Did you know that Skout is an employee-owned B2B PR and communications agency?
In 2023, our founding shareholders Rob and Claire made the decision to sign the company over to an Employee-Owned Trust (EOT).
As Claire mentioned at the time of the transition: “Much of the success Skout has enjoyed is down to the commitment of our brilliant team and we want to recognise and reward that. They live and breathe Skout’s values and as we transition to employee ownership, we’re not only giving them true ownership, but also securing our future and continuing to work towards being one of the best agencies to work for in the UK”
With this in mind, we’re delighted to celebrate EO Day which takes place on Friday 20th June. This year’s theme is #EOsmile – an opportunity to showcase how becoming an EOT has not only helped make our agency stronger but has also contributed to the culture of Skout.
Three ways being an EOT makes us stronger
1. We’re a people-first agency. To us, this means that employees should be at the heart of every decision made. An EOT protects the best interests of the team as well as the ‘character’ of the company while also providing added benefits such as tax-free bonuses. That means a happy team all year-round and an extremely happy team at the end of the financial year.
2.It’s our ‘compass’ for everything we do. From making even the smallest of decisions to fostering a sense of purpose, being an EOT is more than just a statement, it’s an ethos! Over the past two years this has driven more employee involvement, a shift in how we operate and cultivated a mindset of shared responsibility for the business.
3.Skout will remain Skout. Being an EOT preserves our culture and values and provides the safety of long-term stability. And when it’s time for the leadership baton to be passed on, the team and our clients will be reassured that it will be to someone who is a champion of the business.
What does the team think about being part of an EOT?
“It’s empowering to know that we all have a real stake in Skout’s future. It makes coming to work feel even more meaningful.”
“Being part of an EOT shows that the company genuinely cares about us and our development. It’s a rare and rewarding experience.”
“The sense of teamwork and shared purpose is stronger than ever. We all want to see Skout succeed, and now we’re truly in it together.”
“I was genuinely impressed by Skout’s decision to become employee-owned—it’s rare to join a company like this.”
How being an EOT has helped influence our people-first culture
We’re all about creating smiles at Skout – this means living and breathing our value of ‘fun’. Over the past year, we have done this by:
- Organising monthly wellbeing sessions for the team. This has included pottery painting, yoga, financial workshops, mental health sessions and knitting (yes, you read that right).
- Participating in the annual Macclesfield Pancake Race which takes place just outside the office. This is something we have always wanted to do and we finally did it (unfortunately we didn’t win).
- Celebrating big wins and achievements with champagne, prosecco and cake. When we have something to celebrate, we always do it in style!
- Offsites and socials that bring the team together for unforgettable experiences. You may have seen on our socials that this year’s annual offsite took place at rollercoaster theme park, Alton Towers.
- There are countless more examples from dad jokes in the office to the introduction of a fully paid sabbatical when you reach five years of service. #EOsmile is the perfect opportunity to reflect on all the smiles we’ve had at Skout over the past 12 months.
Want to learn more about what it means to be an EOT? We have more blogs below.
📖 Q&A with Alex Gladwin: What does it means to be a trustee for an EOB?
We put one of our first ever employee trustee, Alex, in the hot seat to find out what it means to be a trustee for an employee-owned business. Read here.
📖 What we learned as Skout transitioned to an employee-owned business – and the advice we’d give to others looking to do the same
If you’re business is looking to transition to an EOT, then this blog is worth a read. Find out how our EOT partner, Baxendale, helped guide us through the process.
📖 Meet Skout’s new owners!
Want to know why the decision was made for Skout to become an EOT? Or wondering what this means for the day-to-day of the business. Check out this blog.
Want to find out more about Skout but don’t have the time to scroll through the website?
Want to find out more about Skout but don’t have the time to scroll through the website?
Here’s a two minute video that tells you all you need to know.
