareholders started reaching retirement age, it was decided that a new model of ownership should be investigated to allow the company to continue for the benefit of all ...
Member News | Childbase Partnership goes ‘Climate Positive’
Childbase Partnership is now ‘Climate Positive’ after saving more greenhouse gas emissions than are generated by its 44 day nurseries and Head Office while recording a year on year reduction in its total carbon footprint.
Investing in two United Nations-certified carbon reduction projects, the award-winning employee-owned company - which uniquely targets ‘Scope 3’ emissions generated by staff and customers in accessing its settings - has also launched the Childbase Partnership Sustainable Travel Challenge to tackle this, the largest remaining contributor to its ...
Last call for Owner/Founders looking to fast-track their EO transition plan
Stir to Action and J Gadd Associates – the creators of a new employee ownership accelerator course – are making their last call to Owner/Founders keen to find fast-track support.
The EO Accelerator, the UK’s first, is Sponsored by TLT and Triodos Bank UK. The EO Accelerator launches at Stir to Action’s New Economy Centre at Selgars Mill in Devon, and runs from 17 to 19 September 2021.
The three-day course will support Owner/Founders to explore the full range of employee ownership models available, and gain expert insight into the legal, financial and tax ...
Five reasons why employee ownership can re-energise and unify your workforce post-Covid – Trace Solutions
Neil Stewart, Sales Director, Trace Solutions
In a year that has witnessed huge change for organisations, employee ownership – offering employees a stake in the business - has come to the fore as a way to re energise and unify the workforce. The Employee Ownership Association reports year on year growth in EO companies in the UK, with over 450, contributing in excess of £30 billion to UK GDP in 2020. It offers a compelling option for improving staff retention, putting employees at the heart of the organisation whilst delivering a persuasive point of ...
EO Day back in full swing as sector grows by 30%
The employee-owned sector has experienced unprecedented growth and displays resilience and social responsibility as it prepares to celebrate Employee Ownership Day (EO Day) 2021.
Thousands of employee owners will celebrate EO Day on Friday on June 25, with virtual or socially distanced get togethers. This year EO Day is sponsored by Unity Trust Bank, a socially determined, ethical business bank. A key highlight of the day will see more than 30 EO businesses telling their stories, sharing good governance and communications, and supporting health and wellbeing as part of ...
EO Day Guest Blog | Gaining authority by giving it away – UMi’s approach to employee ownership
From creating a culture of togetherness to simply doing the right thing, employee ownership has helped UMi become a better business for both its customers and its staff. Here, Simon Allen, Chair of UMi’s Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) explains how the company became employee-owned back in 2011 and why #BetterTogether is a fitting philosophy for its 130+ strong team.
Now in its 10th year of employee ownership, UMi has come a long way since becoming an organisation run by and for its people.
That was the motivation for the Board of Directors back in 2011 – to ...
Worker co-ops and employee ownership to play key role in economic recovery, says Mayor Dan Jarvis
Sheffield City Region is the first region to partner with the Ownership Hub to grow resilient and inclusive businesses through employee and worker ownership.
As Covid restrictions ease across England, focus moves to the economic recovery of businesses hit hard by the pandemic. Today (22 June 2021) a new national initiative aiming to support businesses, advisers and regions to grow employee and worker ownership is launched.
Sheffield City Region is the first region to commit to growing the number of worker and employee owners in this way.
Sheffield City Region ...
Member News | ADT Workplace becomes a 100% Employee Owned business
Commercial interior design, build and delivery specialist, ADT Workplace has today announced that it has placed 100% of the business into employee ownership, heralding the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of the company.
Started in 2005 by David Clemetson, Tommy Cocking and Ashley Smith, ADT Workplace has grown to be one of the leading independent commercial interiors organisations in the North West, employing over 60 people at its Manchester HQ. Having grown turnover this year to £45m, the founders have decided now is the right time to change the ...
Member News | Teamwork makes the dream work: Salad’s shift to employee ownership
Brand and communication agency, Salad Creative has announced transfer of ownership to its team in an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Only 600 companies in the UK have adopted the HMRC approved scheme and Dorset based Salad, is the first creative agency in the region to make the shift. The process transfers Salad’s private shareholding to a collective ownership across its workforce.
Producing brand, marketing and digital work for clients including Commonwealth Games Team England, House of Garrard, Mitchell & Butlers Plc and Grape Tree Health Foods, Salad ...
EOA calls for evidence ahead of #EODay
We're calling on employee owned businesses to take just a few minutes to complete the following surveys in order to help us build a better picture of the performance of the EO sector in the face of COVID-19, informing and supporting the EOA’s future campaigning and lobbying activities. We’ll be sharing the results of these surveys on the 25th of June as part of our EO Day celebrations.
EO Health & Wellbeing Surveys
Mental health and wellbeing in the workplace has never been more important as we’ve all faced the Covid-19 crisis. We know that ...
Better Business Webinar Roundup: “Demystifying ESG: What is it and why is it good for business?”
The EOA kicked off its Better Business webinar series with a fascinating discussion about Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and why this matters for the businesses’ long term success.
We heard from Andrew Ninian, of The Investment Association, Barry Murphy, from PwC and Kevin Matthews, CEO of Scott Bader. The webinar provided five key take-aways for businesses when considering ESG:
Purpose. it’s about defining what the business wants to achieve and what good it wants to contribute to society. Kevin Matthews described how as a chemical company with a ...
Guest Blog – Why Unity Trust Bank is proud to sponsor EO Day and how we can support businesses that want to become employee-owned
Unity Trust Bank is a proud trustee member of the Employee Ownership Association and we are delighted to sponsor this year’s EO Day on June 25th.
As a bank with a social conscience and a rich heritage, we share the EOA’s commitment in supporting business models that bring true societal benefits.
We were established in 1984 to serve the common good, and this year’s theme for EO Day, #bettertogether, has never resonated more as we emerge into a post-pandemic world.
Mark Clayton, Chief Operating Officer at Unity Trust Bank, said: “It’s clear that there is a ...
Guest Blog – Should Former Owners Be EOT Trustees?
It is common, especially in the early years of the company being employee owned, for the previous owners to want to be one of the trustees.
The former owners almost always have the best interest of the company at heart. It’s not easy letting go of control, especially when you are being paid out of the future profit of the business.
However, giving up a little bit of control is like being a little bit pregnant. It’s kind of an all or nothing situation.
A former owner who keeps a position of influence is inadvertently sending a message to the employees that is ...
UMi Shines Bright At Best Companies 2021
The employee-owned company has shone brightly in this year’s Best Companies Listings – with a trio of accolades that recognise both its regional and national strengths.
UMi is celebrating after it secured the highest star rating and was named in three prestigious Best Companies 2021 listings announced at a special event on Friday, 21 May.
In the list representing the UK’s 100 Best Mid-Sized Companies, which is for those that employ between 75 and 199 people, UMi ranked 33rd.
The business also achieved a 12th place regional listing and was named 8th in its ...
Childbase Partnership celebrates ‘Best UK workplace’ Awards
Childbase Partnership Founder and Chairman Mike Thompson retains his title as the country’s best company leader and the employee-owned business is No.2 in the prestigious competition to find the best UK workplaces.
Cheering in 44 Childbase Partnership day nurseries in the south of England greeted the announcement in the Best Companies virtual awards ceremony which was relayed to staff who staged tea parties for children in celebration.
Mike Thompson, who was rated Best Leader last year and realized his dream of full employee ownership at Childbase Partnership in ...
Haremi Ltd becomes an employee-owned business
Haremi Ltd, the Cheltenham-based educational publishing services provider, announces that it has become an employee-owned business. Founded by Paul Farnworth in 2006, Haremi has grown to become one of the UK’s leading educational content creation services, working across the educational publishing, awarding body and professional membership sectors.
Daniel Scales becomes CEO, taking over from Paul, who is retiring from the business to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests. Daniel will manage Haremi along with the existing senior leadership team.
...
EO Stories: Baxendale – Our EO Story
The Baxi Partnership was founded by Philip Baxendale, and his values and his vision reflect the business we are today.
The business was founded in 1866 by Richard Baxendale as a family manufacturing and engineering business. The company made everything from street lights to railway trucks and ultimately became Europe’s leading manufacturer of heating boilers with the iconic Baxi Boiler.
The company was transferred into employee ownership by the Baxendale and Castleton families in 1983 with the creation of the Baxi Partnership Trust. The creation of the trust was the ...
Member News | Purcell Architects Become Employee Owned
In May 2021, Purcell became an employee-owned business run through an employee-ownership trust. With studios across the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Australia, the decision to become employee-owned recognises the practice’s evolution and is a commitment to the next phase in our business’s development and to our multidisciplinary team who have been instrumental to our growth and success.
The new employee ownership model will build upon the successes of our past, strengthening the practice and ensuring all our people can contribute to its future. This will invigor...
New partnership launches EO accelerator for exiting founders
Stir to Action, J Gadd Associates, TLT, and Triodos Bank UK, together with support from the Employee Ownership Association, today launched a partnership to deliver an Employee Ownership Accelerator in September 2021 for those in the early stages of business succession planning.
The five values-driven organisations have formed a new partnership to support business owners who are interested in sharing ownership and success with their employees. Stir to Action, J Gadd Associates, TLT and Triodos Bank UK, have also launched a programme of content and events to champion ...
EO Business 3P Innovation Receives a Queen’s Award For International Trade Amidst a Global Pandemic
Announced today, 29th April, Midlands-based manufacturer, 3P innovation has received its second Queen’s Award for Enterprise. This latest award is in recognition for British excellence in International Trade, and follows on from their first Queen’s Award for Innovation last year. Internationally recognised, these are the UK’s most prestigious business awards, which date back to 1966.
High-tech engineering company, 3P innovation, works collaboratively with global pharma and medical device businesses to help develop their new products, devices and production ...
Member News | Better Placed moves to employee ownership
Digital, marketing, tech and sales recruiter Better Placed has completed its transition to become 100% employee owned.
The Better Placed Group, which is headquartered in Leeds, has offices in Manchester and London and includes the executive search practice bpesearch.
Founded in 2002, its clients include the Co-op, PZ Cussons, Greene King, Costa Coffee and First Direct.
Each of its 40 employees will take a share in the business through an employee ownership trust.
Founding Directors Simon Stephens, Andrew Gibson and Dean Bartle and the rest of the board will ...
Member News | BDB Transitions To 100% Employee-Owned Business
Altrincham-based B2B consultancy, BDB (Barrett Dixon Bell Limited) has established an employee ownership trust, transferring with immediate effect to 100% employee ownership. BDB is one of the first 500 employee-owned companies in the UK, giving its 50-strong team the opportunity to directly benefit from the continued growth of the business.
The decision to transition to an employee-owned business was driven by the desire to sustain the company’s independence and protect its culture and values, alongside aiding long-term succession planning. Its previous Board of ...
Member News | Creative Space Management Announces Move To Employee Ownership
Leeds-based property management and urban regeneration business, Creative Space Management, has made the progressive move to an employee ownership model, securing the future of this £1.7m turnover business for its teams operating across the North of England.
Established in 2006, shares in Creative Space Management Ltd had previously been owned by three prominent, northern businesspeople: Chris Brown, Toby Hyam and Paul Taylor. The move to employee ownership effectively transfers all business interests to a Trust, which will manage the shares and bonuses on behalf of ...
