We’re proudly employee-owned

We’re incredibly excited to announce that Engage is now 100% employee owned. A bold move which sets out a clear path and vision for our future, ensuring long-term stability and rewarding our greatest asset, our people; the driving force behind our success.

Got questions? Of course you do — we’ll do our best to answer them below.

Sounds great… but what is it?

We’ve facilitated employee ownership though an Employee Owned Trust (EoT), an ownership model which enables employees to collectively own a majority stake in the business they work. Through doing so we’ll be joining the ranks of other well known employee owned businesses such as John Lewis, Richer Sounds and one of our team’s favourites, Aardman.

So why do it? Well it not only gives everyone in the team a meaningful stake in the future success of Engage but also fosters a vibrant, collaborative workplace where everyone’s voice matters. It’s a powerful and proven way to boost motivation, enhance job satisfaction, and ensure that the rewards of hard work are shared by all. Imagine working for a company where everyone is an owner, pulling together — that’s the promise of an EoT.

“We talk a lot about being people powered. What better way to show your people just how important they are to the business than to gift them a meaningful stake in its future success?”

Alex Willcocks, Founder & MD

And exactly how does it work?

An EoT works by placing the majority ownership of a company into a trust, created for the benefit of all employees. Instead of being controlled by outside investors or a single owner, the trust holds the shares on behalf of these employees. This structure means that profits can be reinvested or distributed among the team, creating a strong sense of ownership and shared purpose. A EoT only requires a controlling interest (50%+) of shares to be placed into trust but Alex and the board have transferred 100% of their shareholding and through doing so, are fully committing to our shared future.

The result? We’re truly people powered! Morale and motivation get a boost and decision-making becomes more democratic, with employees having a say in the company’s direction and policies through two employee reps being voted on to the operations board. Our hope is that this collaborative approach not only fuels future success but also creates a workplace where everyone is invested in each other’s achievements — that’s something we’ve already got at Engage, but we’re expecting this to kick it up another notch.

Okay, that’s clear. But why has Engage become employee owned?

Successful businesses often change ownership at some point in their journey. The most common way to do that is to sell to another agency, to become part of someone else’s success story. We didn’t want to do that.

Why? Because it’s not what Engage has been about. After nurturing something for close to two decades, and working with countless brilliant people along the way, there’s always a chance that the culture you’ve built comes tumbling down. That what makes Engage special disappears into a corporate behemoth, that your amazing colleagues find going to work becomes something entirely different almost overnight.

Alex and the board didn’t want that to happen. The solution was employee ownership, with Alex remaining to steer the ship (other metaphors are available). It begins the writing of another chapter (see, that’s another one) in Engage’s history, but one that protects employees, our culture and our special way of doing things.

What will change for clients?

We’d like to say ‘nothing’, but that’s not entirely true.

You’re going to get seamless, uninterrupted service, naturally, but we think you’ll start to see a little more. As a client — either existing or potential — our transition to employee ownership means you’ll benefit from a more engaged and motivated team, all deeply invested in delivering the best for your business. A report by the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) found that 83% of employee owned businesses report increased employee engagement - that’s something you’ll benefit from.

With everyone on the team now having an equal and meaningful stake in the success of Engage, our commitment to exceptional service and innovative solutions will be stronger than ever. This shift aligns perfectly with our values as a people-first B-Corp, ensuring that our ethical standards and dedication to positive impact remain at the forefront of everything we do. You can expect the same high-quality service, now powered by a team that’s even more passionate about your success and our shared vision for a better, more sustainable future.

I’d like to work for Engage one day. What would it mean for me?

All of the above — a place where our values are enshrined in a trust that works for the benefit of all employees. A place where you’ll be appreciated, rewarded and treated like a grown-up, not just another agency drone.

That same EOA survey found that many employee-owned businesses didn’t just have more engagement and job satisfaction, they also paid more, were less likely to make redundancies and able to distribute greater bonuses. They also provided more benefits such as healthcare and flexible approaches to working.

We’re already passionate about our people and proud of our status as Leeds’ first B-Corp. This move just reinforces that approach. We’ll say it loud — we’re a Great Place To Work!

Last one. What is the future vision for Engage under employee ownership?

It’s full steam ahead from hereonin. The dream for Engage under employee ownership is to keep doing what we’re already doing, but bigger, better and bolder.

We want our team to feel treasured, to be rewarded and, in return, to create even better work for our brilliant clients (a big ask — they’re already knocking it out of the park).

We want people to keep making careers here, rather than seeing Engage as a brief stop on their digital journey. Our staff retention is already something we’re proud of — we think it will be better. We won’t lie, we’re aiming for number one on the Great Place to Work list.

Mostly, we want the voice of our employees to drive, shape and improve the business every single day, month and year, so we can become the kind of business everyone wants to work for and with. Put simply, we want to be the best employee owned business we can possibly be.

Want to be part of the journey?

We’re always on the lookout for talented, team players to join our ranks. In exchange, we’ll provide you with an environment to learn and grow, and one where your voice is truly heard.