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Selling your Business? Why not sell to your employees?

Planning for succession is one of the biggest challenges a business owner will face, and despite the fact that giving the topic early consideration can mean better results for the employer, the employees and the business, many delay.

Instead of viewing succession planning as a daunting task, Scottish Enterprise is encouraging businesses to see the potential for change as an opportunity to secure their business’ future and improve its performance.

As a succession solution which can bring a host of benefits, employee buyouts are becoming increasingly popular in Scotland. Becoming employee-owned gives staff a meaningful stake in the business, boosting productivity and performance, whilst ensuring the company is anchored in the local area, retaining jobs and skills.

For STAR-Dundee, which was sold to the employees by founding academic, Prof Steve Parkes last year, selecting the right succession option was vital to retain and strengthen the culture and ensure that it always has a base in Dundee.

Commenting on the decision, Stuart Mills, STAR-Dundee’s new CEO, said: “STAR-Dundee has been a great success because of its people.  Our move to employee ownership allows these individuals to have a greater say in the running of the company and to further benefit from the company’s success.”

To help business owners decide whether an employee buyout could work for their business, Scottish Enterprise will be hosting a series of ‘Selling your Business’ workshops over the coming months, exploring succession options including employee ownership.

If you are a business owner considering an exit from your company, these workshops are an excellent opportunity to hear from succession and employee ownership specialists, as well as employee-owned companies themselves. View the full programme of workshops.

Dundee, 23 October 2018

Oil and gas engineering consultancy Merlin ERD and aerospace engineering company STAR Dundee explain why they chose an employee buyout, while law firm Blackadders gives guidance for business owners looking for an exit strategy.

Book your place here

Glasgow, 20 February 2019

Discover why luxury resort Auchrannie and design and digital agency P4P sold to their employees and get expert advice from Co-ownership Solutions.

Book your place here

Whether you’re looking to exit your business imminently or in the more distant future, it’s never too early to start exploring your options.