Day Three – 18.11.2021
14:15 – 14:55
Becoming EO: Lessons Learned
Hear Danny Sims, Chairman and Lucy Pawson, HR Manager from market research company DJS Research share their insights and lessons learned on their transition to becoming EO; from their thinking behind their ownership structure, bringing on board an independent trustee with EO experience, to bringing the team along on the journey and maximising reputational impact with customers, future employees and stakeholders.
On 1st July 2021, market research company DJS Research began a new chapter in their 20-year story, officially becoming an employee owned company.
Having grown every year since the family business was formed, DJS Research now employees more than 70 permanent employees, along with a team of 200 telephone interviewers. 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 employees who have driven its success and who champion its values and vision for the future.
About the speakers
Danny Sims, Chairman
Danny set up DJS Research as a sole trader working from his spare room in 2001. Since then, Danny has helped the company to organically grow every year (including many years of double-digit growth). It now has a turnover over £6.3 million with 200+ permanent and temporary staff. The company has achieved everything on its own (no external funding) and continues to stand out as something different in the industry and as the Market Research Society says “One to Watch!”
Danny strives to make DJS Research a better place to work for everyone. He has helped implement a number of initiatives to improve the company for its loyal staff. To measure the success of these in 2020 the MyDJS employee engagement score increased from 78% to 88%. Still not perfection but getting there!
Lucy Pawson, Human Resources Manager
Having joined DJS Market Research in 2019 with a wealth of generalist HR experience gained at ITV and DHL, Lucy worked closely with the founders to transition the family business to employee owned.
Lucy spent 11 years at DHL, working on a variety of contracts and has experience dealing with mass recruitment, restructure, training, engagement and resolution management. She also specialised in organisational culture and values when completing her MSc in Human Resource Management and is a Graduate member of the CIPD.