Revealing eoaLive! – Our New One-Day Event Featuring the UK EO Awards 

Tickets are now live for our brand-new eoaLive! event featuring the UK Employee Ownership Awards taking place at the Library of Birmingham on Wednesday 10 June. 

Image: eoaLive! branding overlaying the Library of Birmingham (credit: Monkey Business Images)

The eoa Annual Conference has been a staple of our collective calendar for years. But as both the eoa and the wider EO sector evolves, so too has our events offering.  

We’ve developed our new events alongside member needs, creating an offering that hits all the same highs as the former conference but with a more accessible one-day format and price point.  

Keep reading to discover more about the new event or click or tap here to book your tickets now.  

So, What is eoaLive!? 

Taking place at the Library of Birmingham on Wednesday 10 June, eoaLive! is all about #OwningIt. 

Whether it’s leading by example, responding to challenges, trying something different, or sharing best practice, employee owned businesses demonstrate every day how they own it.  

This exciting new event will offer you expert insight into the future for employee ownership, with speakers horizon scanning and sharing expertise on key issues that will influence EO businesses over the next year and beyond.  

Sessions will range from economic and social impact trends to employment issues and how new technology will shape our working lives – all through an EO lens.  

You’ll walk away with practical resources and insights to grow your own professional development and help your EO business to thrive.  

As well as two inspiring keynote speakers, eoaLive! will also include eight breakout sessions featuring experts from across the EO sector. 

Then we’ll celebrate EO excellence in the evening at the UK EO Awards 2026. The three-course gala dinner is the perfect way to celebrate businesses and individuals that are truly Owning It. 

Both the eoaLive! event and the UK EO Awards are sponsored by eoa Trustee member, Howden.  

“I’m genuinely delighted that we’re continuing our collaboration with the eoa as we move into 2026, strengthening the ties that bring the employee ownership community closer together,” said Martin Camp, Executive Director at Howden. 

“Employee ownership isn’t just something we talk about at Howden – it’s the foundation of who we are – so it’s a real privilege to support this year’s combined eoaLive! and UK EO Awards. 

“This partnership gives us a valuable opportunity to keep the conversation evolving, champion the power of the employee ownership model, and explore how we can grow its reach and impact.  

“I’m excited to see what we can achieve together as we continue to Own It and build on everything that makes this movement so inspiring.” 

What Sessions Can You Attend? 

There’s been plenty of work behind the scenes to ensure this one-day learning and networking event hits all the important topics facing EO businesses, advisors, and those considering transition.  

The hard part will be deciding which sessions you want to attend because if you’re anything like us, you’ll want to go to them all. Tough scheduling decisions await! Choose from two of the following:  

1. Responsible AI in Employee Owned Business
2. A Revolution in Employee Rights: What EOBs Need to Know
3. How Being an EO Champion Shaped my Career
4. The UK Economy and Employee Ownership   
5. The Social Impact of Employee Ownership
6. A Good Job: How EO Helps Grow Personal and Community Wealth
7. An EO Survival Guide
8. How EO Works in Our Business 

We’ve also got two fascinating keynote sessions. The first focusses on an inspirational speaker who’ll share how they overcame personal challenges to succeed in their career. There’ll be plenty of insight to support and inform your own professional journey. Keep an eye out for more details.

Then we’ll be updating you on progress to date on our UK EO Growth Strategy. You’ll discover which sector we’re focusing on first in a series of targeted campaigns to grow the EO sector. And we’ll give an update on how we’ve been influencing policy through key relationships with Government teams.

If you want to stay in the loop on what’s happening in the EO sector, how we’re helping to grow it, and what the future holds, you can’t afford to miss this session. 

Wednesday 10 June 

We can’t wait to welcome you to the Library of Birmingham on Wednesday 10 June for the first-ever eoaLive! event. Combined with the UK EO Awards, we’ll showcase how we’re all Owning It! 

Tickets are strictly limited, and with a maximum capacity of 300 we expect to sell out fast, so click or tap here to secure your spot now.  

Tickets are £295 + VAT per person for eoa members and include the daytime conference and evening gala dinner. For any other questions, head over to the dedicated FAQ page.