Day Two – 17.11.2021

15:30 – 16:10

Internal communication plan for transitioning to EO

Hear from Founder Ben Hirst and Director of People and Internal Communications Lucy Normanton about the employee ownership transition of Horizon Platforms.  Ben and Lucy share insight on how the Horizon leadership team worked tirelessly together to ensure the move to employee ownership was carried out in the best way possible, to foster the ongoing commitment of its 75 co-owners and protect a fantastic culture.

Founder, Ben Hirst said: 

I was determined to protect all the great things about Horizon, the most important of these being our people, who after all, have made the business what it is today!  I was extremely proud of the way we pulled together as a leadership team to form and deliver the messaging in a way which resonated with our team.

Director of People and Internal Communications, Lucy Normanton said: 

For us, this wasn’t about changing our culture to one of employee ownership.  We were confident our people already thought and behaved in a way perfectly suited to EO.  Our communication project was all about the protection of our already fantastic culture and people!  We did our homework and took invaluable advice from other EO members.  This enabled us to deliver our messaging in a way which felt right for us as a business, and most importantly, for our co-owners.

You will learn:

• Horizon Platforms internal communications plan; A timetable of what to say, who says it and when.
• Lessons learnt; positives and areas of improvement.
• How employees have taken the news.