#EODay countdown to share why business is better together
The EOA is asking members and supporters to share why business is #bettertogether for EO Day 2021.
Today marks the 100 day countdown to EO Day 2021, which takes place on June 25.
The EOA is asking its members and supporters to mark the annual celebration by making some noise about how individuals, business or economies are better together because of employee ownership.
The annual campaign celebrates Employee Ownership and Employee Owned businesses in the UK, raising awareness of the benefits of employee ownership as a business model as well as the social and ...
Deb Oxley – EOA Statement on the 2021 UK Budget
"There was a lot to welcome in this important Budget in terms of continuation of pandemic financial support, a programme for economic recovery and investing for the future. However, we do recognise that for some members, the planned changes to corporation tax will be a concern.
"While we heard that there was a freeze on an individual's annual exempt amount for Capital Gains Tax, we still wait to hear the detail of other possible changes and initiatives around the UK tax regime later this month.
"We hope March 23rd will herald an end to the uncertainty about a ...
Guest Blog – Jenny Herrera: Good Business a no-brainer for Employee-Owned Businesses
I had the privilege of being on a panel alongside Neil Wright of TensCare Ltd in EOA’s November 2020 three-day series of webinars called EO Boost. We were talking about ‘good business’ as part of a three-part series looking at its benefits for individuals, business and society.
I loved hearing his example of how effective employee representation at board level translated into the company branching out into a completely new product, for facial muscles, which is now their biggest selling item! As our conversation continued ‘off webinar’, Neil learned about ...
EOA Launches EO Trustee Search to help EO businesses build good governance
The EOA has launched the EO Trustee Search to support EOA members to recruit Independent Trustees.
The new suite of services provides three distinct options for employee-owned businesses seeking to acquire the services of an Independent Trustee to help them deliver robust governance.
The EOA believes that employing an Independent Trustee, on the employee ownership trust, provides objective insight and support to represent the interests of the business’ employee owners and deliver on the purpose of the business.
As well as the EOA’s self-service ...
Big four firm PwC joins EOA after continued growth of the EOT model
PwC has joined the EOA after seeing the continued growth of businesses becoming employee owned via an employee ownership trust (EOT).
As one of the big four professional services firms, the business sees the relevance of employee ownership after seeing the sector’s continued strong growth despite the pandemic.
PwC has been involved in a number of EOT transactions including advising on tax, valuations, structuring, modelling, legal, debt advisory, employee communications and governance.
The values of the sector are seen as a great fit with PWC’s purpose to ...
CEO Blog – Staying on course to Better Business
Whilst the entire world has been buffeted and blown around by the pandemic, there has never been a more important time for organisations to stay agile and to stay focused on their purpose.
Of course, it has been essential to divert valuable resources to manage the national response to COVID19 here in the UK. However, the implications of this approach on the longer-term challenges are profound, for example in the NHS, where waiting lists for non-COVID related illness are now at an all-time high and not expected to recover to pre-COVID levels for many years, putting at ...
EOA Member News – Five Welsh Firms Switch To Employee Ownership in 2020
Five Welsh firms transitioned to the Employee Ownership model in 2020, in a move that is part of a growing trend that will continue to gain traction in Wales, according to some of the leading experts in the field.
This year saw the Employee Ownership model being adopted by an increasing number of firms in Wales including BIC Innovation, Wavehill, Heron House Financial Management, Lorax Ltd (Heinie Haynes) and Arfon Timber.
Paul Cantrill from the Employee Ownership Wales team at Social Business Wales, which provides fully-funded Employee Ownership help and advice, ...
EOA Member News – Cullinan Studio open for business in the Midlands
Cullinan Studio has announced today that it has established a permanent base in the Midlands and is developing a regional presence to respond to opportunities in the area.
The architectural and masterplanning practice is seeking to build upon a strong portfolio of built work across the region, including Building Awards 2020 Project of the Year, the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), which is one of several buildings completed for WMG at the University of Warwick. Other projects in the Midlands include the RIBA Award-winning BFI Master Film Store archive in ...
EOA Member News – WAVE Announces EOT Transition
Wheatland's Aire Valley Engineering Limited (WAVE) has formed an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) and transitioned to an employee owned business model. The basis of an EOT is a method of share ownership whereby employees hold a controlling stake in the company for whom they work, via a trust. Unlike many employee-owned businesses where employees have to “buy” into a scheme across a small number of allocated and often lower value shares, the WAVE EOT will benefit all employees without having to purchase shares. WAVE were advised in their employee ownership transition by ...
EOA Member News – Quiet Storm becomes an Employee Ownership Trust in its 25th anniversary year
Quiet Storm has shifted to an Employee Ownership Trust model as the independent agency celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
The agency’s founder Trevor Robinson OBE and the rest of the management board of Quiet Storm, headed up by Rania Robinson, will continue to lead and direct the running of the business under the new structure.
An Employee Ownership Trust entails a shift of business ownership from the current shareholders to a trust that is set up to act in the interests and ultimate benefit of the staff. While staff do not have physical shares in the ...
Mott MacDonald Executive Chair Mike Haigh on Employee Ownership
Employee ownership has many advantages for us as a business from the independence it creates to the knowledge that what we do is for the benefit of our colleagues and wider stakeholders. Importantly, it allows us to focus on what is important to us, to invest in what is important to us.
This is a time when society is more and more questioning how we invest in the built environment and are asking “what wider benefits can these investments bring to our communities”.
Bringing about these wider benefits requires a focus on the outcomes that investments can achieve. ...
Smooth Employee Ownership Switch for Wavehill
An Aberaeron-based social and economic research company has become employee-owned, cementing its team-orientated ethos and business approach.
Wavehill, which was established in 1992 with offices in Aberaeron, Bristol, Newcastle and London, has developed a strong reputation and proven expertise in the fields of social and economic research, evaluation and impact assessment.
The company has moved to an Employee Ownership model with the support of the Employee Ownership Wales team at Social Business Wales, which offers fully-funded guidance and support on Employee ...
5 reasons why the UK needs an EO Boost
There’s just under 2 weeks to go until our three-day virtual event that offers engaging learning and insightful discussions about succession, good business and employee ownership.
The EOA strongly feels that employee ownership has a key role to play in building back better in a post COVID-19 UK, linked to resilience and better income equality, which is why employee ownership experts and advocates J Gadd Associates and Postlethwaite have supported EO Boost as headline sponsors to the widest audience possible, free of charge, along with supporting sponsor Mott MacDona...
New EO think tank Chief Exec targets national recovery and social impact
Ownership at Work – the employee ownership (EO) sector’s new think tank – has appointed an interim Chief Executive who wants to prove beyond doubt the significant social and economic benefits EO businesses can drive in post-pandemic recovery.
Campbell McDonald has taken on a six-month interim role as the organisation’s first Chief Executive with a mission to help advance the EO sector’s research base and strengthen the case behind increasing levels of EO in the UK economy.
Campbell said: “When you work in the employee owned sector it’s all too easy to ...
EOA welcomes report that highlights how EO can redesign work
The EOA welcomes a report by research partner Ownership at Work that delves into the experience of employee owners to reveal a business model that’s fit for the future.
The paper entitled "Redesigning Work: Employee Owners Speak"; shows a business model uniquely equipped to cope with the challenges of the pandemic - companies that are resilient, agile and capable of rapid change; thanks to shared ownership and reward, high levels of employee commitment, and deep roots in their communities.
The author, Stefan Stern, interviewed employee owners from four establ...
EOA Chair appointment completes new line-up for EO Champions
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) has appointed a new Chair who will take over the role at its next board meeting on October 22.
Chris McDermott, Managing Director of The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, will take over from former John Lewis Partnership Director of Communications, Simon Fowler, who has been Chair for the past decade.
Chris, who has worked for The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan in various roles for 17 years becoming Managing Director in 2015, started his career in journalism, PR and communications.
The announcement follows last month...
Seetec Announces New Employee Trustee Director
The EOA welcomes the latest news from member Seetec, as they announce the appointment of their new Employee Trustee Director, Karen Palfreyman:
"Seetec is delighted to have passed another key milestone in its transition to employee ownership with the election of Karen Palfreyman as its new Employee Trustee Director.
This new role will represent the views of Seetec’s 2,500 employee owners at board level to influence the strategy and direction as a leading public services provider in the UK and Ireland.
Seetec’s employee council, which is made up of 10 frontline ...
EOA welcomes EO transition of Heron House Financial Management
Heron House Financial Management Ltd, the award winning Chartered Financial Planning and Wealth Management firm based in Newport, has just become employee-owned.
The company founders, Saran Allott-Davey and Christopher Jordan have sold a controlling share of the business to employees through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Having worked hard to build the business over the last 25 years, Saran and Chris wanted to ensure that the ethos and service which has been a major factor in the company’s success, would continue for decades to come. When they started to ...
EOA backs calls to rebuild business for society
The EOA has backed a call from the Building Societies Association to support a call for meaningful change in the institutions that shape the business environment.
Currently, funding and awareness raising for business support is disproportionately skewed to just a few types of business models, when a wider focus could see growth in the plurality of business models with a benefit to the economy and society.
The Rebuilding Business for Society report–compiled by a group of co-operative and mutual trade associations–says they can play a leading role in reinvigorating ...
Patrick Lewis: It’s time to harness the full potential of employee ownership
Whether it’s the inequality of unconstrained capitalism, the untapped capability and commitment of those in and out of work, or the unsustainability of our way of living – we all know that we need to find a better way.
We need to address many issues – and fast - and the obvious place to start is where many of us spend most of our time – in the workplace. The Government has a role to play – but each of us has a key part in striving to make the organisation we work for lead the way in its contribution to our community. Too often we have seen absent “sharehol...
EOA welcomes members doing well, while doing good
This month EOA members Riverford and Rowlinson Knitwear announced their certification as ethical B Corporations. Their employee ownership was cited as a major factor in how they have demonstrated the ethical credentials required to become a Certified B Corporation, which the community of B Corps defines as:
"Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine ...
Rowlinson becomes a Certified B Corporation
Employee-owned schoolwear manufacturer Rowlinson Knitwear (Rowlinson) proudly announced its B Corporation (B Corp) certification today. Rowlinson has met the highest verified social and environmental standards representing its commitment to goals beyond shareholder profit, joining a global movement dedicated to using business as a force for good. Rowlinson is the only organisation in the schoolwear industry to achieve B Corp certification.
B Corp certification addresses a company’s entire business operations covering governance, workers, community, environment and ...
Environet roots its future in the hands of its employees
The EOA welcomes the employee ownership transition of a Surrey-based company which specialises in the removal of Japanese knotweed.
Environet UK, which started life 25 years ago, has been handed over to its workers by its founders and owners with shares transferred into an employee ownership trust (EOT). Their transition to Employee Ownership was assisted by EOA members Postlethwaite.
Nic Seal will remain as managing director and the existing senior management structure has been bolstered with the promotion of Emily Grant and Mathew Day to directors.
Seal said: ...
Patrick Lewis’ president role heralds new era for employee ownership champions
Patrick Lewis, Executive Director of Finance of the John Lewis Partnership, will take over as the president of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) in September.
His presidency heralds a new era for the EOA, which was established in 1979 by English journalist, economist and social reformer Robert Oakeshott, with other changes to key roles on its board expected in the coming months.
Patrick takes over the role from Sir Charlie Mayfield, former chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, who had been in the role since 2013. Sir Charlie played an integral role in ...
