The Power of #OwningIt: Why Employee Ownership Works For Us

EO Day 2026 is fast approaching, and we couldn’t let the day go by without reflecting on our own EO journey and why the EO culture works for us.

Taking place on Friday 19th June and organised by the Employee Ownership Association (eoa), the day celebrates employee-owned businesses and how they are building a resilient, people-powered sector that supports the growth of employee-owned models.

This year’s theme, #OwningIt, encourages those who have influence to shout about how the employee-owned model brings benefits to employees, businesses, the economy and communities. The eoa is encouraging employee-owned businesses to shout loud, be bold and be proud of the model by telling their stories and shining a light on those who drive impact and progress every day. 

Absolute PR and Marketing made the transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in March 2023 following decades of steady growth. Founder and owner, Rachael Whitson, sold a 90% stake in the business to the EOT, resulting in employees being recognised more in the future running of the business and having greater exposure to business operations. 

As a purpose-driven agency, our culture has always been value-led and centred around teamwork and collaboration. We’re a small, close-knit team so maintaining strong relationships and communication is fundamental in the way we work to ensure we provide an excellent service to our clients. It’s why we haven’t adopted a fully remote model and enjoy coming into a physical office every day to work. And of course, it helps that our office is surrounded by the beautiful Dunchideock countryside with a pond and gardens, perfect for when you need a screen break.

“In my experience, we all work really effectively when we are sat in the same room, sharing ideas and working collaboratively on a project to deliver the best results for our clients,” says Employee Trustee Director Gill. “We’ve nurtured a culture that values the importance of good relationships for years, and this has made transitioning to an employee-owned company feel pretty seamless for Absolute.” 

Becoming an employee-owned business ensures the team has an invested interest in how the business is performing. We’re not just doing a job for a pay cheque at the end of the month. We genuinely care about the work we are doing for clients and celebrate our successes as a team. A job well done means a positive future for the company and continued financial growth for Absolute. 

Gill has certainly seen a positive shift in the working culture over the last three years: “The EO ethos is all about being a collective, sharing our successes and working together to ensure the future security of the business, and I’ve received comments from the team saying they have certainly seen that reflected in Absolute’s culture over the last few years. They’ve always cared about the work they do, but since becoming co-owners of the business and being exposed to this extra layer of financial information, how the business operates and how our client wins are reflected in the future of the business, it has given them that extra drive to see their roles as more than just a job. We show up every day and be the best at what we do because the future of Absolute depends on us! With more transparency in place, there’s a greater invested interest in business development and the actions we are taking to secure Absolute’s future.” 

Becoming an EOT has given us access to a fantastic community of like-minded businesses that are striving to launch this model into the mainstream. 

It’s one of the highlights that Managing Director Rachael has experienced: “I made the decision to transition Absolute to an EOT to secure its future and ensure that the legacy of a business we have worked hard to build over the last 26 years lives on well into the future. 

“We are now part of a group of employee-owned businesses that support and champion each other. I have found new connections really useful when it came to shared experience and helping to guide me through our transition and onward EO journey.” 

“I’ve seen so many benefits from transitioning to an EOT. I have an engaged and resilient team that are driven by a real purpose, not just through our work with clients but for the wider benefit of all employees in the business. It’s also been satisfying to see the team adopting a longer-term view of the business.” 

If you would like to find out more about employee-ownership and how adopting this model could help your business, we’re always happy to have a chat about our own experience and provide tips and support. Do just contact us on 01392 680740 or email info@absoluteprandmarketing.com.   

Click here to find out more about the eoa.