Spreading Smiles and Celebrating People Powered Growth This EO Day

Thousands of employee owners across the UK are sharing an #eoSmile – a symbol of how employee ownership transforms lives, businesses, and communities – for EO Day 2025.

Image: Spreading the EO Smile (Top L-R: dwx; Carmen Reyes from Air Control Industries Ltd; Stephens Scown's Exeter office; Lorna Martin from Postlethwaite; group shot from the Mitigating Work Alienation with EO event at Bristol Business School; and Boardmans)

The theme for EO Day 2025 – EO Smile – highlights the far-reaching impact of EO: boosting wellbeing, driving innovation, and delivering stronger outcomes for people, places, and the planet.

With the sector now topping 2,470 businesses – a growth of over 1,600% since 2014 – EO continues to anchor jobs in the UK economy for the longer term, offering a resilient and inclusive model for succession and growth.

EO Day Sector Snapshot

The UK’s EO sector now includes around 2,470 businesses, employing approximately 358,000 people.

In 2025 alone, 118 businesses have transitioned up to May (with more expected as reporting catches up and the year progresses). This follows a record 560 transitions in 2024.

Since 2014, the sector has surged by 1,640%, driven largely by small businesses, which make up 65% of the EO total.

Top EO sectors include professional services (28%), manufacturing (15%), construction (14%), admin/support (14%), and wholesale/retail (11%).

Smiling All Across the UK

Hundreds of employee owned businesses and champions are celebrating across the UK. 

Here’s just a handful, but you can follow #EODay25 and #eoSmile on socials to find more.

Durham – Voicentric Ltd

Hosting a BBQ garden party at the Rowing Club for their first EO Day, with food, games, music, and photo booth fun.

Manchester – I-COM

Launching an interactive #eoSmile gallery revealing their digital team’s creativity and connecting EO businesses in an image for EO Day.

Exeter – Market Carpets

Marking EO Day and their 60th year with a local litter pick and evening party for staff and families.

Poole – Go Ape, Lush, Rubicon & Stephen Scown

Taking part in an EO exchange of insight and experiences, followed by a tour of Lush and a visit to Go Ape.

Berkshire – PV Projects Ltd

Celebrating with a DIY pizza lunch outdoors, decorating pizzas with smiley faces for this year’s EO theme.

London – Electronics Direct

New to EO, the team is celebrating with a BBQ lunch and games night at Roxy’s, alongside their public EO launch.

Swindon – The Homebuilding Centre (NSBRC)

Closing for the day and heading to Go Ape for team building, EO storytelling, and a B Corp briefing.

UK & Europe – Integrated Skills Ltd (ISL)

Combining their international company day with an EO-themed half-day at Go Ape.

Sheffield & Global – GLIDE/Gripple Group

For the first time, all global Gripple companies will celebrate EO Day together, reflecting on shared values and growth.

Glasgow – Esteem Training

A full week of activity with a charity golf day (Wed), one of their workshops (Thurs), and a Partner Open Day (Fri).

Keep Your EO Smile Going

If EO Day is the biggest sector celebration of the year, then the biggest party is the eoa Annual Conference.

Keep your EO Smile going by securing your place at the conference.

EO Day 2025 is proudly sponsored by eoa Specialist Advisor, Brabners.