TWO of Swindon’s most successful employee owned organisations have joined forces to celebrate Employee Ownership Day.

SEQOL and the National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC) will be holding a business breakfast on Employee Ownership Day onFriday at the Lydiard Fields site from 8am until 10.30am.

What Difference Does Employee Ownership Really Make? will feature speakers from each of the host organisations, as well as the UK’s largest employee-owned business, John Lewis, on how the change has made them stronger.

There will also be ample time for questions on how these organisations have found and benefitted from the transition.

Peter Matthews, of Capital for Colleagues, an employee ownership advisor, will also speak on what employee ownership is and why businesses chose to be employee owned.

He will give an introduction to employee-owned business models and how Capital for Colleagues can support businesses becoming employee-owned businesses.

Employee-owned businesses now contribute £30bn to the economy annually.

Figures from the National Employee Ownership Association also show employee-owned businesses have outperformed their markets during the recession and that last year on average they increased their operating profits by 25.5 per cent.

Staff satisfaction in this type of business is high, with 80 per cent of employees happy to recommend their place of work.

Heather Mitchell, CEO of SEQOL, said: “SEQOL has been employee owned since 2011 and this way of structuring our business enables our staff to feel in control of the organisation.

“We are able to make suggestions on new services and ways of working that not only benefits them, but are also beneficial to the people of Swindon that use our services.”

Harvey Fremlin, general manager of NSBRC, said: “Whilst relatively early in our journey of employee ownership, the NSBRC has already seen the benefits of this model.

“It has both galvanised and energised an already dedicated team and through increased retention with our clients, who recognise the passion and commitment to service that employee ownership naturally brings.”

Arrivals are expected from 8am with breakfast served before a formal welcome from NSBRC and SEQOL and a keynote speech from North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson.

Mr Matthews will begin his talk at 8.30am before the panel is asked questions at 8.50am.

Networking will begin at 10.05am before the event is closed at 10.30am.

The event is sponsored by commercial solicitors Clark Holt and to register for free tickets, visit www.employeeownershipday.eventbrite.co.uk