CEO Blog: Employee ownership; if not now, when?
‘United we stand, divided we fall’ describes the collaboration that unites people to overcome difficult times.
Currently what unites all of us is that as a global community, we all have first-hand experience of how the pandemic has changed the way we live, work and play.
Whilst some yearn for a return to ‘normal’, many long for a ‘new’ normal that celebrates what has been learnt in lock-down; more local and responsible consumerism; less use of cars and more use of bikes (or legs); adapting our homes to suit working from home – or even consideration of a ...
Guest Blog – My lockdown experience at Unity Trust Bank
This entry was first published by Julia Tarpey, HR Director of EOA member Unity Trust Bank on BSB
When lockdown first started in March, I felt that Unity was uniquely placed to support its customers. Unity Connect, our UK Customer Service Centre, enabled customers to speak directly to one of my colleagues, and we aim to answer all calls within 15 seconds with 92% first call resolution. I feel proud of this level of service and feedback from our customers confirms they really value the human interaction. At the height of the pandemic I heard someone on the news say, ...
Member News – Co-operative Development Scotland launches webinar series
Since its introduction in 2014, the Employee Ownership Trust has proved to be a feasible exit option for business owners who may not fit with more traditional succession routes.
To help professional advisers broaden their knowledge and equip them to support their clients in making informed decisions, Co-operative Development Scotland are hosting a series of webinars exploring the Employee Ownership Trust as a succession solution. These webinars are also relevant for business owners looking towards succession planning. View the full series in detail.
The Employee ...
Member News – Cullinan Studio launches campaign to Make Room for Nature
Originally published August 3rd on www.cullinanstudio.com
55 million urban dwellers in the UK are increasingly disconnected with nature and all of its benefits, but it does not have to be this way.
We are launching a campaign to Make Room for Nature – for nature’s sake and for ours. We are looking to collaborate with designers, makers, planners and academics to help rethink cities and restore the connection between people and the natural world.
It is clear our cities are undergoing rapid changes. More than three-quarters of the world’s population ...
CEO Blog – Making the case for employee ownership has never been more important
As the UK takes its first gentle steps towards recovery, it is more important than ever that the role and relevance of employee ownership to society and the economy is understood and respected – especially by those with influence who have the power and opportunity to assist in its growth.
Therefore, whilst the EOA team works hard to deliver activity that enables engagement, networking and learning between members, our other major priority remains that of representing your interests and campaigning for more employee ownership.
In this regard, throughout lockdown and ...
Employee ownership – the solution to higher standards of ESG
Graeme Nuttall OBE, a partner at European law firm Fieldfisher, has today called for employee ownership to reach new heights and fulfil environmental, social and governance (ESG) obligations.
Leading employee ownership organisations have backed his proposal, agreeing that employee-owned companies should be an exemplar for reducing inequality, tackling climate change and sustainability especially as we face the ongoing challenges of COVID-19.
The UK Employee Ownership Association, EO Wales, Scotland for Employee Ownership, Irish ProShare Association and EO Australia ...
Member News – ThinCats begins accepting CBILS applications from new customers.
From 13th July, EOA member ThinCats is accepting CBILS applications from new customers, Head of Sales Mike Hackett had this to say:
"As one of the first non-bank lenders to be accredited for CBILS term loans we have, up until now, been focusing on supporting our existing borrowers, however, I’m delighted that we are now opening up applications to new borrowers.
Our experience with existing borrowers shows that CBILS loans can be used for a wide variety of funding needs including working capital, investment, refinancing and acquisitions. Our expertise has also ...
EOA welcomes Chancellor’s latest economic statement.
Deb Oxley, Chief Executive of the EOA said: “The EOA welcomes the Chancellor’s economic statement. It will provide much needed support to protect jobs and give confidence to businesses across the country.
“In the Spending Review we would like to see the Chancellor commit to long term action to address the issues uncovered by this pandemic - that the economy has not been working in the best interest of those who are key to powering it – the workers.
“To build back better it is essential that the government commits to supporting more ...
EO Day stories: Employee-ownership model pivotal in helping Ayrshire firm thrive
A Scottish chemical engineering company is attributing its ability to provide an unimpeded client service throughout the Covid-19 crisis to its transition to employee ownership two years ago.
Taytech, based in Dalry, began the new business model in 2018, Director Iain Lindsay, who heads the 15-strong team, says the residual benefits of being employee-owned, such as high moral and increased productivity, are allowing Taytech to weather the economic challenges arising from the pandemic.
Today (June 26) is EO Day, the Employee Ownership Association...
Eo Day Stories: Fieldfisher employee ownership team complete over £275m worth of EOT transactions
European law firm Fieldfisher is delighted to celebrate Employee Ownership Day 2020. As leading advisers on employee ownership, Fieldfisher is marking the occasion by reflecting on how the firm has recently contributed to the shaping and success of the EO business model.
Fieldfisher don't just advise on employee ownership, we helped create the UK's employee ownership framework and continue to work to simplify its regulation and increase its take-up in the UK and abroad. As the UK celebrates EO Day 2020, Fieldfisher reviews some of its recent activities to develop ...
EO Day stories: EOA welcomes new Industry leadership group Scotland for Employee Ownership (SfEO) co-chair
The EOA's CEO Deb Oxley welcomes new Industry leadership group Scotland for Employee Ownership (SfEO) co-chair board Isabella Miller, who will be working alongside existing joint chair Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills.
Isabella Miller, head of branch for John Lewis in Glasgow, has been confirmed for the role and formally takes up the position this month, taking over from previous chair Dennis Overton of employee-owned Aquascot.
Isabella joined the John Lewis Partnership in 1989 as a graduate trainee and has since held a ...
EO Day stories: Frontline employees ready to take ownership of leading public and business services provider Seetec
Employee representatives at Seetec, one of the UK’s newest employee-owned businesses, today take up their seats on the company’s first directly elected employee council as part of the move to majority employee-ownership.
Ten frontline employees including probation workers and employment coaches will represent their 2,500 colleagues on the new council, which will influence the strategy and direction of the UK and Ireland’s leading provider of public and business services. Key decisions await the new council, from determining which of them will serve as trustee ...
Eo Day stories: EO is the Answer as digital entrepreneur moves agency to employee ownership
The owner of a digital and IT consultancy has passed up eight-figure offers from venture capitalists to give his employees a stake in their future through employee-ownership.
Gary Parlett and his wife Kate Parlett MBE founded Answer Digital 21 years ago. With offices in Leeds and London, it has grown to become one of the most respected digital companies in the UK with clients that span the NHS, international retailers and global financial institutions.
The move to employee-ownership is a natural one for Answer Digital as one of the company’s core values is recogn...
EO Day stories: Knowles Associates announces move to employee ownership on EO Day 2020
Leading independent transport management and car benefits provider, Knowles Associates, has become employee-owned.
Company founder Colin Knowles has transferred 100 per cent ownership of the business to its 54 staff through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). The transition, announced on Employee Ownership Day 2020 (26 June), also included the acquisition of Ensure UK Ltd, providers of fleet insurance mediation and accident management services.
The reason behind the decision to become an EOT was to secure a sustainable future for the business and crucially, to retain ...
EO Day stories Jerba Campervans: There’s the bank balance”: How an employee-owned firm reassured its furloughed team
THE TEAM at one of Scotland's most prominent employee-owned businesses have revealed the extent to which its model of ownership has boosted morale during lockdown.
While it may have been the last thing on the minds of most business owners, 15-strong Jerba Campervans even took the decision to share full details of its financial position, to reassure its team after its workshop was forced to close before grants or furlough payments were received.
The North Berwick-based VW T6 Transporter converters has now welcomed back all of its workers as production on its bespoke ...
EO Day stories: Baxendale launches succession options review
Baxendale is delighted to introduce the Succession Options Review for EO Day 2020. This is an innovative new product designed to help business owners find the succession solution that is right for them and their businesses.
We have learned that that the most successful succession transitions occur when: (1) business owners have had an opportunity to explore all of the succession options available to them; and (2) a bespoke succession plan is prepared to meet the individual needs and objectives of exiting owners and their businesses.
Our new product comprises of two ...
EO Day stories: New service helps businesses convert to employee ownership
Two South West advisory firms have joined forces to offer a new service to help businesses to convert to employee ownership.
EOA member Stephens Scown LLP, the first large law firm in the UK to become employee-owned, and consultants BoardroomAdvisors.co.uk are offering a one-stop service to help companies make the transition. They believe an ‘employee buy-out’ could be the ideal solution for founders looking to exit their business in the post-Covid world while keeping the interests of employees at heart and, provided it is structured in the right way, is currently ...
THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEE OWNERS CELEBRATE EO DAY AND SHARE WHY “EO IS THE ANSWER”
Thousands of employee owners across the UK are celebrating their employee ownership status today for Employee Ownership Day (EO Day), an annual, national date in the calendar, which highlights the collective strength and achievements of the UK’s employee ownership sector.
EO businesses and supporters will be sharing the questions that relate to why EO is the Answer, which includes a video from John Lewis Chairman Sharon White and other key figures.
Over 470 employee owned (EO) businesses in the UK contribute over £30bn to UK GDP every year includi...
CEO Blog – Webinars evidence why EO can help build back better
Over the past three months, at the height of ‘lock-down’ I had the privilege to chair our series of webinars, which supported our members and the wider employee owned community as they dealt with the health and economic challenges of Covid-19.
As I reflect on the case studies from the webinars and the stories shared with us by our members over the last months, it’s clear that during the initial response to the pandemic, EO businesses were able to leverage their employee ownership spirit to unite employee owners behind a common purpose, helping their ability to ...
EOA Member News – Raised Floor Solutions Secures CBILS Loan
Raised Floor Solutions has secured a substantial six-figure loan through the Government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) from Lloyds Banking Group.
The specialist composite flooring contractor, which is employee owned, is Kingspan’s largest UK steel decking approved supplier with a significant share of the UK composite floor decking market and a £17 million annual turnover.
The CBILS funding package provides significant liquidity to return to normal capacity as soon as it is safe to do so. Sixty per cent of its workforce were furloughed ...
Join the conversation on the operational and psychological return to the workforce
Many businesses will have started the transition or will be planning now on how they might bring people back to the workplace later this year.
This is not just an operations exercise to get back to ‘normal’, but also a strategic look at what the business can now do and how, as well as being a huge human resources and engagement exercise. In this week’s webinar we will build on the conversations from the past few weeks to talk about the operational and psychological return to the workplace.
In our webinar two weeks ago Be the Business CEO Tony Danker polled ...
Learning from the Covid-19 crisis to create a productive workforce for the future
Earlier this year, we began a conversation about the future of work at our 2020 Robert Oakeshott Lecture, and the need for socially responsible automation so it works for us all.
Now, the world of work has changed, possibly forever, as the Covid-19 crisis has changed supply and demand in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Many have had to quickly embrace and adapt to new and smarter ways of working and consider how this will impact on future ways of working.
This is why we have invited Co-Founder and Director of the Institute for the Future of Work, Anna ...
EOA member story: i4 Product Design produces and distributes 3D-printed PPE directly to NHS
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: Weeks into the UK Lockdown with continued PPE shortage in the NHS preventing the protection from the spread of the Coronavirus, i4 Product Design has produced and distributed 3D-printed PPE directly to the NHS.
The initiative was spearheaded by a group of long-term staff members: Marco Miglionico, Ewan Maxwell, James Mackay, and Douglas Wood with 95 per cent of materials costs funded by staff.
