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Why Employee Ownership? Sutcliffe Play's former owner explains why

Robin Sutcliffe sent me the transcript of last Wednesday's "Canteen Talk" he delivered to the company's employees to mark their employee buy-out.  I found it very inspirational and moving, and I'm delighted to have his permission to reproduce it here:

"This is the culmination of a dream that I have had since I was seventeen and possibly earlier, it is truly the beginning of the end of my life’s work.

Sutcliffe Play now owned by its employees!

Last week, Robin Sutcliffe, founder and owner of Yorkshire based Sutcliffe Play, realised a dream.  His dream was  that the company he created would one day be owned by its employees.  As of Friday last week, the employees of Sutcliffe Play own the company in which they work.

Employee owned businesses deserve great leaders

Baxendale are delighted to announce the launch of a leadership programme, specifically designed for leaders in employee owned businesses.  This is very much a joint venture with Kellogg College's Centre for Mutual and Employee Owned Business based at Oxford University.  Details of the programme can be found here

Leadership is tremendously important in companies owned by their employees.  Indeed, if you look around the employee-owned community, there is a wealth of excellent leaders; Ali Parsa at Circle Health, Chris Parr at Tullis Russell,

Employee ownership offers significant economic and social benefits

There was an excellent turnout at what was a very stimulating event in Glasgow on Friday last.  The event was a business breakfast and the topic was employee ownership.  Sarah Deas, Chief Executive of Co-operative Development Scotland and one of the key drivers of the current wave of interest in employee ownership in Scotland, explained why Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise were actively promoting the business model.  The fact is employee ownership provides a stable, successful and sustainable business model which keeps jobs, skills and money in the economy.

Chris Par

Five reasons business owners choose employee ownership

I was very surprised at the first sentence in this article.

Employee Ownership of public services - A Success Story

Co ownership is fast becoming a hot issue in the forthcoming election.  As the parties argue over who thought of it first, what the model will be, whether the focus should be on public sector, private sector or both, they cynics are saying it can't work.  How can people run their own company, become truly involved in the strategy and direction of the business, and have real accountability in their leaders?  How can that work in the public service sector?

One company achieves all these as well as delivering an excellent service to its service users, and provides a great place to work. 

Tullis Russell and Inveresk - the difference in ownership.

Yesterday, I met with Eileen Jarrett who chairs the Employee Ownership Board at Tullis Russell Papermakers based in Fife, Scotland.  She was telling me that despite the challenges currently facing the paper industry, Tullis Russell continues to hold its own. 
 

Employee Ownership: better for business, individuals and society.

Why pursuit of shareholder value is bad for business, for individuals and for society.

Why employee owned businesses are better equipped to cope with recession

I attended a very interesting and stimulating event today which was arranged jointly by the Employee Ownership Association and John Lewis Partnership.  The line up of speakers was impressive - Will Davies (Reinventing the Firm), Richard Wilkinson (Spirit Level)  , Philip Blond (Respublica), Charlie Mayfield (Chairman John Lewis) Prof Joseph Lampel (CASS business school) and John Kay (Financial Times).  The purpose of the event was the launch of a new report by CASS Business School which examined the growth of employee owned firms.  More of that later when I get a chance to digest the report an

Loch Fyne Oysters, owned by its employees, true to its ethics

I've just spent a very inspirational day with the employees of Loch Fyne Oysters.  This is a company that moved into employee ownership in 2004 and as a result have managed to sustain a very successful business in one of the most beautiful locations on earth.  Had the company been sold to a trade buyer, it would almost certainly have been relocated to somewhere more central.  This would have devastated the local community.