Did you know, employee-owned businesses are proven to be more productive, sustainable and enjoy higher levels of employee engagement?
Shares in Environet UK were recently transferred into an Employee Ownership Trust, which means our business is now indirectly owned by our staff. Find out more about the reasons why in this Q&A…
What is an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)?
EOTs are an indirect form of employee ownership in which a trust holds a controlling stake in a company on behalf of its employees. This means everyone who works at the company has a stake – and a say.
Why did Environet decide to become employee-owned?
Employee ownership is a really good way of ensuring the company can remain independent and continue to grow and flourish under its own steam well into the future. Perhaps most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to reward our staff, many of whom have been with us for a very long time, for their loyalty, dedication and hard work!
What are the benefits of selling the company to the employees?
The business stays with the people who have helped build it and who have the strongest commitment to making it successful. This means they are highly motivated to do an even better job for you, our customers. Research from the Employee Ownership Association shows that companies owned by their staff tend to perform better than those owned by external shareholders.
Does the management team stay the same once a company becomes employee-owned?
Employee-owned companies have highly professional management structures. The key difference is that managers are more accountable to their colleagues and co-owners than they would be otherwise. In Environet’s case, Nic Seal remains as Managing Director and we have further strengthened our management structure by promoting Emily Grant and Mat Day to the role of Director.
How many companies in the UK are employee-owned?
There are around 470 companies in the UK that have gone down the employee-ownership route, including well-known brands such as Riverside Organic and Richer Sounds – so we consider ourselves in good company!
What do the changes mean for customers?By converting to an EOT we’re confident we’ve secured the future of Environet to continue operating independently, with the same ethos and absolute commitment to its customers. With Nic Seal remaining at the helm for the foreseeable future, in effect very little will change.
If you have any questions about Environet becoming an Employee Ownership Trust, please don’t hesitate to contact Nic today at [email protected].