Using open source designs, i4pd produced the Prusa RC3 face shield, but due to material issues, the design excluded a filter-mask to accompany the ...
EOA welcomes family business McGee’s move to employee ownership
The EOA is delighted to welcome its member London-based, specialist engineering contractor, McGee, as it becomes part of the employee owned sector in the UK.
The family business announced today that it has become employee owned through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Founded in 1959, the second generation McGee brothers have grown the capability, size and reputation of the business, making it synonymous with delivering world-class engineering solutions, either as standalone disciplines or as part of a high-value integrated offering. To date, it has worked on a ...
Can your business go from survive to thrive? Join our latest case study-led webinar
Necessity is the mother of all invention - an old proverb given new salience during the Covid-19 crisis.
From cafes becoming takeaways, or producing their own products, to manufacturers quickly changing to deliver PPE equipment, there are thousands of stories of how businesses have innovated.
But whatever your Covid-19 status and experience, from temporarily closing, applying for finance to quickly having to deliver your business virtually from home, there are two things businesses are starting to realise:
1. You have had to act quickly and have learnt things that ...
CEO Blog: Living by the numbers
The last few weeks and months have seen a new interest and focus from the public on the numbers that are framing our everyday lives.
In addition to daily updates on death and infection rates; there are the 5 tests the Government is using to assess progress; it’s been 4 months since the advent of the coronavirus in the UK; we are now all familiar with the regular 3 presenters of the daily Government press conference; we have concluded 2 terms of ‘lock-down’; and the world awaits the results of the search for 1 vaccine.
Never have data and facts been more ...
How transparent and open communication can guide your business through a crisis
Trust, transparency and open lines of communication have never been more crucial than they are in the current crisis. These values and practices are key to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment between the workforce, customers, supply chain and external stakeholders.
On Thursday 30th of April, the EOA will be hosting an EOA Better Together Webinar entitled “How transparent and open communication can guide your business through a crisis”. Host Deb Oxley will be joined by expert guest speakers from employee owned businesses who will share how open ...
The Role of an EO Trustee in Times of Crisis: How to Guide Your Business
Employee owned businesses excel in the art of good leadership. It is in their DNA to empower and embolden employees. It has never been so crucial for businesses to give everyone a voice and ensure their resilience in these challenging times.
On Thursday 23rd of April, the EOA will be hosting an EOA Better Together Webinar entitled “Employee Ownership & the role of the trustee – how to guide your business in challenging times”.
The webinar will be hosted by Deb Oxley, CEO of the EOA, joined by expert guest speakers from employee owned business including ...
A fifth of smaller UK firms ‘will run out of cash’: How do you survive a cash flow crisis?
The global business and financial landscape has been rocked by the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, with many businesses facing uncertainty about cash flow as a result. Earlier this month the BBC cited research that suggested between 800,000 and a million firms nationwide may soon have to close, that equates to a fifth of small and medium-sized businesses in the UK.
On the 16th of April, the EOA and expert guest speakers will be sharing advice for businesses facing a cash flow crisis in the latest EOA Better Together Webinar. Included in the advice shared will be four key ...
Will the third week of your new normal be the most difficult? It’s time to focus on Mental Health & Wellbeing
The environment around us is changing, from where, how - or even if we can - continue to work, alongside the daily updates of how the Coronavirus pandemic is impacting on the health and the economy of both the UK and globally.
Employees’ health and well-being are paramount in the current situation with employers needing to be proactive in protecting their people and minimising the risk to staff and business continuity.
It has been reported that the third week of working from home is supposed to be the toughest on people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Which is ...
Naomi Climer promotes the virtues of human centred technology at Robert Oakeshott Lecture 2020
The 160+ attendees of the 8th annual Robert Oakeshott Lecture, titled The Rise of the Robots: What Role for Employee Ownership in the 2030 Economy?”, heard Naomi Climer, Co-Chair of the Institute for the Future of Work, promoting the potential benefits of technological developments that put people, not profits at the centre.
In her lecture; Naomi, an engineer and leader who is a non-executive director on the Boards of a number of quoted companies and charities, spoke to the audience about how the 4th Industrial Revolution, dubbed “The Digital Revolution” has led ...
EOA welcomes paper that documents how EO shapes leadership
The EOA has welcomed a new paper that investigates how being employee owned changes the shape of business leadership.
The paper, published yesterday (March 1 2020) by Ownership at Work and Grant Thornton UK LLP, investigates an emerging model of leadership that puts power in the hands of employees.
Authored by eminent business and management writer, Stefan Stern, the paper is based on a series of interviews with the leaders of ten employee owned businesses.
Currently turning over a combined £30bn plus annually, employee owned organisations demonstrate excepti...
CEO Blog: “Business as usual” is no longer good enough
56% respondents thought that capitalism as it exists today does more harm than good in the world, that is one of the key findings of the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual survey of people around the globe that looks at levels of trust for government, business, NGOs and the media.
I’ve written previously about the importance of establishing trust for successful businesses, and the intervening years have only further proved how vital trust is to business.
In fact, I am sure most of us can name a handful of big businesses over the past few years that have ...
EOA Conference on countdown to ticket sales in March
Tickets for the EOA Annual Conference 2020 will go on sale on March 26th.
With three keynotes, including last year’s winner of the UK Employee Ownership Awards Rising Star of the Year Award - Riverford Organics, lined up for the event on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 of November, the first 200 early bird tickets are expected to sell out quickly.
Also confirmed is the return for a second year joint conference sponsors J Gadd Associates & Postlethwaite,
In 2019 the event was sold out with more than 700 attendees who gathered to be involved through networking, be ...
EO business leads the way in Good Employment Charter
Employee Owned business Rowlinson Knitwear is one of the first 6 businesses to sign up to The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham launched the Good Employment Charter’s ‘membership tier’ last month alongside Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese and Councillor Sean Fielding, Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) lead for work and skills.
The charter has seven ‘good employment principles’, including providing a real living wage, recruitment and progression, health and wellbeing and ...
Ken Lindsay – Developing impact in the role of Employee Trustee/Director
The Employee Owned sector is a great place to work for many reasons.
Employee owners are empowered to have a say in and do great things that impact the business and the communities they serve – from making key changes that impact positively on their customers to supporting the communities in which they are based as the custodians of the business for future generations.
As I have met more and more businesses across the sector, I have been constantly impressed by the way they value and treat their people, trusting them to try new things, new roles and new responsib...
EOA welcomes new paper that highlights ‘missed opportunity’ to invest in EO
The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) welcomes a new paper that highlights one of the key barriers to growth of the employee ownership sector – access to finance.
The report, published by employee ownership think tank Ownership at Work, entitled Capital Partners? Why it’s time for finance and employee ownership to talk, heralds a missed opportunity that has resulted in the unmet needs of more than half of the employee owned sector.
Copies of the paper will be shared at an event an EOA event “Investing in Employee Ownership” on March 16, where representat...
Prevista ownership passes into Employee Owned Trust
Prevista, a leading provider of government funded Apprenticeships, Traineeships, employment and youth programmes has passed into 100% employee ownership via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). James Clements Smith, Managing Director and the previous 100% shareholder in the Prevista group, recently completed the transaction. The Prevista group will now be 100% owned by a Trust governed by independent and staff trustees.
Islington headquartered Prevista is almost a quarter of a century old and has served its communities, across London and the South East, tirelessly over ...
Staff at Bluefruit Software Handed Ownership of Business After Turnover Grows By 50%
75 staff at the Cornwall tech company now have a significant and meaningful stake in the business
Bluefruit Software becomes employee-owned after 51% of the business is placed into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
The move to employee ownership will preserve Bluefruit’s values and its culture as the team continues to grow.
Bluefruit Software recorded a revenue growth of 50% year-ended April 2019 and turnover has more than doubled in the last two years
Staff received a tax-free bonus of up to £1200 each following the transition.
Research from the ...
Deb Oxley: The best is yet to come – a decade for EO
This new decade could be the best yet for employee ownership.
The sector is well placed in terms of awareness of its benefits by business owners, there is rapidly growing capacity amongst professional advisors in their ability to support these owners and the wider business environment is now actively seeking forms of business that deliver wider value back to society.
Added to that, our new Prime Minister has made a commitment to ensuring that the whole of the UK can benefit from economic growth, expressing his ambition to ‘level up’ the investment and ...
EOA launches EO Learn to support the sector to thrive
The EOA has launched EO Learn with a trio of learning programmes that support employee owned businesses to succeed.
The courses are in answer to demand from hundreds of employee owners and businesses through the EOA’s member survey and via enquiries at the EOA’s Annual Conference.
Key contributors from the employee owned sector have liaised with EOA members to build courses that hone the skills of leaders and employee representatives in employee owned businesses including:
Leadership Succession in an Employee Owned Business by Telos Partners & JGadd ...
Speaker announced for ‘investing in employee ownership’ event
The EOA and Unity Trust Bank have confirmed their keynote speaker for an event that aims create understanding of the opportunities for finance in the employee ownership sector.
On March 16th the EOA in association with Unity Trust Bank will be hosting its first finance symposium to discuss the opportunities for financiers to invest in the UK’s employee owned sector.
Eric Leenders, Managing Director – Personal Finance, UK Finance will deliver the keynote address on the important role employee ownership can play in the UK economy as well as how investors and ...
Educating Leaders in Financial Services about Employee Ownership
Margaret Willis, CEO of Unity Trust Bank, explains why she is committed to working with the Employee Ownership Association to help boost the number of employee-owned businesses in the UK and how they are a force for good.
The core purpose of Unity Trust Bank is to lend to organisations which make a positive social, economic and environmental impact and help to create a better society. It is now widely recognised that employee ownership helps to create dynamic and successful businesses which also deliver those vital outcomes.
However, although the employee owned ...
Naomi Climer – Automation, AI and Putting People First
A recent piece of research at the Institute for the Future of Work showed that voting patterns strongly correlate with the perceived risk of job automation in an area.
You can read our report here. It’s clear to me that uncertainty about the impacts of automation is a top of mind issue for many people, especially in regions with industries where the likely impact of automation is very visible.
AI, automation and new ways of doing things online have already transformed some industries - such as manufacturing where we’ve seen a reduction of workforce as lower ...
Seetec to become one of the UK’s largest employee-owned public services companies
Seetec, a leading provider of skills, employment, justice and rehabilitation services, today becomes one of the largest employee-owned companies delivering public services in the UK and Ireland.
The company has annual revenues of £150 million and will be the 9th largest employee-owned company in the UK by number of employees. A new employee council will be set up to manage and represent the interests of employees, which include frontline probation workers, employment coaches and trainers.
Seetec’s founder and 80 per cent shareholder, Peter Cooper, has sold 51 per ...
It’s time to enable employee ownership to be a crucial part of the future of work
So, the enduring uncertainty the UK has experienced over the past three years has ended – the people of the UK have spoken and returned an 80-seat majority for the Conservatives, the party’s best result since the 1980s.
With the deadlock now broken, there is a need to address a looming resilience emergency in our regions.
As part of that, there is a key role for employee and worker ownership to play - as highlighted in our manifesto – through offering better corporate governance and oversight; greater productivity driven by engaged employees, and improved ...
The art of identifying and creating future leaders in an employee owned business
Organisations are complex human systems with a unique combination of relationships and circumstances. They demand a tailored approach to most critical decisions around its people.
