I had an interesting day yesterday at the Centre for Mutual and Employee-Owned Business which is based at Kellogg College, Oxford. The Centre was started bas a response to the increased interest in the participatory approach to stakeholder involvement in co-owned and mutual organisations.  The centre is the focus for research and professional development serving …

Co ownership is fast becoming a hot issue in the forthcoming election.  As the parties argue over who thought of it first, what the model will be, whether the focus should be on public sector, private sector or both, they cynics are saying it can’t work.  How can people run their own company, become truly …

Yesterday, I met with Eileen Jarrett who chairs the Employee Ownership Board at Tullis Russell Papermakers based in Fife, Scotland.  She was telling me that despite the challenges currently facing the paper industry, Tullis Russell continues to hold its own.  In some ways, the size of Tullis Russell is a huge advantage in such a …

I was interested in Jim Naughtie’s reaction this morning on the Today programme as he questioned George Osborne on the proposal for “co-operative schools”.   Naughtie appeared quite incredulous that the teachers might have the power to fire the head teacher.  Wouldn’t this lead to anarchy?
The evidence from the employee ownership world, where often the leaders …

Why pursuit of shareholder value is bad for business, for individuals and for society.

Yesterday, John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest employee owned firm, published a report based on research by CASS Business School.  The report looks at whether employee owned businesses deliver sustainable performance.  The research presents considerable evidence to support the claim that employee owned businesses are better for individual employees, do better business, and make a …

I attended a very interesting and stimulating event today which was arranged jointly by the Employee Ownership Association and John Lewis Partnership.  The line up of speakers was impressive – Will Davies (Reinventing the Firm), Richard Wilkinson (Spirit Level)  , Philip Blond (Respublica), Charlie Mayfield (Chairman John Lewis) Prof Joseph Lampel (CASS business school) and …

As the expenses scandal grinds on, confidence in our politicians is at an all time low.   There seems to be a gaping chasm between our elected representatives and those they represent.  Is it time for the citizens to have a voice? Last night’s BBC Radio 4 show Mark Thomas, The Manifesto in its small …

I’ve just spent a very inspirational day with the employees of Loch Fyne Oysters.  This is a company that moved into employee ownership in 2004 and as a result have managed to sustain a very successful business in one of the most beautiful locations on earth.  Had the company been sold to a trade buyer, …

On Monday, Gordon Brown kept mutuals and employee ownership as a key election issue with a commitment to put co-operatives at the heart of the Labour manifesto. All the main UK parties are supporting co ownership as a potential model for both private and public sector business.  There is still some scepticism as to whether …