At Educ8 Training, we’re proud to be an employee-owned business and EO Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate what that truly means for our people. As an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), we believe in shared success, transparency, and giving every team member a genuine voice in shaping our future.
To mark the occasion, we spoke to Michelle Watkins, our ESQ Facilitator and a member of Collabor8, our internal group that represents the voice of staff across the business. In this short Q&A, Michelle shares her thoughts on what employee ownership means to them, how Collabor8 supports the wider team, and why this model makes a difference in the workplace.
What does being part of an employee-owned company mean to you?
For me, it is a chance for me to be involved in making a difference to a company that I have worked at for a long time. I have seen a lot of changes made in the time that I have worked for Educ8 and now being part of an EOT, it allows me to work with other members of the group to come to an agreement on changes that could be made to improve certain areas. This is all done by listening to other people before decisions are made. This way, you will have more engagement from others and change is more likely to work.
How does being an employee-owned trust benefit the staff at Educ8 Training?
It means that there is more engagement across the group and the opportunity for everyone to be listened to. It is the chance for people to have a say in what happens with the business and become more involved.
Can you explain what Collabor8 is and your role within the group?
Collabor8 was set up to support the board of trustees as part of the EOT. We hold regular meetings to look at questions that have been brought forward from one to ones or team meetings. We also discuss anything that has come from the board that we need to take to team meetings
What impact have you seen Collabor8 have on decision-making or company culture?
It is still early days for Collabora8 but even though we haven’t been set up for very long, I feel that we have had a positive impact and are listening to points that others have brought up. These discussion points are then fed to the trustees and any decisions or point are shared in the newsletter. This shows others that they are being listened to and will be more likely to speak out in future.
Why do you think employee ownership is important in today’s workplace?
Employee ownership is important in today’s workplace as it gives employees a sense of purpose that helps to increase motivation and productivity. It can also lead to a lower staff turnover as employees feel more included in decisions that are made that can affect them. With the opportunity to share profits, it will motivate staff to become more invested in the company as a whole. If employees feel trusted and included, they are more likely to speak up with ideas and stay loyal to the company.
Watch: What being employee-owned means to us
To celebrate EO Day, we asked some of our staff to share what being part of an employee-owned company means to them. From a sense of pride to a stronger team culture, the message is clear we’re in this together.
Watch the video below to hear from the Educ8 team.
Want to learn more about the benefits of working with Educ8? Click here to find out more.
