Employee ownership not only fosters a sense of pride and responsibility among employees but also creates a more engaged and motivated workforce.
The past decade has indeed been filled with growth, innovation, and a shared sense of purpose, and as employee owners, each one of us has played a crucial role in the success of our visitor Centre. Each year, we select a member of our team to be recognised as our ‘Employee Owner of the Year’, reflecting on the hard work and achievements of an individual, and to inspire others to strive for excellence.
Thank you, Kelly, for your remarkable contributions - and here’s to many more years of shared success on our EO journey!
After receiving this award, we asked Kelly about her thoughts on the significance of employee ownership:
Can you describe what employee ownership means to you?
Employee ownership is when the company you are employed by gives you the opportunity to own shares within that company. For me personally, employee ownership is a way to feel greatly valued in the workplace and that you truly matter to the company, it makes me feel as though I have a say in decisions that directly impact the business.
What would you say the most rewarding part of working for an employee owned company is?
The most rewarding part of working for an employee owned company is the sense of achievement that you feel after not just the big accomplishments, but all the small ones too. As a team we often jump into all areas and aspects of the business and help wherever and however we can to ensure the best possible outcomes for our partners and customers, and often hearing the positive feedback from both is extremely gratifying.
In your experience, tell us why the culture is different to a standard business?
I would say the way in which the culture for an employee owned company is different to a standard business is that you really will never feel like just a number to your employer.
Speaking from personal experience, I feel as though all of my achievements are firstly acknowledged and quite often rewarded. I have never felt the reluctance to put one hundred percent into any task I approach as I know this will be fully appreciated, and it has always felt greatly apparent to myself that it is in my best interest as an employee owner to do everything I can to help make the company a success as I am directly invested in such.
Do you think the way we communicate as a team is more transparent and open?
The way that we communicate as a team is most definitely more transparent and open than that of which I have experienced with any other company that I have been employed by previously. We are often consulted about upcoming changes in the business, and we are also constantly updated with ideas intended to improve our services. It is honestly so refreshing to be a part of such conversations, and to be able to fully understand and implement changes when they happen.
Would you say that as an employee-owner your voice is heard and opinions valued?
Being an employee owner, your opinion really does matter! You have a voice and all ideas and concerns I have ever had have been listened to, discussed and some even implemented.
How did it feel when you won the ‘Employee Owner of the Year’ award?
Winning 'Employee Owner of the Year' recently was a great personal achievement. I pride myself on the fact that I always put great effort into all I do, and I feel that even more so being an employee owner, and so to have that acknowledged and rewarded on such an amazing evening was fantastic. I feel proud to be part of such an amazing, unique team!
You can find out more about the NSBRC's Employee Ownership Journey here.
