Robertson Bell, a professional services recruitment agency for the public and not for profit sectors, has been sold to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
The news, which marks Robertson Bell’s 15th anniversary, comes in light of the company’s best ever trading year, despite troubles for the charity sector caused by the pandemic.
Founded by CEO Stuart Bell in 2007, the company faced the prospect of surviving a recession in its early years but navigated this – and recent – turbulent market conditions to achieve year on year growth throughout its 15 year history. Reaffirming his ambition for further growth, the move to sell to an EOT is aimed at building a legacy for the employees who will be creating the company’s future successes.
Introduced in the Finance Act 2014, EOTs allow shares to be held on behalf of a company’s employees.
Robertson Bell EOT Limited will facilitate employee ownership of Robertson Bell, ensuring they are the ones to benefit from company profits and the continued growth of the business. Employees become eligible to be beneficiaries of the trust after 12 months of service.
Stuart Bell says: “Having spent 15 years building a business, one that is continually evolving and adapting to the ever-changing needs of the organisations it helps, the time has come to transfer ownership to the those who have made Robertson Bell the success it has been; its people. Through an EOT we can empower staff with the knowledge that they will be the ones to benefit as the company continues to flourish.”
Robertson Bell has grown into a team of 35.
Stuart continues: “This company hasn’t been built by experienced people; it has been built brick by brick by people starting as trainees. With that has come deep-rooted values of being down to earth and I am conscious of protecting this grounding, culture, and emphasis on our people. While I will remain CEO, this is a unique opportunity for those people to take on more responsibility and leadership. It has real potential to change their lives.”
