In this episode of The Alternative Exit, Andy sits down with James De le Vingne, CEO of the Employee Ownership Association in the UK, to discuss the rise of employee ownership as a viable business model for succession. James shares how the introduction of the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) has transformed the landscape for SMEs, allowing businesses to become financially free while benefiting employees and local communities.

With examples of thriving employee-owned companies and discussions on the challenges and flexibility of the model, this conversation is a deep dive into the future of work and ownership. Tune in to learn why employee ownership might just be the future of business success.

Key Takeaways:

• The flexibility of employee ownership models which allows businesses to customize them to fit their unique needs.
• How employee ownership shifts employee mindsets and improves workplace culture.
• Exploring how the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) can help businesses achieve financial freedom while benefiting employees.
• The role of supportive legislation and professional services in facilitating the adoption of employee ownership models.
• Real-life examples of businesses thriving after transitioning to employee ownership and clearing their founder’s debt.

About James De le Vingne:

James is Chief Executive of the Employee Ownership Association, the UK’s leading voice on employee ownership, representing a sector that contributes between £30 to 40 bn a year to UK GDP as well as a membership organisation for UK businesses of private or public sector origin, that are wholly or partially owned by their employees.

Previously James was Head of Development at Co-operatives UK and has a background in international development and local economic development. James is a Board member of Scotland for EO, an Executive Fellow of the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University and an RSA Fellow.

Connect with James De le Vingne:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-delevingne/
• Website - https://employeeownership.co.uk/

Connect with Andy Farquharson:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andyfarq
• Website - https://abettermonday.me/
• Email - andy@abettermonday.me

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, host Andy interviews John Abrams, President and CEO of South Mountain Company, to explore the transformative power of employee ownership. John shares his company’s journey from a traditional business model to becoming an employee-owned cooperative, detailing the challenges, rewards, and cultural shifts involved.

Through personal anecdotes and decades of experience, he illustrates how employee ownership fosters commitment, builds community, and creates a lasting positive impact. Tune in to hear John's insights on reshaping business leadership through shared responsibility and ownership.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning how employee ownership transforms commitment and leadership within a company.
• Hearing the real-life challenges of transitioning from sole ownership to a worker cooperative.
• Understanding the role employee ownership plays in building a sustainable, community-driven company.
• Discovering the long-term impact of shared ownership on company culture and leadership succession.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Company We Keep: Reinventing Small Business for Community, People and Place By John Abrams - https://www.amazon.com/Company-We-Keep-Reinventing-Community/dp/1931498733

About John Abrams:

John Abrams is the President and CEO of South Mountain Company, Inc., a forty-year-old employee-owned design and building company located on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts and the author of The Company We Keep: Reinventing Small Business for Community, People and Place (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2005). South Mountain Company is committed to a Triple Bottom Line, which means that people, planet, and profit are all equally important to them – balancing profits with environmental restoration, social justice, and community engagement.

He’s also the Co-founder of Building Energy Bottom Lines (a peer group network of 60+ Northeast U.S. businesses in the architecture and construction industry), and I engage in a variety of forms of community activism, mostly involving affordable housing. John serves on the steering committee and executive committee of The Coalition to Create the Martha’s Vineyard Housing Bank and the board of Camp Jabberwocky.

Connect with John Abrams:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-abrams-3bb94683/
• Websites - https://www.southmountain.com/ and https://abramsangell.com/

Connect with Andy Farquharson:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andyfarq
• Website - https://abettermonday.me/
• Email - andy@abettermonday.me

In this insightful episode of Alternative Exit , Andy chats with Corey Rosen, the Founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), to discuss the transformative power of employee ownership.

Corey shares over 40 years of expertise, touching on the evolution of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), their role in enhancing employee engagement, and how they can be a practical and politically supported solution for business transitions.

He also delves into the benefits of ownership culture for workers, businesses, and communities. Tune in to discover how employee ownership can revolutionize both businesses and the lives of employees, and why it might just be the solution many companies are looking for.

Key Takeaways:

• The advantages of employee ownership in fostering a more equitable workplace and wealth distribution.
• Transforming companies by combining real ownership with high-involvement management systems.
• How tax benefits and ESOPs make employee ownership a practical exit strategy for business owners.
• Empowering employees by granting them access to critical financial information and involving them in decision-making processes.
• An overview of how employee ownership boosts productivity, reduces turnover, and promotes a stronger sense of community.

Resources Mentioned:

• Beyond Engagement By Corey Rosen - https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Engagement-Make-Business-Factory/dp/193822096X
• Equity: Why Employee Ownership is Good for Business By Corey Rosen, John Case, and Martin Staubus - https://www.amazon.com/Equity-Employee-Ownership-Good-Business/dp/1591393310
• Employee Ownership in America by Corey Rosen, Katherine J. Klein, and Karen M. Young - https://www.amazon.com/Employee-Ownership-America-Organization-Management/dp/0669103071

About Corey Rosen:

Corey Rosen is the Founder and an active staff member of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), a private, nonprofit membership, information, and research organization in Oakland, California. The NCEO is widely considered to be the authoritative source on broad-based employee ownership plans. He co-founded the NCEO in 1981 after working five years as a professional staff member in the U.S. Senate, where he helped draft legislation on employee ownership plans.

He is the author or co-author of over 100 articles and numerous books on employee ownership, and co-author (with John Case and Martin Staubus) of Equity: Why Employee Ownership is Good for Business (Harvard Business School Press, 2005). He has appeared frequently on CNN, PBS, NPR, MSNBC, and other network programs; and is regularly quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, BusinessWeek, and other leading publications. He has lectured on employee ownership on six continents.

Connect with Corey Rosen:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-rosen-3a8a8a4/
• Website - https://www.nceo.org/

Connect with Andy Farquharson:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andyfarq
• Website - https://abettermonday.me/
• Email - andy@abettermonday.me