Prospects’ Patrick Burns named winner of the Philip Baxendale Fellowship Award at the UK Employee Ownership Awards

Prominent skills, education and employment provider, Prospects, were celebrating last night after their Director of Mutuals Development, Patrick Burns was awarded the Philip Baxendale Fellowship Award by the BBC’s Martine Croxall at this year’s UK Employee Ownership Awards. This award celebrates an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the growth of employee ownership in the UK, and whose influence and impact within the sector is clear and widely recognised.

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 from the employee owned sector highlighted his vital role in supporting the creation of employee owned organisations and promoting the business model more widely. As a former Chief Executive of the EOA, Patrick’s leadership transformed the organisation into the national membership body for the UK’s £30bn employee ownership sector, and to it becoming recognised as the voice of the sector by all major political parties.

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

“Patrick is a most deserving winner of the coveted accolade, the Philip Baxendale Fellowship Award. Patrick is not only a vocal champion for the sector, but has personally influenced its development through his various roles and responsibilities, and will remain an ambassador and champion of the employee owned sector as it continues to flourish.”

Nick Bell, Chief Executive of Prospects, said:

“I’m delighted that Patrick has been recognised for his enormous contribution to the employee ownership movement. This is another accolade for Patrick to add to his collection alongside others such as being a Cabinet Office Ambassador. As the 13th largest employee owned company in the country, Prospects is well placed to advise on the benefits of mutualisation and Patrick has a wealth of experience to pass on. This is a well deserved award win for Patrick and I look forward to continuing to work with him and organisations as they learn about and benefit from employee ownership.”

Campbell McDonald, Managing Director of Baxendale, said:

“Patrick has played an invaluable role promoting the cause of employee ownership in the UK throughout the last decade and more – the sector would not have the standing it does today without his tireless effort and remarkable achievement. Patrick is an unquestionably deserved recipient of this prestigious award.”

Patrick Burns, Director of Mutuals Development at Prospects, said:

“It is an honour to be recognised with this award by the Employee Ownership Association. Philip Baxendale did a huge amount to pioneer employee ownership and the rapid growth of the sector means there’s a lot to be excited about. Employee ownership has a bright future and I’m proud to be able to contribute to that.”