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 Directors remains unchanged and is made up of Matt Smith (CEO), Catherine Butcher (COO) and Jenny Mason (MD), supported by an Employee Forum and overseen by Trustee Directors.

Matt Smith, CEO, said: “Stronger together has long been a value of BDB, recognising our diverse team of B2B specialists. As a service-based business, our people truly are what makes BDB so special, what gives us the edge, and forms part of our uniqueness. What better way to acknowledge this, than a true, egalitarian, ownership structure? We are acting on our principles, not just talking about being “in it” together.”

The business – whose client base includes leading global B2B brands, like DSM, IMCD and Intratone  – will now be run through the Employee Ownership Trust and follows an MBO from its founders in 2017. Achieving consistent year-on-year growth and industry-leading team retention, BDB has actively recruited 19 new team members since January 2020 – investing in its in-house creative, digital and visual effects capabilities.

BDB has also become a member of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA). Deb Oxley OBE, Chief Executive, said: “We congratulate BDB and their new employee owners and look forward to them being part of the EOA membership community. We are sure that their authentic passion to preserve the business’ culture and values for future generations, and their commitment to shaping the future of their business around the welfare of their entire team, will deliver benefits for employees, the business and the communities in which they do business.”

Advisors on the deal were Ryan Niblock of Hurst and Lindsey Hemingway of Knights plc.