And arguably, the most important people-based decision in a business will be leadership succession.
When you look at this alongside employee ownership succession, having the right successor identified with the necessary support to lead in a business where employees have a stake and a say is even more crucial.
The CEO is going to be a steward for the business and will need to consider its ...
Lecture to focus on rise of the robots and the role of employee ownership
The rise of the robots and which types of businesses are best able to benefit from emerging technology will be the focus of the Robert Oakeshott Lecture 2020.
Engineer and technologist Naomi Climer CBE, Co-chair of the Institute for the Future of Work, will deliver the lecture with a focus on the Rise of the Robots and yet unpublished research that illustrates how a focus on the employees in a business can support it to make the most of technology.
Naomi, whose main message will be about taking a human centred approach to technology, is the eighth person to give the ...
EO businesses urged to contribute to ownership survey to help define impact on society
The Employee Ownership Association is calling on its members to take part in a piece of research that will help to deliver insights into the role different business models have in society.
The EOA has agreed to be a partner on the innovative survey that looks at models of business ownership, culture and work practices, and the impacts of these on the locations in which they operate or serve.
Supporting the Building Societies Association (BSA) on its research project, delivered via YouGov, the EOA joins the Association for Financial Mutuals, Coops UK and Social ...
EOA moves to new headquarters
The EOA has moved its office to Brough as part of its plan to continues its growth.
The past year has seen the EOA go from strength to strength, with highlights of the EOA’s 40th year including 18% growth in the sector, high profile media coverage of transition stories – most notably Richer Sounds – plus membership exceeding 400 and one of the most successful EOA Annual Conference’s to date.
The EOA’s success over the past three years has seen the team and its activity grow meaning it has outgrown its previous offices at Melton.
The move to new premises, ...
Taking Away the Three Rs of Why EO Matters
Our conference last week has given me chance to pause and reflect on our 40th anniversary year so far.
While in the wider economic and political landscape not much has changed by way of gaining any kind of certainty, with little to be done right now but await the outcome of the 12th of December General Election, this year for us has been bigger and better!
There has been continued growth for the sector – growing by 18% in 2019 with SMEs and family business remaining dominant.
Our membership has tipped 400 for the first time ever and the EOA Annual Conference was ...
Leadership apprenticeships launched as part of EO Learning
The 2019 EOA Conference saw the announcement of several exciting new training and leadership programmes designed specifically for the employee owned sector.
The first of these innovative new programmes to launch is the Leadership Apprenticeship Programme from Activate Business School and Grant Thornton.
Launched under the umbrella of EO Learn, it will initially sit alongside 2 other programmes:
Leadership Apprenticeship Prgramme - from Activate Business School & Grant Thornton
Leadership Succession Programme - from Telos & Jeremy Gadd Associates
...
The UK EO Awards 2019 in Review – An Evening Celebrating Excellence
There were celebrations galore at the UK Employee Ownership Awards with a total of 6 Winners and 10 Highly Commended Employee Owned businesses taking home awards.
This years UK EO Awards, managed by the Employee Ownership Association and sponsored by leading EOA member Baxendale, saw 40 submissions which were reviewed by an independent panel of judges from across the Employee Owned sector in a two-stage process. After much deliberation by the judges, when the evening finally came we saw a total of 6 Winners and 10 Highly Commended Employee Owned businesses take ...
Record-Breaking Year for EOA Conference 2019
The EOA conference has achieved a record attendance with more than 715 people from 220 businesses gathering to discuss employee ownership in the UK.
Attendees heard from keynotes Sir Charlie Mayfield of John Lewis Partnership; Jason Parker Director of Make Architects and Peter Lord & David Sproxton Founders of Aardman Animations. Plus Shaun the Sheep made an appearance!
There were more than 330 words captured on the Building Blocks of EO Wall where those who attended recorded the word they most associated with employee ownership – inclusive, relevant, innovat...
Date set for ‘investing in employee ownership’ event
A finance symposium for industry professionals to look at the opportunities and solutions to support the growth of the sector will take place on March 16.
Those attending the event, which is supported by Unity Trust Bank, will hear from the experiences of employee owned businesses and have the opportunity to share ideas on policies and action required to transform the role of finance in this sector with Baroness Sharon Bowles of Berkhamstead.
Baroness Bowles chaired the Ownership Effect Inquiry that resulted in findings and an action plan being published in the 2018 ...
HSBC supports Building Technology Systems with transition to employee ownership
Warrington-based building control system designer and installer, Building Technology Systems (BTS) has been acquired by an Employee Ownership Trust with support from HSBC UK.
With the support of a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK, the newly formed Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) has made a 100 per cent purchase of Building Technology Systems from current owners Graham Spark and Dean Brookes. The existing owners were keen to adopt this route as it allows them to stay in operational control of the Company until their eventual future retirement, with a smooth ...
UK’s Oldest and Largest Employee Owned Business Wins Culture Award
The UKs oldest and largest employee owned businesses has been named the winner of Employee Ownership Culture of the Year in the UK Employee Ownership Awards 2019.
John Lewis Partnership which has 50 John Lewis & Partners shops and 338 Waitrose & Partners shops across the UK has been employee owned for 90 years.
The partnership which has a written constitution which defines the principles by which it should be run, begins with its ultimate purpose being the happiness of all its members, through their worthwhile and satisfying employment in a successful ...
Farmers Reap Record Results to Win Employee Owned Rising Star of the Year
A business that has grown from one man and his wheelbarrow to a 50,000 box a week organic veg delivery business has won an employee ownership award, just one year after its ownership transition.
Riverford Organics has scooped the UK Employee Ownership Awards Employee Owned Rising Star of the Year Award after impressing judges with the results of its first year of being an employee owned business.
Judges noted that that having employees engaged ahead of and involved in the transition has helped Riverford to benefit from the “whoosh effect” very early in its EO ...
Leading Lives Crowned Public Service Mutual of the Year
A strong mission and employees driving innovation for community benefit has seen Leading Lives take the title of Public Service Mutual of the Year.
Leading Lives, which is an employee owned co-operative trading as a social enterprise, was chosen for the UK Employee Ownership Award - which is endorsed by the Department for Media, Culture and Sport - after amazing judges with the ways they use their culture to drive great impact for vulnerable people and their carers.
Based in Suffolk and surrounding areas, Leading Lives has a mission to help the people who need ...
Financial Freedom Shakes up EO Success for Award Winner
Employee owners are feeling free to push performance to its maximum as their business 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan becomes Employee Owned Business of the Year.
The UK Employee Ownership Award winner, which is a 100% employee owned business, employs 265 and sells diet food that it proudly manufactures in Corby. It has seen the continued evolution of its culture, engagement and performance on its 9-year employee ownership journey.
In the past year they have recorded a 74.8% employee satisfaction rate, while turnover is up 23% with 10% profit being distributed in a ...
David Manufactures People Power to Take Employee Owner of the Year Crown
Classed as the ‘go to’ person both inside Gripple and beyond, David Wroe inspires, supports and empowers his fellow owners at Gripple to drive performance.
And it is this that has seen the UK Employee Ownership Award Judges select David as Employee Owner of the Year 2019.
David joined the Sheffield-based manufacturer Gripple as engineering team leader 19 years ago, and after being one of the first employee representatives from when the business became employee owned four years later, he has taken this knowledge throughout his various roles to where he his now as ...
Sir Charlie Mayfield Awarded Philip Baxendale Fellowship Award
Sir Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership & President of the EOA has been awarded the Philip Baxendale Fellowship Award.
The Award, which is for an individual who has in the past made, or is currently making, an outstanding contribution to the growth of employee ownership in the UK, has been awarded to Sir Charlie in recognition of both his corporate and personal advocacy for employee ownership both inside and outside of the John Lewis Partnership.
As Chairman of John Lewis Partnership plc, an office he has held since 2007 and from which he ...
Plandescil celebrates 40th year in business
EOA40 big birthday club: Formed in 1979 Plandescil Ltd – employee owned Consulting Engineers based in Norfolk, has reached a key milestone.
Plandescil currently employs over 40 staff from at its offices in Attleborough, the majority of who have been with the business for many years. The internal culture this created an extended successful family business unit, which has thrived and prospered, and celebrating 40 years in business in 2019.
Roderic Riley started the business in 1979 and was joined in due course by sons Simon and Julian Riley with his wife Sara. The ...
The EOA Membership Council is Seeking New Representatives
The EOA Membership Council is seeking new members to help support the continuous development of the EOA membership proposition.
The council is an essential platform for gathering the views of our members and supporting in the development of the EOA projects.
The core aims of the EOA Membership Council are to:
Consider the views of the EOA with regards to plans and ambitions to develop the membership proposition in line with the approved EOA strategy;
Support delivery of specific developments of the membership proposition, forming ‘Task and Finish’ groups ...
Delivering Quality Jobs Needs More Humanity
Recently I was lucky enough to visit the Spanish city of San Sebastian to present and speak about the role of employee ownership in delivering quality jobs.
Sharing the platform with a range of other speakers from the EU and beyond also enabled me to learn about the range of emerging technologies that have the potential to develop or threaten the global provision of quality jobs.
A speaker from the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute explained how autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to change personal travel and the transport of freight. Driverless ...
#1MillionOwners Campaign Expands with Programme Manager Role
In July 2019 the Employee Ownership Association and Co-operatives UK launched the #1MillionOwners campaign, calling for the UK Government to invest in employee ownership and create a clear national policy objective to support a voluntary expansion of employee and worker-owned businesses.
As 2019 sees more and more high-profile businesses make the transition to employee ownership, the EOA and Co-operatives UK are expanding the scope of the #1MillionOwners campaign to further drive awareness of employee and worker ownership by working directly with Local Enterprise ...
EOA welcomes Richmond and Towers move to 100% EO
Richmond & Towers, the UK’s longest established public relations consultancy, is now 100% owned by its employees following its sale to a newly created employee ownership trust.
“This is a very exciting day for our business,” commented chief executive Nikki Thomson. “We think we are the first Top 150 PR agency to be 100% employee owned, reflecting the pioneering attitude that has kept the business successful for so long.”
The last two years have seen numerous award wins and significant business growth for Richmond & Towers, with the addition of ...
Our manifesto for a sharing economy to benefit the UK
While the way forward politically and economically for the UK becomes so close but so far from being clear, in stark contrast the EOA’s call to action has grown in both momentum and clarity.
Our voice has been amplified through working in partnership with business organisations such as the ICAEW, FSB and IFB and through invites to share our thinking with key influencers relating to a more inclusive economy, better engaged employees driving more productivity in businesses and how employee ownership succession has a key role to play in the resilience of our regional ...
Press release: EOA Challenges Government to Adopt National Strategy for Employee Ownership
EOA calls on new administration’s commitment to delivering a shared economy that prepares the UK for future social and economic challenges
UK: The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) has published a new proposal today that challenges any government, new or existing, to adopt a national strategy for employee ownership. This call comes in advance of the Autumn budget from the chief executive of the EOA, Deb Oxley OBE.
Backed by evidence, worked examples from Scotland and the US, and recent new thinking, the EOA is encouraging government to adopt and invest in a ...
EOA congratulates The Helpful Book Company on its move to employee ownership
The Helpful Book Company is a Millom based publishing company that specialises in books and
online courses that help novices (often seniors) get to grips with technology - for example PCs,
smartphones & tablets.
