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Employee ownership video guide

Could switching to employee ownership help your business? Watch a series of short videos from our specialist advisers at Co-operative Development Scotland. They explore the benefits of employee ownership and dispel common myths about this business model. 

Are you considering employee ownership and do you want to learn more about how it works? These video guides from our Co-operative Development Scotland Specialist Advisers are a great place to start.

The videos provide a simple overview of employee ownership. They also dispel some of the myths that we come across in the wider business support community and when we speak to clients. 

Introduction to employee ownership: what is and how it works

If you're considering a succession plan for your business, it can be challenging to find a solution. One option available to you is employee ownership.

An employee-owned business is one in which the employees hold the majority of shares. It provides a way to safeguard the long-term future of the business and ensure fair price for the exiting owner. It also gives employees peace of mind, as they know the business is unlikely to be resold, relocated or closed down.

Employee-owned businesses benefit the economy too, as employers and businesses remain in the local area.  They're are also proven to be more productive and resilient.

Find out more about employee ownership and how it works by watching our video guide. 

Employee ownership: common myths explained


Our Co-operative Development Scotland advisers regularly hear the same misunderstandings about employee ownership. Common myths include:

  • Myth 1: Selling to an employee ownership trust is a complex process.
  • Myth 2: Employees can't afford to buy the business in an employee ownership transaction.
  • Myth 3: Employee ownership is a retirement plan. I don’t want to retire.
  • Myth 4: When selling to an Employee Ownership Trust, the vendor will have to compromise on price.
  • Myth 5: Employees won’t have the ambition to grow the business and they'll want to keep profits for themselves. 

Watch our video guide from our expert adviser Glen Dott, who dispels each of these five myths. 

Watch more videos on employee ownership

If you'd like to find out more about employee ownership, you can watch our full video series Employee Ownership Explained.opens in a new window on YouTube. 

To learn more best practices and key steps in selling to an EOT, watch our full video series the EOT Transaction: Getting it rightopens in a new window on YouTube. 

Employee ownership guides and resources 

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Want to learn more about employee ownership as an exit strategy? Get in touch and we'll help you explore your options.

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