We are very happy to announce a change of ownership at HCS Safety.
As of April 2025, we are now 75% owned by the HCS Safety Employee Ownership Trust. These are exciting times for all of us as we welcome in a new era of employee ownership. We have always had a strong team ethos here at HCS Safety, but this is now made so much more real and we look forward to the future, of owning our own company and bringing the spirit of that to benefit our clients.
It was a long and detailed process, involving a company valuation, share transfers and appointment of trustees.
So what is an Employee Ownership Trust?
An EOT, or Employee Ownership Trust, is a type of trust that enables a company to be owned by its employees.
The trust holds the majority stake in the company for the benefit of all employees, rather than individual employees owning shares directly.
EOTs were introduced by the UK government in 2014 to encourage more businesses to become employee-owned.
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Purpose:
EOTs are designed to facilitate employee ownership, offering a way for business owners to transfer ownership to their employees without the complexities of direct share ownership.
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How it works:
A trust is established for the benefit of all employees, and the existing owners of the company transfer a majority shareholding to the trust.
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Benefits:
Selling to an EOT can offer tax advantages for business owners, and it can potentially lead to increased employee engagement and commitment within the company.
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Succession planning:
EOTs are often used as part of a business succession plan, allowing business owners to gradually transition to employee ownership while ensuring the company’s long-term sustainability.
While our ownership structure has evolved, our commitment to you remains exactly the same. You’ll still receive the same expert advice, dedicated support, and high-quality training that HCS Safety is known for. This change simply strengthens our long-term stability and passion for delivering the best in health and safety services.
We are all looking forward to an exciting future as an EOT!
