The UK Employee Ownership Growth Strategy 2026-2030 

The eoa is launching its biggest challenge yet.

To grow the UK’s total number of employee owned business to 7,500 - with a stretch goal of 10,000 – over the next five years. 

Our mission is to propel employee ownership into the mainstream. The UK Employee Ownership Growth Strategy is how we get there and sustain growth for the future.

Why Now? 

Over the next five years, we have a window of opportunity to harness the current interest in shared ownership, align with Government’s economic priorities, and accelerate the rapid growth in employee ownership seen in recent years.

But without direct action, this type of growth won’t happen. We need to lead the way.  

We’re influencing policy through our role on the Mutual and Co-operative Business Sector Council, building our robust evidence base of the benefits of EO, and we’re backed by an unrivalled membership base who help us champion EO.

Our vision is to position employee ownership as a driver of people-powered growth. This will create an economy where more people have a direct stake and say in the businesses that shape their working lives and communities.

The benefits of growing EO are:

1. Increased productivity
2. Improved employee wellbeing and engagement
3. More resilient firms with strong succession
4. An inclusive economy built with long-term growth

How Will We Achieve This?

To achieve this, we’ll advocate on behalf of the sector with government and other key stakeholders to improve market conditions alongside delivering targeted EO-sector-led interventions to stimulate innovation and encourage imitation.

The UK EO Growth Strategy is the single most ambitious strategic campaign in the history of the eoa. All of our activity in 2026 and beyond will be aligned to achieving this ambition.