Resources
View the latest resources and insights.
Every so often a piece of work lands that reminds you why you do it. Helping Shambala move into employee ownership was one of those, and the response it drew has been a quiet joy of its own.
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Employee Ownership Annual Awards 2026, held at the very modern Library of Birmingham.
It was a really enjoyable day and a valuable opportunity to catch up with colleagues, fellow advisers, employee-owned businesses and many others working across the employee ownership sector. Events like this are always a reminder of the strength, energy and collaborative spirit within the employee ownership community.
Selling a business to an Employee Ownership Trust can be an excellent succession route. It can preserve independence, reward employees, protect the company’s culture and provide a structured exit for shareholders.
But an EOT transaction is not a standard company sale.
Employee ownership is emerging as a powerful succession option for UK law firms, allowing owners to preserve firm culture while giving employees a meaningful stake in the business. Although still relatively rare in the legal sector, the model offers tax advantages, stronger employee engagement, and an alternative to traditional partner buy-ins, mergers, or closure.
Employee Ownership gives a founder a good exit, drives prosperity for employees and is a catalyst for positive change far beyond the company itself. Long may it thrive!
No one said it would be easy! Understanding where EOT governance issues arise and how they can be resolved.
The truth is, in my experience, an EOT project is seldom about the tax incentive. Yes, it has been a very good tax incentive (and in its changed form it remains so), but the founders that I have worked with, never looked to the tax incentive as the key reason for the decision to take the EOT route.
Considering a sale of your company to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)? This decision is about more than price - it’s about balancing affordability, continuity, dividend potential, leadership succession and fairness across employee ownership. We’ll walk through the key factors you should weigh before deciding whether to sell all your shares or retain a stake.
When selling to an EOT, getting the valuation right is crucial. Tax relief hangs on it. In this guidance note we summarise how trustees can satisfy the HM Revenue & Customs “prudent person” test - from commissioning an independent valuation, through director confirmations, to structuring warranties and ensuring business-affordability.
Thinking of transitioning your business to employee ownership? An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) may offer the ideal solution – but before you go too far
Introduction
As an employee-owned company operating under an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) structure, implementing a share option scheme for leadership requires careful consideration. This document outlines the potential benefits and challenges, with a particular focus on compliance with EOT requirements, the impact on leadership incentives, and the potential consequences for the Trust and its beneficiaries.
(Freely included as part of our service!) One of the great pleasures in working on EOTs is taking part in the discussions around the values
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