Businesses across the region can learn more about business ownership models during a free event organised by Anthony Collins Solicitors.
The event, happening on Thursday, 23 October will feature insights from policy experts and business owners.
It follows the Labour government manifesto to doubling the size of the co-op movement. Since their election in July last year, the Government has been exploring how this might be done.
This has led to the creation of the Co-operatives and Mutuals Council, alongside meetings with a range of experts including David Alcock, head of social business at Anthony Collins.
David, who leads on employee ownership and other alternative business structures, said: “Ownership matters because it affects who benefits from a business.
“Research shows that ownership structures influence productivity, resilience, staff retention and recruitment. So, the ownership of a business really matters.
“We make assumptions about how businesses should be done based on a 19th century model.
"The Victorians invented the limited liability company, where investors own the business and it is run in their interests, and it quickly became the UK’s dominant business model.
“But it is only one route to ownership, and it might not be best for every business.
“Over the last 11 years, one form of mutual ownership – the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) - has grown rapidly.
“In 2014, there were a few hundred employee-owned businesses – today, there are over 2500 and the rate of increase shows no signs of slowing down.
“EOT-owned businesses form an increasingly significant part of the alternative ownership ‘landscape’.
“One key reason for this is the exemption from Capital Gains Tax for share transfers to an EOT, which gives owners a practical incentive to choose this route.”
