The third annual 2024 Employee Ownership Learning journey took place 30-31 October. Hosted by Co-operative Development Scotland, the event showcased examples of effective employee ownership in successful, growing businesses. These companies shared their learning and experience giving helpful pointers of what has worked and what hasn’t in their employee ownership journey. We caught up with project manager Angela Wardrope to find out more
I have just spent an incredible 2 days at the Co-operative Development Scotland Employee Ownership Learning Journey.
This year, we had 39 participants over 2 days visiting and hearing from employee-owned firms in Edinburgh and Lothians.
I’d like to thank everyone that shared their employee ownership story, hosted at their premises, delivered a workshop or spoke after dinner. Our contributors were:
- North Berwick based Jerba Campervans where Simon Poole and the team shared their employee ownership story as well as giving us a tour of their facility
- Edinburgh based Computer Application Services. where Ken Naismith shared his employee ownership story
- Ewan Hall from Baxendale Employee Ownership who delivered an interactive workshop on governance
- Simon Fowler, Chair, Director and Non-Executive Director who concluded day 1 with an after dinner chat
- John Housego from Aquascot who delivered an inspirational workshop on employee engagement
- Edinburgh based Edinburgh Designs where Douglas Rogers shared the story from university spin-out to the employee-owned business it is now.
- Chris Wilson, chartered accountant who has advised on many employee ownership transitions shared why he moved 2 of his firms into employee ownership; Glen Drummond and Sharles CA
- Livingston based Tepnel Pharma Services where David Scott and the team shared their employee ownership story as well as giving us a tour of their facility
- Tristan Elliot from Edinburgh based i4 Product Design concluded the day 2 with a presentation sharing their move to employee ownership