Meet Kathie – JGA’s supportive enabler of impactful EO
Is everything better when it’s technology-based? Not for Associate Kathie Robb. Harnessing the power of Teams and Zoom became a necessity in 2020, but sometimes providing support to companies who are becoming employee-owned (EO) just works better when it’s face to face.
As Kathie explains: ‘You can really listen and get a better feel for what the client is trying to achieve.’
This is especially important as companies start their journey into EO. Alongside helping businesses to begin that transition, Kathie also provides support for Employee Trustees through JGA’s Trustee Connect network and contributes to our Independent Trustee Resourcing service with Russam.
A lifetime’s learning
So what does Kathie enjoy most about her work with JGA?
‘The variety,’ she says. ‘I never know what opportunities are around the corner and it’s exciting to get a call saying we have a new client. Where are they? What do they do? How many employees? There’s always so much to find out and every job is very different.
‘I get to work with some brilliant and inspiring people, who are constantly adding something useful to my experience. Employee ownership is an interesting sector and after 30-plus years I like the fact I’m still always learning something new.’
More than one way to be EO
Most of Kathie’s years in EO were as an HR leader with the John Lewis Partnership, after initially joining the Waitrose Graduate Scheme. For her, the biggest surprise since she left in 2014 has been the diverse nature of employee ownership – and the companies who choose it.
‘After so long with John Lewis, I thought there was only one way to do EO. But I now understand there are so many ways to create and develop an EO business. It’s important that what we do fits with the client’s culture and the way they want to work.’
Having said that, when clients are setting out on a similar journey – perhaps transitioning to EO, setting up employee representation or looking to build an effective Trust Board – there’s a ‘golden thread’ running through them.
‘Everybody faces similar issues and challenges, whatever path to EO they choose,’ she explains.
‘It’s exciting to get a call saying we have a new client. Where are they? What do they do? How many employees? There’s always so much to find out and every job is very different’
Kathie Robb, JGA Associate
Connecting and supporting Employee Trustees
Take Trustee Connect, whose regular online meetings Kathie facilitates. Free to all our current and former clients, this network was launched in 2020 in response to JGA’s increasing awareness of the often solo nature of this role in a business.
As Kathie recalls: ‘I watched new and established Trustees carrying out their valuable roles, which sit in the engine rooms of EO businesses, and noticed that these brilliant, dedicated individuals were struggling – often because they were working in a vacuum.
‘Trustee Connect enables everyone from new to established Employee Trustees to share their issues and experiences. More importantly, it enables them to share ideas and scenarios which help to build knowledge and confidence in their role.’
Trustee Connect also ensures JGA remains up-to-date with what’s challenging Trustees and Trust Boards today.
Going the extra mile
Kathie describes being with JGA as ‘stimulating, stretching and fun’, adding that our ongoing move towards employee ownership feels ‘the right way to go’.
‘It’s a slow burn, but we’ve always worked well together: why would becoming EO feel any different?’ she explains. ‘It’s JGA’s ownership model that’s changing, not our values and culture – and that’s a good thing.’
So what gets Kathie through her working day?
We used to have a flock of mischievous sheep, forever getting themselves stuck in ditches and hedges. Now they’ve gone, I can enjoy an early morning walk with our dog without any ‘sheep rescues’. That fresh air sets me up for the day.
Likewise, in the evening I like to clear my head after a day at the desk or with a client, and now we no longer have our pigs there’s time to walk the fields with our dog and practice her scent training.
Coffee, cake and biscuits. I love baking and, as my husband is coeliac, I’ve perfected the art of baking delicious (mostly – there have been a few disasters) gluten-free cakes. I keep experimenting, so there’s always cake or biscuits on the go in our house!
I get a real buzz when a client or trustee calls to talk through their issues and work out the best way forward. It’s even better when they call back to say that what we discussed worked.
If you’d like to know more about how JGA can support your organisation through our Transition, People and Governance services, please get in touch here.