It has customers from all around the country and indeed around the world - over 140,000 people
have used their books & courses to help them master technology.
The Helpful Book Company was first established in 2005 by Tim Wakeling but on the 16th October
the company became owned by its 10 existing employees under an employee ownership trust ...
Success of EOA first webinar sparks 2020 series
The EOA’s first webinar has been a huge hit with members and has sparked a full series in 2020.
Looking at subjects that help our members bring employee ownership to life in their business, the series will launch in the new year.
The webinar, which featured the 2019 Annual Conference sponsors Postlethwaite & J Gadd Associates, focussed on how employee ownership can transform your business.
Running webinars was also a request made by members in the recent EOA Member Survey.
More than 130 people actively engaged with the webinar on the day, representing 74 ...
EOA Member Council to create People and HR Special Interest Group
Two members of the Membership Council are looking to establish a People and HR Special Interest Group.
Paul Seath and Neil Hughes are looking to develop a network of those whose role in their employee owned business focuses on people, to develop and promote best practice for People and HR standards.
The group will aim to meet three times a year to enable members to increase their knowledge and aid their own development, whilst sharing with other members – all with a focus on EO specific matters. This will include subjects such as communications about finance, how ...
It’s time to ‘go big’ with plans for more employee ownership
Thinking about the future of employee ownership inevitably causes reflection on our journey so far.
Whilst the EOA 40th anniversary year has given us a chance to celebrate the origins of the EOA and our current direction of travel, it was the release last week of a new paper Equity for All, authored by Nigel Mason and published by new think tank Ownership at Work, that has led me to reflect more closely on the past five years.
Just 5 years ago there were fewer than 130 employee owned businesses in the UK.
And it was back then, following the recommendations of the ...
EOA welcomes new paper on ‘next gen EOT’ from new think tank
The EOA welcomes the first paper of new think tank Ownership at Work - Equity for All.
The paper outlines a radical plan to encourage more companies to give employees a stake in the business in which they work could create 1.5 million employee owners by 2030 and the biggest share out of wealth in a generation.
From helping to close the pension gap to allowing employees to build their own capital stake, the ideas for a next generation EOT could create a shift in wealth and ownership in the UK.
In Equity for All, author Nigel Mason claims new tax incentives are ...
2020 Finance Symposium set to address the opportunities and challenges for the EO sector
The EOA, supported by Unity Trust Bank, is hosting a finance symposium in March 2020 to discuss opportunities and challenges for the EO sector.
The event aimed at financial institutions will share the latest research and evidence on employee ownership finance.
Hosted at the ICAEW's Chartered Accountants Hall in London, the invite-only symposium is aimed at representatives from the UK’s main banks, challenger banks, funds and professional advisers.
Those attending will hear from employee owned businesses Richer Sounds and Cambridge Weight Plan about their ...
Global Food and Drink Recruitment Consultancy Focus, Refocus Their Business Plan with A Move to Employee Ownership
The EOA welcomes the news its member Focus Management Consultants has become employee owned.
Focus Management Consultants, a recruitment consultancy for the food and drink sector, has announced its transition to employee ownership after establishing an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) and transferring majority ownership (90%) of the business to its employees, giving them a meaningful stake and a say in how the business operates.
Focus’ transition to employee ownership comes at a time of growth and development for the Cheshire-based agency. The change to employee ...
EOA supports the CBI snap survey ‘how business are preparing for Brexit’ – Have your say!
As part of ensuring that the employee owned sector is represented at the heart of UK business, the EOA has recently joined the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and is now a member of the CBI’s Trade Association Council. Both will enable the EOA to represent our members' voices alongside other leading trade associations and membership bodies.
As many of our member businesses are likely not to be corporate members of the CBI, the EOA’s membership now provides our member businesses and their employee owners with valuable additional benefits, which we will ...
EOA supports DCMS public consultation to help better define and understand public service mutuals
The EOA is supporting the DCMS to help the government better understand the needs of public sector mutuals.
The consultation, which is the next step in the development of the public service mutual model, aims to determine if the current definition of a Public Service Mutual is still fit for purpose.
The DCMS and the EOA are urging all public service mutual to take part in the public consultation ahead of it closing on the 18th of October. The consultation document can be accessed on gov.uk
The association’s CEO Deb Oxley supported the development of the ...
Clarity on spending review brings new focus to #1MillionOwners campaign
The spending review campaign by the EOA and Coops UK - #1MillionOwners - has a clearer focus as the government provides clarity on its process.
The government has announced a fast track 1-year spending review to be concluded by the end of September 2019, followed by a full three-year spending review in 2020.
The #1MillionOwners campaign calls for £2.17million to be allocated over the next three years with an ambition to create one million worker and employee owners by 2030, addressing some of the challenges currently facing the UK economy.
Research from the EOA ...
Ownership Dividend – One year on: partnership focus FSB
The EOA is delighted to grow its partnership activity with the FSB, linked to the growth of employee ownership amongst SMEs in the UK.
Activity at the beginning of the year has included the Guide to EO being actively distributed through the FSB Legal Hub and an article about employee ownership has been published in the FSB’s publication First Voice. This activity has generated a number of enquiries from businesses about employee ownership.
Recent data shows that the shape and size of the employee owned sector is changing. Once reliant on a handful of large busine...
Ownership Dividend – One year on: partnership focus ICAEW
Back in May our Operations Director Cathy Brown visited the ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales).
It was the 14th of May to be exact, which sticks in our minds as the day Richer Sounds announced its transition to employee ownership and a pay-out for staff – a story which was alive in the media for days with a positive commentary from journalists, business orgs and politicos on its links to a more inclusive economy.
As documented in the Ownership Dividend, one of the barriers to the growth of employee ownership in the UK is awareness and ...
A reflection – one year on from the Ownership Dividend our partnerships are crucial to growing EO
Just over one year ago we concluded the Ownership Effect Inquiry with the launch of the report The Ownership Dividend – the Economic Case for Employee Ownership.
With financial support of John Lewis Partnership and the eaga Trust, leadership of Baroness Sharon Bowles and the academic rigour of Cass and Alliance Manchester Business Schools, the Ownership Dividend was launched to great acclaim.
The launch and the aftermath of media coverage confirmed that the Ownership Dividend tapped into a very current and relevant set of issues facing the UK:
business ...
Invest now in employee and worker ownership for a more inclusive economy
Ed Mayo, Co-operatives UK and Deb Oxley, Employee Ownership Association
It’s time to move on from simply talking about the benefits of a more inclusive economy – and start investing in one.
The delivery of an inclusive economy requires more political will and targeted investment.
When it comes to reducing wealth inequality, driving employee engagement and tackling regional resilience, employee and worker ownership offers a proven and popular opportunity to achieve this.
The recent announcement of the move by Richer Sounds to become employee owned received ...
Press release: UK GOVERNMENT URGED TO INVEST IN EMPLOYEE AND WORKER OWNERSHIP
New campaign launched today calls on the government to set a target for #1MillionOwners by 2030
LONDON, UK – July 22nd 2019 – The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) and Co-operatives UK are calling for the UK Government to invest £2million in the upcoming Spending Review and create a clear national policy objective to support a voluntary expansion of employee and worker-owned businesses.
Research from the EOA and Co-operatives UK shows that growing employee and worker ownership – businesses that give employees a stake and a say – would help Government ...
CEO Blog: Telling the employee ownership story – it’s all in the numbers
One of the most important tools that supports the EOA in being the voice for employee ownership in the UK is the insight we have about the size and shape of the sector.
Our purpose to influence, inspire and support UK employee ownership to become more admired, widespread and successful depends on being able to tell a compelling story using sector data, alongside the rich case studies from our membership.
This is why, working with partners, we publish data that helps us to tell the story of employee ownership to influencers, business owners, the media and political ...
EOA & Community Dental Services launch EOA40 Give a Healthy Smile
Community Dental Services and the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) officially launched the EOA40 Anniversary Appeal, which aims to Give a Healthy Smile to 4,000 children in the UK.
The appeal was launched with the oral health team at the Carlton Road Academy in Boston, Lincolnshire, which is aiming to raise £40,000 to fund teeth-brushing programmes after NHS figures[1] revealed tooth decay is the single largest reason children aged between five and nine are admitted to hospital.
The EOA and CDS CIC decided to partner on the appeal to bring employee owned ...
Thanks for spreading an enormous smile for EO Day 2019
The EOA wants to thank its members and stakeholders for helping them reach millions of people through social media and articles for EO Day 2019.
Thousands of employee owners and supporters of employee ownership celebrated the annual EO Day campaign, sponsored by Gripple, on Friday 28 June.
On Twitter alone there were 3.3 million impressions of #EODay and #EODay2019 reaching more than 1.25 million accounts with hundreds of pictures, links and videos about how employee ownership supports wellbeing and happiness at work.
The smile spread even further with 6 MPs ...
Thousands celebrate with a smile for EO Day while data reports reveal sector growth
Thousands of employee owners across the UK are celebrating their employee ownership status today for Employee Ownership Day (EO Day), an annual, national date in the calendar, which highlights the collective strength and achievements of the UK’s employee ownership sector.
Some 370 employee-owned businesses in the UK contribute over £30bn to UK GDP every year and includes businesses such as John Lewis and Partners, Lush Cosmetics, Aardman Animations, Riverford Organics and Richer Sounds.
The growth of the sector in 2018 was 18.6% - its best year yet.
To mark EO ...
Smiling – all year round UMi style
This EO Day we are reflecting on what is important to us as business and what makes us smile.
We know that businesses are more than just brick and mortar or numbers on a spreadsheet, they’re powered by people – just like our own. UMi is all about helping businesses go further, not only to achieve their own ambitions but because we believe business has a major role to play in making the world around us a better one.
Recognising the power of individuals, and the great things that can be achieved when those individuals come together, is embedded within our ...
The EOA member survey is now live – our survey needs you!
The EOA’s first full member survey has launched.
As the membership continues to grow alongside the sector the association needs make sure it delivers its strategy of making the EOA membership a more compelling proposition as well as developing thought leadership, member voice and partnerships to generate greater awareness, demand and influence.
The survey will help the EOA to plan to remain relevant and fit for purpose for the future.
The survey will land in the inboxes of 1,200 individuals from the 380+ members of the EOA, is also open to all members via the ...
EOA Blog: One year on, the momentum for EO is thriving
By Operations Director Cathy Brown
It is a year since we last met at the Summer Dinner, in fact it was my first engagement for the EOA.
It has been a fascinating year for me, especially realising how closely aligned the worlds of EO and my previous experience in the world of employee engagement are.
Having been brought in to run the operations of EOA, and support projects being generated by new partnerships being developed by our CEO, this anniversary for me seems a great time for me to reflect on where we are now.
Last year Respublica Director Philip Blond ...
Guest Blog: UK EO Award sponsor Baxendale on retaining a family business legacy
Over many years, and often over generations, family owners nurture and grow their businesses. Family businesses often have collective stewardship, responsible risk-taking and a focus on long-term business goals as their core values.
These values, combined with the family’s loyalty to their employees, commitment to a geographic location and a sense of pride in their success and independence, create the family business legacy. This is a legacy that families quite rightly strive to build upon and want to protect.
When it comes to succession planning, families ...
EOA looking for new board members
The EOA is recruiting to its board as part of its succession planning.
The board, which meets four times a year, supports the Chief Executive in agreeing the direction and strategy of the association, acting as a sounding board for new ideas and monitoring the progress of the strategy.
