UK agencies Sledge and SWM Partners become employee owned

Sledge, a UK based agency with experience in live experience and film, and global healthcare event and communications agency, SWM Partners, have announced they have become employee owned. The news comes as the group’s former owners, Robin Fawcett and Sarah Yeats sell the majority of their shares to a newly formed Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). It sees the group’s existing 35 staff members, as well as future talent, become shareholders in the EOT, and ensures it maintains its independence. The EOT will own 75% of the group, and all employees’ shares will be held in the trust. Former majority owners will maintain a 25% stake in the business. The move is designed to “empower employees”, and provide them with greater opportunities to contribute to the group that “positively impacts its people, clients and partners”. Employees should have more say in both the future of the agencies, and their own career progression. The group believes its clients will also benefit from this new model. The EOT will produce higher levels of employee motivation and commitment, and see it attract the industry’s best talent. Job roles, and organisational processes and procedures remain unchanged, however employee motivation, wellbeing and development will be placed at the forefront of the group’s operations. Fawcett said: “We have always been an employee-first group, and the decision to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust model further exemplifies this. While we have sold the group to the EOT, Sarah and I will remain involved in both agencies, and remain wholly committed to their continued success.” Yeats added: “We value the insight and expertise of our people. We are passionate about empowering them to contribute to the ongoing development of the group, and the EOT model champions this.”