EO Accelerator
Do you want a clearer understanding of employee ownership as a succession planning option?
The EO Accelerator is a new learning programme that fast-tracks a business owner’s exploration and understanding of employee ownership (EO), ultimately accelerating their decision as to whether EO is right for their business.
We know from in-depth research we have supported that thousands of SME owners plan to exit their business in the next five to 10 years. Yet 2023’s ‘Generation EO: The Great Succession Opportunity’ report showed that understanding of employee ownership as a succession option remains comparatively low.
That’s where the EO Accelerator comes in.
Practical, interactive and focused – this one-day in-person workshop will cover everything you, as a business founder/owner, need to know to accelerate your knowledge about employee ownership as a succession option.
What will the EO Accelerator cover?
Choosing to transition your business to employee ownership is a big personal, professional and commercial decision. Our new EO Accelerator workshop will clarify and explore the following points to help you decide if it’s the right path for you:
Why employee ownership?
An exploration of employee ownership models
The benefits and challenges of employee ownership
An overview of the legal, financial and tax implications of becoming employee-owned
Governance
The key stages to prepare and transition an organisation into employee ownership
The day will include presentations, small-group discussions, Q&A and time for personal action planning – bringing together experienced tax, legal, commercial and cultural advisors to support your exploration of employee ownership as a succession option.
What will you learn?
JGA launched our first ever EO Accelerator workshop in Bristol on 24 September 2024 alongside experienced legal and financial advisors Triodos Bank and TLT, who specialise in the employee ownership sector.
By the end of the workshop, our goal for those who attended that day was that they would:
Understand what transitioning to employee ownership involves
Understand the steps that need to be taken to embed and accelerate employee ownership in an organisation
Be in a position to confirm that employee ownership is the right way forward for them and their organisation, and have a personalised action plan
Following very positive feedback from the founder/owners who attended that day, we’re now exploring how to build on the first EO Accelerator’s success. Watch this space!
Who is the EO Accelerator for?
We know there are a large number of businesses with no succession plans currently, and employee ownership is a small (but fast growing) option for this group.
There are also second- and third-generation family businesses where there are no natural succession plans – however, sustaining a family business and legacy is important.
This course is for you if you are a founder/owner who is time-poor and wishes to immerse yourself in group learning and networking to really accelerate your understanding of EO as a business model – and gain sufficient insight to support well-informed decisions about your future plans.
Saving time and energy as you plan your exit strategy
One of the key challenges we hear from those exploring employee ownership business models is the amount of time and varying information that is available.
As there is no single ‘cut and stick’ solution, speaking with experienced advisors at an early stage can really help to speed up your understanding and thinking, which will support future decision-making.
Undertaking this exploration can take months (if not years) and is dependent on meeting or being fortunate enough to be introduced to a wide range of other business owners, many with different views and experiences.
This leaves you with the challenge of working out what information is necessary and appropriate for your business and, most importantly, your goals.
A track record of success
JGA’s expertise is built on years of working in this sector, being involved in hundreds of conversations inside organisations preparing for – and working through – the change to an employee ownership model.
Many of us have years of experience working as leaders in employee-owned organisations before joining JGA. Several of us are Independent Trustees and have wider experience in governance.
We have supported more than 100 businesses with transition, people and governance activities, varying from mentoring owners and senior leaders to providing guidance on external communications and announcements, coaching senior leaders and establishing effective Trust Boards.
Read about some of the companies we have supported here.
We also take care to remain up-to-date and informed about factors influencing the EO sector, through our long-established relationship with the eoa (Employee Ownership Association), their membership services, our Trusted Partners and wider continuous development and reading. You can learn more about us and our difference here.
We understand the complexities and impact of introducing change, and our skill is in helping identify concerns as well as possible solutions to enable the change you want. Attending the EO Accelerator enables you to save time and money on gathering the information you need to make future decisions with confidence.
Want to know more about how JGA and our new Telos Partners colleagues can support you and your business through our transition, people and governance services? Get in touch with us now.