bruce davidson

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

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. 

Loch Fyne Oysters:employee ownership in the tough times

According to the Employee Ownership Index, employee owned businesses outperform traditionally structured businesses.  Co owned businesses report better employee retention, higher levels of customer satisfaction, better profit margins and less absence.  It's not all positive and in times of recession, employee owned businesses are feeling the pain too.

One such company is Lo