Board members are also expected to take a leadership role in promoting awareness of the sector, be passionate about employee ownership and committed to raising awareness and encouraging and affecting change within the sector.
The EOA is seeking applications from both Partner ...
EOA Summer Dinner: Nita Clarke heralds ‘sea change’ for UK business as an opportunity for EO sector
Members attending the Summer Dinner 2019 heard how a sea change in the way the role of business in society is seen, creates a perfect storm to grow EO.
The annual dinner was sponsored by global engineering, management, and development consultancy Mott MacDonald with the drinks reception sponsored by pensions specialists MyCSP.
Guest speaker Nita Clarke OBE, Director of the IPA, told the room of 150 EOA members that while the connections between engagement, EO and productivity have been talked about with authority for the past decade, the appetite in the UK for ...
Judges insight Professor Andrew Robinson – UK Employee Ownership Awards 2019
Professor Andrew Robinson, of Leeds Business School and White Rose Centre for Employee Ownership, said:
Over the last 30 years I have been carrying out research into employee ownership and more recently charting the growth and characteristics of the employee ownership sector.
This year I am delighted to continue the involvement of the White Rose Centre for Employee Ownership in the Awards, taking on the baton from my research partner Professor Andrew Pendleton.
Awareness of employee ownership seems to be at an all-time high with very positive mainstream ...
Judges insight Nicola Ryan – UK Employee Ownership Awards 2019
Nicola Ryan, Joint Director of People Services, Rowlinson Knitwear said:
I’m really delighted to be a judge for the UK Employee Ownership Awards for the second consecutive year.
My professional passion is employee engagement that drives performance. As a judge, I get a valuable insight into the many ways that EO businesses empower their people to be the change that leads to success. These powerful stories inspired Rowlinson in our journey to become employee owned in 2015.
It’s my experience that the awards offer the opportunity to reflect on and showcase ...
Parfetts: UK EO Award Winner Case Study
Parfetts, established as a family business in 1980, and became employee owned in 2008. The Cash & Carry business, which has over 600 employee owners has been able to drive success through well executed engagement and reward, including an annual dividend plus sales target bonus which has seen the team get two bonus payments for the last 3 years after surpassing targets.
Alfa Leisureplex Group: UK EO Award Winner Case Study
The Lancashire based Alfa Leisureplex Group is the only employee owned Travel Company within the UK. Offering expertly planned holidays from start to finish, the operator offers passengers a range of vibrant and exciting destinations with the convenience of well-situated pick up points throughout the UK. Exceptional customer service is at the heart of everything they do, due to the enthusiastic team of owner employees, which make up the Alfa Leisureplex Group.
Gripple Limited: UK EO Award Winner Case Study
The successful launch in 1988 of a wire joining and tensioning device called a Gripple not only gave the company producing it its name, but also provided the impetus for employee ownership. The award-winning Sheffield company has since developed over 6,500 products for agricultural fencing, trellising and anchoring and more recently, hanger systems for installing mechanical and electrical services, seismic bracing and geo-synthetic turf mat anchors. Its overseas operations include facilities in New Delhi, Obernai near Strasbourg and Aurora near Chicago.
EOA to contribute to Employee Ownership session at Co-op Congress
There’s just one month to go until Co-op Congress in Manchester, where the EOA will be leading a session on employee and worker ownership alongside Damon Horrill from Cornerstone Inns, Polly Robbins from Outlandish and Sandy Lindsay MBE from communications agency Tangerine.
With a theme of Building Co-operative Places, speakers at the event include Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, the RSA, Co-op Group and bestselling author Oliver Bullough. There are workshops around leadership, brand identity and the innovative use of technology.
You ...
Our survey needs you!
The EOA is launching the first ever full member survey to help it understand how members value our proposition.
The survey which will launch the week of EO Day will gather data to help us understand what our members value and how we continue to support our four membership groups in the most effective way.
The creation of the survey has been supported by the EOA Membership Council, which represents the needs and views of the membership.
The plans resulting from the results of the survey will be shared by EOA Chief Executive Deb Oxley at the EOA’s Annual Confere...
Does Richer Sounds mark the tipping point for employee ownership?
Last week saw the announcement of Richer Sounds’ move to employee ownership. As the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) prepared itself for this welcome announcement of another business owner taking the progressive step to securing the future of their business, we could not have predicted the response. For last week’s news seems to represent a tipping point in the employee ownership revolution.
Founder Julian Richer’s decision to sell majority ownership of his business to his employees via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) has been universally welcomed and his ...
Sir Charlie Mayfield joins keynote line-up as EOA Conference tickets go on sale
Sir Charlie Mayfield has joined the line-up of keynote speakers at the EOA Annual Conference which will take place on November 18 and 19.
Ticket sales from the event which is being sponsored this year by J Gadd Associates and Postlethwaite launch today (May 15) for the event which will be held at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole.
Sir Charlie who announced he would be stepping down as Chairman of John Lewis Partnership in 2020 will give a keynote speech that outlines why from social mobility, fair work and fair pay, to tackling regional disparities and delivering ...
EOA welcomes Richer Sounds’ move to majority employee ownership
The EOA is delighted its member Richer Sounds has transitioned to employee ownership via and employee owned Trust:
Deb Oxley OBE, Chief Executive of the EOA, said: “We congratulate Richer Sounds on its transition to employee ownership: another great brand bringing employee ownership to the high street.
"We’re delighted to see it secure its future independence with a focus on its people and an eye on the future world – a world with a more inclusive economy and where more businesses are doing well while doing good.”
Below follows a press release from Richer ...
It’s time to showcase your people power in the UK EO awards
The EOA and sponsor Baxendale have launched the UK Employee Ownership Awards 2019 (UK EO Awards)
The UK Employee Ownership Awards celebrate businesses that, through their business structure and culture, empower employees to drive performance and share in the reward.
The Awards, managed by the Employee Ownership Association, and sponsored by leading EOA member Baxendale, help to draw out the rich stories of employee ownership success that help us to celebrate and champion the sector.
Baxendale have given us their top tips for entrants: View Here
Those who wish ...
Tribute to employee ownership pioneer Philip Baxendale
The EOA was saddened to hear of the death of employee ownership pioneer Philip Baxendale in April.
Philip, who was one of the first founders to work with the EOA’s own founder Robert Oakeshott to transfer his business to employee ownership, was a key contributor to the sector.
In 1983, he turned down multi-million pound offers for the leading boiler company – Baxi - his grandfather founded, and which he had worked in for decades.
He instead chose to sell his business to his workers at a significant discount. Convinced of the benefits of employee ownership, he ...
Built environment sector to gather for EO Day event
Representatives from the built environment sector are invited to an event to explore, celebrate and champion employee ownership for EO Day 2019.
The event, which is being hosted by Arup and builds on the successful event in 2018, will take place in the week of EO Day on Wednesday 26 June.
The event for employee owners and representatives from businesses that are interested in employee ownership will get the chance to:
network with peers
take part in a panel discussion on the topic of culture, involving three employee owned businesses from the built environm...
EOA welcomes roadshows to grow number of specialist EO advisors in Scotland
The Law Society of Scotland, The Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS) and Co-operative Development Scotland are joining forces to promote employee ownership amongst Scotland’s professional advisers (EO advisors).
The partners are coming together to host a unique series of events on employee ownership for members of the legal, accounting and banking professions. Taking place across the length and breadth of the country in May and June, the roadshow is designed to raise awareness of the important role professional advisers play in informing clients about ...
Moving the goal posts makes employee ownership a political football
In recent months both sides of the political divide have proposed employee ownership as the solution to some of the UK’s burning economic woes.
Good news you might think? Frustratingly however, these references have been politicised; Labour’s policy recommendations of the ‘Inclusive Ownership Fund’ and ‘Right to Own’ proposing employee ownership as a solution to economic failures, mandated in law, and that the former include what is ostensibly an additional stealth tax on larger private and public businesses.
Government’s response to Labour’s propos...
Celebrated architect announced as EOA conference keynote
One of the fastest growing sub sectors of employee ownership will be represented at the Employee Ownership Association Conference.
Celebrated architect Ken Shuttleworth, founder of employee owned architectural practice Make which this year celebrates 15 years, has 40 year’s experience working on some of the most ground-breaking architectural landmarks in the world.
Ken will speak on why he chose Employee Ownership for Make, which is one the UK’s foremost architectural firms with offices in London, Hong Kong and Sydney, and the difference EO has made to the ...
Mariana urges a shift to an economy that makes, not takes, at the Robert Oakeshott Lecture
The 200+ attendees at the Employee Ownership Association (EOA’s) seventh Robert Oakeshott Lecture were urged by Professor Mariana Mazzucato to challenge, debate and understand value.
The lecture, which is held every year in commemoration and celebration of the EOA’s founder Robert Oakeshott, this year marked 40 years of the EOA.
In her lecture Mariana, a celebrated economist – named “one of the three most important thinkers on innovation” by the New Republic – and an advisor to policymakers around the world, brought together the many issues affecting the ...
RM2 converts to full employee ownership
On the occasion of its 25th birthday, RM2, the market leading employee share schemes and EOT consulting business, is converting to full employee ownership as the present owners transfer their entire shareholding to an Employee Ownership Trust.
Since 1994, RM2 has helped private companies set up and run equity incentive schemes, ranging from EMI share option schemes for start-up companies to larger scale all-employee share schemes including Share Incentive Plans. Since 2015, the company has developed a market leading position in Employee Ownership Trust transactions, ...
Risk & Policy Analysts transition to employee ownership
Risk & Policy Analysts Limited have announced that on the 3rd April 2019 they transitioned to become an employee-owned business run through an employee ownership trust (EOT).
Pete Floyd and Meg Postle founded RPA in 1990 providing independent consultancy to the private and public sector across UK and Europe. RPA has developed a strong reputation and proven expertise in the fields of environment, economics, chemicals, UK & EU policy and sustainability. RPA’s headquarters are just outside Norwich in Loddon and are supported by London and Brussels offices.
The ...
New sponsors announced for EOA Conference 2019
The EOA is delighted to announce its 2019 conference sponsors – J Gadd Associates and Postlethwaite have come together to sponsor the event.
With their experience in supporting two key aspects of employee ownership – the culture and engagement and the legal structure and governance – the two leading EOA members have come together to support the EOA Annual Conference in the EOA’s 40th year.
The 14th EOA Annual Conference will see the UK employee owned sector, those exploring employee ownership and those who advise businesses meet to be involved, be informed ...
Smile – it’s 100 days to EO Day
The EOA is today reaching out to its members and stakeholders to prepare them to make some noise for EO Day 2019.
The annual campaign celebrates with our members and stakeholders to raise awareness of the social and economic impact of employee ownership in the UK.
The campaign is a key part of the EOA’s 40th anniversary year which is focussing on the impact of employee ownership on individuals and communities. This year the campaign is supported by employee owned business Gripple.
The theme for EO Day 2019 is ‘what about EO makes you smile?’ which acknowle...
CEO Blog: The certainty of happiness
Considering the current economic uncertainty, I am consoling myself this month with another quote from Benjamin Franklin, “there is nothing more certain than taxes and death”. For every day that passes, the current level of uncertainty remains, with each new day bringing yet more confusion about what might be the future of the UK’s relationship with the EU.
At a recent lunch with the Bank of England’s Chief Economist, Andy Haldane, it was therefore refreshing to hear business leaders confirm their response to this was to seek to control what they could and to ...
