2014 Robert Oakeshott Memorial Lecture

The Employee Ownership Association was proud to organise the annual Oakeshott Memorial Lecture on 25th March 2014. The Lecture is held each spring in honour of the founder of the EOA, Robert Oakeshott.

This year’s theme was employee ownership in UK public services. The Lecture was delivered by Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office. The formal Response was delivered by Steve Melton, Chief Executive of Circle Partnership, a prominent EOA Member working across the health economy.

In the historic setting of Chartered Accountants Hall, the home of the ICAEW, a packed audience of invited guests were inspired by the calls that both speakers made for more employee ownership in the delivery of UK public services.

Francis Maude announced in his Lecture a series of practical measures designed to promote the growth of employee ownership. These included the creation of an information and evidence hub, to be hosted by the EOA, focusing on the performance of and business case for employee owned public service businesses. A copy of his Lecture is available below.

Steve Melton used his Response to celebrate the success of the employee owners he works with in hospitals and other parts of the health care system and to call for bold new attempts to make it easier for employee ownership to thrive in our public services. A copy of his speech is available below.

The event concluded with some moving remarks from Isabel Oakeshott, Robert’s niece, reminding the audience of her uncle’s life and work.

Attendees then gathered over drinks to reflect on the two speeches.