We are very proud that in September 2020, Heron House became employee owned.
Having worked hard to build the business over the last 30 years, Saran and Chris wanted to ensure that the ethos and service which has been a major factor in the company’s success, would continue for decades to come. An Employee Ownership Trust will ensure just that, and enable business to continue as usual for both clients and staff.
Saran and Chris are not ready to retire but want to be part of a wider dynamic team all working together for the long term, and becoming employee owned will enable them to slow down, to a degree, and gradually exit when the time is right. Pictured above are our Executive Board and Trustee Directors.
What is an Employee Ownership Trust?
An Employee Ownership Trust is ‘a company that is employee controlled and indirectly owned, using a trust, for the benefit of employees’.
Evidence has proven that EOT firms are more successful, competitive, profitable and sustainable as staff will be empowered to come up with ideas about many things from improving systems and processes, to staff welfare and their working environment.
May be the most well-known example of this is John Lewis & Partners, but many other companies are also fully or partly employee owned. Some other examples are Aardman Animations (Wallace and Gromit creators!) and Riverford Organics. In December 2022, there were 1,300 employee owned companies in the UK!
Where can I find out more?
We have put together an information leaflet with more details which can be downloaded here: EOT Information Leaflet
You can find further information and resources about Employee Ownership Trusts at the following websites:
- The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) employeeownership.co.uk
- Wales Co-operative wales.coop
- UK Government website gov.uk