Aardman founders to share employee ownership journey at flagship conference
Aardman Co-founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton have agreed to share their journey to securing their creative legacy in the UK at the EOA Conference 2019.
The duo will reflect on their employee ownership transition in 2018 and the year that has followed when they are interviewed by compere Martine Croxall at the event in Birmingham on 18 and 19 November 2019
Both the EOA and Aardman are celebrating key milestones in 2019 – Aardman which is 42 year old will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Academy Award®-winning Wallace & Gromit while the EOA celebrates 40 ...
Mariana Mazzucato to give Robert Oakeshott Lecture in EOA40 year
Professor Mariana Mazzucato PHD will give the Employee Ownership Association’s (EOA) 2019 Robert Oakeshott Lecture – a key event in the 40th year of the EOA.
Mariana, a celebrated economist - named “one of the three most important thinkers on innovation” by the New Republic - advises policy makers around the world and is known for her strong challenge to rethink capitalism, through her books and articles, advisory roles and speaking engagements.
The theme of the lecture, which is being held on April 4, at International Students House, One Park Crescent, ...
Succeeding at succession – the employee ownership way
“Failing to plan is planning to fail”. This famous phrase, attributed to Benjamin Franklin, has significant resonance for any business owner thinking about their succession options.
Far too often, an owner puts off this important decision – sometimes until it is too late.
However, it’s easy to see why this is often the case. Owners of established businesses invest their lives in their business – it and they are intimately intertwined.
But they are often patriarchal leaders; involved in every decision, and the person everyone turns to for the nod of ...
Final deadline for Mutuals Support Programme applications
It’s the final week for those who are Public Service Mutuals, or aspire to be, to apply for support in the Mutuals Support 2 programme.
Two EOA members Baxendale and Bates Wells Braithwaite are part of consortiums that offer professional advice and support across areas including legal, financial, business planning, marketing, HR and organisational change, bid writing and measuring social value.
Members of both consortia – Go Mutuals and Mutual Ventures consortium - have been selected through a competitive procurement process, and have extensive experience of ...
Member news: Tickets launched for EOA Summer Dinner 2019
Tickets for the EOA’s Summer Dinner can now be reserved.
The members-only event, which provides a unique opportunity to network with other employee owned businesses in the impressive surroundings of the Members' Dining Room at the Palace of Westminster is being held on the evening of Thursday 13th June 2019.
The dinner is the celebratory highlight of the year that hosts a speaker for the world of politics. Previous speakers include Phillip Blond ResPublica, Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted, Mark Price, former Managing Director of Waitrose, and ...
The EOA congratulates the Rooflight Company on its EO transition plan
The EOA is delighted to see its member the Rooflight Company is on track to transition to employee ownership in March.
The move will help its founders secure the future of the business as they plan their exit.
Deb Oxley OBE, CEO of the Employee Ownership Association, said: “We congratulate the Rooflight Company on its planned transition to employee ownership supported by our members Postlethwaite Solicitors and J Gadd Associates.
“By widening ownership of the business to its employees the Rooflight Company is securing the future of the business, including ...
Help the EOA celebrate 40 years of better business together
The EOA is 40 in 2019 and the organisation will be celebrating 40 years of better business together.
The association, which was established as Job Ownership Limited (JOL) by English journalist, economist and social reformer Robert Oakeshott in 1979, is urging its 350 members as well as its stakeholders to get involved in events and campaigns throughout the year.
The organisation is collecting 40 voices of employee ownership and EOA facts from across 40 years for its EOA40 web page, and is urging those who feel they can contribute to this to get in touch. There is a ...
EOA congratulates Gripple on UK best employer award
The EOA is celebrating another of its members receiving a national accolade for business excellence.
Gripple which as been named as the UK's Best Employer in the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) awards was the also winner of the UK Employee Owned Culture Award in 2018.
Deb Oxley OBE, Chief Executive of the Employee Ownership Association, said: "We are noticing a trend of employee owned businesses becoming recognised for business excellence in particular linked to employee engagement and empowering employees to drive business performance.
"We congratulate Gripple ...
40 years of better business – a year of opportunity
As is usual at the start of a year, I write to offer some insights into the opportunities and challenges that 2019 poses for the employee owned sector.
Undoubtedly this year will be one of the UK’s most important in recent history and with the expected exit from the EU in March, possibly also one of its most transformative.
To that end, I believe that this could also be one of the most important years for employee ownership, which as a social and economic enabler can offer a more sustainable and inclusive way to do business.
One of the biggest opportunities for ...
OBE honour recognises growth of employee ownership and social enterprises
Deb Oxley Chief Executive of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) has been awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s honours list for services to employee ownership and social enterprise.
As Chief Executive of the EOA since 2015, Deb leads engagement and campaigning to influence government and policy makers and to raise awareness of the relevance and importance of employee ownership to the UK economy.
In her role leading the EOA, the UK’s membership body for the employee owned sector, she has shaped the organisation’s business engagement and membership propos...
Employee Engagement – what’s it all about then?
‘Employee engagement’ can be something of a fluffy term, and for companies to tackle it, it needs to be defined first of all. What does it mean to you and what does it look like in practice?
Definition of the term needs to happen within the organisation - while certain elements remain consistent, organisational culture and vision has a large impact on how that organisation sees engagement and subsequently how it chooses to measure it. It is about how we create the conditions in which employees offer more of their capability and potential.
Despite there being some ...
Member news: We’re recruiting for the EOA Membership Council
The EOA is recruiting to two vacancies on the EOA Membership Council (EMC).
The Council supports the EOA to develop the membership proposition providing challenge and review of EOA activities.
Since being formed 18 months ago the EMC has supported projects such as the testing and development of the EO Hub, EO Day 2018, Conference content in 2017 and 2018 and planning of the EOA Survey.
Closing date for applications is 18 January 2019.
Those interested can request an application pack, which includes the terms of reference and a statement of interest form, by ...
Member news: Give your thoughts on how to celebrate EO sector
The EOA is asking for help to shape the future of the UK Employee Ownership Awards.
In 2018 the awards celebrated 6 new winners that were presented at the EOA Conference Gala Dinner.
Members are urged to give their views to help us with the continuous improvement of the awards application process and presentation event to make sure we best represent and celebrate the sector.
The EOA wants responses from organisations and individuals with a separate short survey of fewer than 10 questions for those who have applied and those who have not previously applied:
...
EOA congratulates 2Excel’s full-throttle move to employee ownership
Deb Oxley, Chief Executive of the EOA, said:
“We are delighted that 2Excel has chosen to adopt an employee ownership model which will secure the businesses ethos, values and employees while rooting the jobs locally for the longer term.
“The employee owned sector contributes more than £30bn to the UK economy and is growing at more than 10% a year, with 70% growth in the sector happening since 2010 - this looks set to accelerate with all the UK political parties looking at ways for more employees to share in the wealth they help to create.
“In the recent ...
Socialising capital the employee ownership way
The media is prone to labelling; hence, we have ‘millennials’, ‘the gig economy’ and ‘soap stars’.
In the absence of a deeper understanding of the employee ownership structure by some commentators, it is sometimes the case that this innovative and progressive structure of business ownership is also labelled - as a form of socialism. This was the case recently, in what was an otherwise excellent article about the transitions to employee ownership by Union Industries and Aardman Animations.
I could use the rest of this article explaining why I don’t ...
Our culture is essential for our sustainable growth
By Michael Hodgson, Gripple
Gripple is 100% employee owned, which means that every one of our employees has a vested interest in it and play a significant part in our growth. Founder of Gripple, Hugh Facey OBE once said: “Look after the people and the business will look after itself,” which is one of the key beliefs within the business
In our 30th year of trading, we have a proven model for sustainable growth, which is driven by our people. Through that growth, our shared values remain the same and we expect our people to be passionate, team players that are ...
UK EO AWARDS: Owners cashing in on Parfetts’ success
A passion to do the best by its employees, customers and suppliers has driven a ‘spectacular performance’ in a challenging industry, for this year’s Employee Owned business of the Year.
The judges of the UK Employee Ownership Awards, sponsored by Baxendale, highlighted how Parfetts, established as a family business in 1980, becoming employee owned 10 years ago, has been able to drive success through well executed engagement and reward including an annual dividend plus sales target bonus which has seen the team get two bonus payments in 2018 after surpassing ...
UK EO AWARDS: EO winner bridges the dental gap
Providing the best the dental outcomes for patients most in need, powered by insight from the front line, has inspired an award win for Community Dental Services (CDS).
The employee owned social enterprise, which employs 286 people providing referral dental services for difficult to reach groups in Bedfordshire, Luton, Suffolk, Norfolk (Thetford), Oxfordshire, Leicestershire, Essex and Lincolnshire, has scooped the Public Service Mutual of the Year at the UK Employee Ownership Awards 2018.
The Awards, sponsored by Baxendale, saw this category reintroduced after ...
UK EO AWARDS: Angela leads a new era of ownership
If a change of employee ownership structure is Childbase Partnership’s new symphony, then Angela Brown is its conductor.
This is the case put forward by her colleagues – citing her as a highly visible and passionate ambassador of employee voice and ownership – and it has seen her named by judges as the UK Employee Ownership Awards’ Employee Owner of the Year
As the first ever elected chair of the Partnership Council, after 8 years serving as one of its members, Angela has taken charge of the council just four months after the business changed its employee ...
UK EO AWARDS: For Hugh’s a jolly good fellow!
When speaking about his recent OBE, innovator and entrepreneur Hugh Facey did what he has always done - deferred to his employees.
“I received this because of you – Our Brilliant Employees – thank you for what you do...” he said revealing one of the secrets at the heart of Hugh’s drive and success.
Hugh who was awarded his OBE in 2018 for services to manufacturing, innovation, exports and employee ownership. Hugh is famed for saying “I came into it with nowt and I’ll go out of it with nowt”, expressing his ambition to make a good living for him and ...
UK EO Awards: DNA that drives a culture of success
The first ever Employee Ownership Culture Award winner is a business with a clearly defined spirit and unique DNA, concluded the UK Employee Ownership Award 2018 judges.
The award celebrates Sheffield-based manufacturer Gripple, a business in which employees feel a substantial, personal stake in performance and are empowered to act in ways that show measurable benefits.
The market-leading manufacturer of wire joining and tensioning devices for construction and agricultural markets, Gripple, was established in the 1990s with its employee ownership being formalised ...
UK EO AWARDS: EO spirit rises for travel firm
Travel business Alfa Leisureplex Group wowed the judges with coach loads of evidence of how it has brought employee ownership to life in its business.
The business is the winner of this year’s Employee Owned Rising Star of the Year in the UK Award, sponsored by Baxendale, which celebrates a business that in its early years has embedded its EO ethos and culture across all of its teams.
Alfa Leisureplex Group started with the Sawbridge family owning one hotel in Llandudno in 1984: by 2015 it owned 21 hotels and was a tour and coach operator in the UK and Europe with ...
News release: Top 50 report shows positive growth for the employee ownership sector
Research continues to show that employee-owned businesses enjoy higher levels of productivity
Publication of the Employee Ownership Association’s (EOA) annual 2018 Top 50 Report shows positive growth for the employee ownership sector, with a combined sales value of nearly £20bn, five new entries to the Top 50 and an almost 10% median increase in operating profits.
The Top 50 list, complied by RM2 in partnership with the EOA, covers independent UK-re