Here’s what our team learnt at the conference:
Amanda (Accounts Manager & HR): “It was fab to be in an environment with other colleagues who share the same values when it comes to business and people. Employee owned businesses are renowned for being better places of work due to the openness and honesty that we share among us as well as our ability to be empathetic to each other and help one another along the way – this was echoed throughout the talks. I found the individuals at the conference to be polite, happy and welcoming.
In regards to the seminars and talks themselves, it was great to hear stories from other employee owned businesses and for them to share the opportunities and threats they face, and how they overcome them. In particular, the Arup presentation on their roadmap to net zero was very interesting and both Natasha and Kathryn from Arup were extremely knowledgeable on the subject having been sustainability consultants advising the government for both the COP26 and G7 Summit. The presentation gave us all some ideas on how we can offset our carbon emissions and emphasising that “reduction is key”.
Gareth (Business Development Manager): “The conference is a great opportunity to meet with and share knowledge and experiences with other EO companies. Although it appears that we are doing a lot of the right stuff, and don’t have the same issues as many other companies, (especially if they are larger companies - or they don’t have all employees that have bought into the EO mentality) we always come away having learnt something. I also enjoyed talking to others, sharing the NSBRC’s journey, and hearing about their own journeys to employee ownership.
There were some inspirational case studies delivered throughout the conference, and good to see the passion that others have within their business.”
Deanah (Front of House & Conference Manager): “The EO Conference is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people who have the same working ethos in seeing their companies thrive for success as a team of employee owners.
The seminars are always useful to hear about other peoples perspectives, opinions, how they work and then taking this back to our own business. I recently became the EO Rep and attended a talk on “relationship between main and trust board” which really helped me in gaining an understanding on my role as the Rep and how I should attend the main board meetings.
I came away from the Conference this year thinking that as an EO Business of 5+ years we are already doing everything and more for our colleagues and making our business successful.”
Harvey (Managing Director) added: “Employee-ownership is woven throughout everything we do at the NSBRC, and while we are proud of the culture we have achieved, summed up by our own EOA award win in 2021 for business resilience; it is always beneficial to meet other EO businesses and hear their stories.
It was great to be at a large-scale face to face event again, and, having previously sat on the EOA’s membership board for two years, it is encouraging to see that there are now over one thousand businesses owned by their employees, with the sector doubling in size over the last three years”.
