JGA heads to Hull to meet the EOA

How can JGA best support the EO sector to grow? Our road trip north last week, to meet the EOA’s new CEO James de le Vigne and his team in Hull, was the perfect opportunity for us to explore just that. And who better to do it with than the organisation that’s been championing employee ownership since 1979?

JGA has long been an active supporter of the Employee Ownership Association’s work to grow the sector – and a keen participant in their virtual networking and member events – but our visit to Hull was our first in-person conversation with James and his expanded team.

‘We keep up-to-date with the EOA’s activities through their regular channels and online content, but after two years of being on-screen there’s still a real novelty – and sparkle – to meeting up with people face-to-face,’ says JGA Operations Manager Lisa Fryer says. ‘Heading to Hull, we had a real sense of a fresh start.’

Building better connections to grow EO

Having attended the EOA’s Better Business Together 2022 event in March, we already knew some of the EOA’s ambitious plans to grow EO’s positive impact, so we were excited. Arriving at the EOA’s Humberside head office, we wanted to see how we might best support them as well as develop their understanding of the difference JGA can make.

Together, our MD Jeremy Gadd and Lisa updated the team on our full range of transition, people and governance services – including those we have launched over the last two years.

‘There was a great energy and it was encouraging to see how the EOA team engaged with some of the innovative services we now offer,’ says Lisa. ‘We really appreciated their warm welcome and the fact that the whole team had cleared their diaries to join.’

The right support at the right time

She adds: ‘We helped them to understand how JGA’s wide-ranging support enhances the experience of our clients – not just at the point of transition but in the years beyond, as they grow.

‘Yet employee ownership isn’t right for every organisation, so we also explained how we can help owners and founders to make an informed choice at this point in their succession planning. As trusted independent advisors, our clients’ interests will always come first.’

Jeremy was delighted with the visit. ‘The EOA is a major part of what we do at JGA, providing valuable support for their members and the wider sector we both serve,’ he explains.

‘I enjoyed putting so many new faces to new names and felt we left them with a greater appreciation of the breadth and impact of our services and the professionalism we bring to our work with clients in the EO and values-led space.’

Exciting plans for our shared future

Looking ahead, Jeremy and Lisa headed back down the M1 encouraged by James’ and the EOA’s stronger focus on growing EO – not just through raising awareness, but also by promoting best EO practice and its economic and social potential as a force for good.

‘It was a treat to spend a morning with a team who seemed so positive and engaged in growing EO’s future,’ Lisa concludes. ‘At JGA, we’ve recently started our own journey to becoming employee-owned so our next step is to play an even greater part at 2022’s Employee Ownership Day on 24 June.’