Gripple named Employee Owned Business of the Year at the UK Employee Ownership Awards

Leading manufacturer, Gripple, was celebrating last night after being awarded the Employee Owned Business of the Year by the BBC’s Martine Croxall, at this year’s UK Employee Ownership Awards. The Employee Owned Business of the Year award recognises the best all-round performance of an employee owned organisation during the year to September 2015.

Sponsored by employee ownership transition specialists Baxendale and managed by the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), the UK Employee Ownership Awards are the most prestigious accolades for employee owned organisations. Formerly the Philip Baxendale Awards, this year’s awards were presented at the Gala Dinner on the first evening of the EOA Annual Conference at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel.

An independent group of judges form the employee owned sector highlighted Gripple’s best ever performing year, with before tax profits up 157%, 13 new products launched and a new commitment to bringing employee ownership to life throughout the business through enhanced employee engagement and decision making.

Deb Oxley, Chief Executive of the Employee Ownership Association, said:

“The award of the Employee Owned Business of the Year for Gripple is the culmination of a phenomenal story of success for the entire business.  And as one of the most vocal champions for employee ownership, is great for the sector as a whole too.

This well regarded and well known business has quite deservedly been recognised by the sector, in what has been its most successful year to date.”

Campbell McDonald, Managing Director of Baxendale, said:

“It is a privilege to champion the best employee owned businesses in the UK and every EO Award winner delivered exceptional performance in the last year driven by the over-and-above commitment of their employee owners. The tremendous momentum behind mutualism in the UK made this year’s EO Awards one of the most competitive ever and our sector should be especially proud of its growing achievements.”