eoa Employee Ownership Annual Conference 2025: Reflections
Last week we were delighted to join more than 850 people from across the employee ownership community at the International Conference Centre in Telford for the eoa's Annual Employee Ownership Conference. It’s always a highlight in the EO calendar and a place where ideas are exchanged, challenges are shared openly, and inspiration is everywhere.
For anyone exploring employee ownership or preparing for an EOT, the conference once again proved why it’s such a valuable space. Two days to hear what’s happening across the sector, learn from real experiences, and gather the sort of insight that helps shape confident decisions.
Day 1: Keynotes, conversations, and excellence
Day 1 was packed from start to finish. One of the standout moments for our team was the keynote from Henry Rose Lee, who explored the realities of multigenerational workplaces. Her breakdown of how different generations think, communicate, and expect to be led triggered a whole stream of discussion among our team - the conversation continued over coffee the next morning with (unsurprisingly) a wide range of views across our own generational mix! It gave us plenty to reflect on, both internally and in the way we support clients.
Celebrating excellence
The EO Awards ceremony is always a highlight. A huge congratulations to all the finalists and winners.
We were especially proud of our own Lorna Martin, who was commended for Employee Owner of the Year. Lorna’s contribution to securing the long-term EO legacy at Postlethwaite and her role in championing EO across the wider legal profession made this recognition incredibly special. Naturally, we marked the moment with a glass (or two!) of fizz before heading out to the festival-themed evening, where we joined hundreds of others dancing the night away.
Special congratulations to Ann Tyler
We were also thrilled to see Ann Tyler honoured with the Philip Baxendale Fellowship Award recognising her outstanding, long-standing contribution to the growth of employee ownership in the UK. A hugely well-deserved moment for someone whose influence and commitment run deep throughout the sector.
Day 2: Strategy, optimism and the budget!
Day 2 saw the launch of the UK EO Growth Strategy by the eoa, setting an ambitious goal of reaching 7,500 employee-owned businesses in the next five years. The timing at pretty much the same time as the Autumn Budget announced its unexpected reduction of EOT CGT relief created an interesting back drop to the launch, but the determination from the EO community was clear: the bigger picture matters, and the appetite for growth hasn’t dimmed. Read more about the eoa's planned growth strategy here.
Lorna takes the stage
A highlight was Lorna speaking on the panel “Unlocking EO for Younger Generations”. The session echoed the themes from Henry Rose Lee’s keynote, underlining how younger employees want involvement, clarity, and authentic leadership — not simply updates from afar. The discussion was lively, thoughtful, and incredibly relevant given the generational shifts happening in organisations of every kind.
Books and Budget changes...
We loved welcoming so many people to our stand over the two days, from those exploring employee ownership for the first time to long-established EO businesses swapping experiences.
We also met several fans of Robert’s book, The Employee Ownership Manual (2nd edition), which was lovely! And given the recent Budget changes, we’re rolling up our sleeves for the 3rd edition - so watch this space!
Our key takeaways
Several themes really stayed with us:
People are hungry for practical, honest conversations about what EO looks like behind the scenes.
Multi-generational workplaces are becoming the norm and the organisations that lean into those differences - rather than flatten them - are more likely to thrive.
Communication needs to be varied, intentional and inclusive if employees are truly going to feel like owners.
The EO community remains wonderfully open, generous and collaborative. It’s one of the sector’s greatest strengths.
Owning the future through EO
The 2025 EOA Annual Conference left us feeling energised, thoughtful, and proud to be part of such a passionate and forward-thinking community.
We returned to the office with new ideas, new connections, and a renewed commitment to helping businesses explore and transition successfully to employee ownership.
If you’re beginning your EO journey or considering an EOT for your business, we’d be very happy to help you explore your next steps, please contact us for a no obligation initial discussion.