employee benefits trust

The dangers of cosmetic mutualism

There was an excellent meeting held in Birmingham yesterday, which brought together a number of individuals interested in promoting coownership within our public services.  It is a hot election topic right now, garnering support from all of the main political parties.   However, there is a fear within the sector of what form this might take.  As Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-ops UK, said at yesterday's meeting "Co-ops are cool" but there is a danger that the politicians jump on mutualism as a vote winner, and then go for the quick fix with a rushed implementation.

The meeting was unanimo

The winning case for employee ownership

The case is closed and the argument that employee ownership is better for business has been won.  That was the message from last night's launch of a new report looking at research to date on employee ownership.  You can read the full report here.

The key findings are that

• Greater employee ownership could bring economic and social benefits to both the private and public sectors in the UK.
• Employee ownership improves employee engagement, innovation, sustainability and productivity

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The Many Forms of Co - Ownership

It is great that co-ownership models are achieving such a high profile at the moment.  There are many reasons behind the attractiveness of the co-owned model for both public and private sectors.  The financial crisis, stemming largely from the fixation with short term rewards at the expense of long term prosperity has created dissatisfaction with the PLC and banking models, which are owned and controlled largely by external shareholders, whose interests are not aligned with the other business stakeholders.  In many areas of the public sector, morale is low because of perceived unfairness, inad

Co ownership in Sport - More Power to the Supporters

I had an interesting day yesterday at the Centre for Mutual and Employee-Owned Business which is based at Kellogg College, Oxford.

Employee owned businesses: at least as good if not better. The evidence.

Yesterday, John Lewis Partnership, the UK's largest employee owned firm, published a report based on research by CASS Business School.  The report looks at whether employee owned businesses deliver sustainable performance.  The research presents considerable evidence to support the claim that employee owned businesses are better for individual employees, do better business, and make a more valuable contribution to society.  You can read the report in full

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. 

People - the best assets?

Tragic announcements yesterday about the massive job losses from Astrazeneca and Babcock, together with the anticipated losses following the Cadbury takeover really call into question how much we value labour.

Successful engineering company, Clansman Dynamics Ltd, now owned by its employees

Just before Christmas, East Kilbride based Clansman Dynamics Ltd became the latest company to enter into employee ownership.  Clansman Dynamics Ltd is a successful company with a very strong order book.  They build robotics and have a world wide reputation for quality and excellent customer service.  What sets Clansman apart from their competition is the attention to detail - the customer is consulted on the design ensuring not only technical excellence but also considering ease and com

Leading design firm The Alloy, now owned by its employees.

How do you make a dream last?  When you create something that is different, that is special, how can you keep it going, if not forever, then for as long as possible?  It's an issue for owners who build up a successful business.

I first met Gus Desbarats, founder of The Alloy Ltd, at the annual Employee Ownership Conference in the UK a few years ago. He told me of his dream to get his company into an employee owned structure.

Britain adopts the John Lewis model? Employee ownership moves up the agenda

I have been very critical in the past of the  political cross-party support for employee ownership which hasn't translated past the verbal into real action.   However, the news that the government will announce later today the establishment of an independent commission on ownership is a sign that this is changing.  This is an important development that will consider the effects of ownership on both the public and corporate sector.  It really is great news at the end of a year when interest in employee ownership has grown significantly.  Indeed, the fact that this Commission has recieved signif