Exploring employee ownership at The Business Day

We did something a bit different at The Business Day this year, exploring how you can make your business future ready by looking at alternative approaches to succession and growth.

Sewell Group’s two breakout sessions on employee ownership, in partnership with the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), sparked curiosity in many delegates who wanted to find out more about this effective, ethical and sustainable option for businesses.

The session began with an overview of employee ownership by the EOA’s Oliver Smith, who surprised the audience by showing just how many businesses in the UK have moved to shared ownership in the last few years. Since 2014, the number of co-owned businesses has soared, from below 200 to well over 1,000.

Sewell Group Chair, Paul Sewell, then explained his motivations behind moving the company to a co-ownership model.

Watch Paul talk about why the move was right for the Sewell Group.

Next up was a panel discussion chaired by the EOA’s Deb Oxley, with representatives from across the Sewell Group giving their views on the transition to co-ownership, with topics covered ranging from the logistical and financial implications of the move, to how employees – now ‘co-owners’ – had viewed the change.

The engaged audience had plenty of questions, ranging from practical and legal considerations, to discussion on the benefits that Sewell Group have already seen from the move.

Missed the event, but want to know more about how the employee ownership model works? Read more about the Sewell Group journey or contact the EOA.