Three New Employee Owners Join eoa Membership Council

It’s a time of exciting change at the eoa as we welcome three new faces to the eoa Membership Council (EMC).

Image: Welcoming the new EMC recruits (L:R Matt Deighton, Georgia Williams, Sam Moles)

The appointments coincide with a changing of the guard at the EMC with John Beattie, eoa Director of Membership & Operations, replacing our former Deputy CEO Oliver Smith as Co-Chair after Oli left us for pastures new after a decade with the eoa.

 “I’m excited to be stepping into the role of co-chair of the eoa Membership Council. The council plays a vital role in shaping the eoa’s work by representing the voice and experience of our members,” says John.

“I’m looking forward to working with fellow council members to strengthen connections across our vibrant community and support more organisations to thrive on their employee ownership journey.”

Read on to discover more about the latest EMC additions.

Georgia Williams, Marketing Executive, Boardmans Design

As the youngest member of the EMC, we’re exciting about the new perspectives and energies Georgia brings. 

She’s currently a Marketing Executive at Boardmans Design. Founded in 1925 in Manchester, and with a manufacturing base in China, Boardmans designs, sources, and supplies accessories.

“I’m really excited to be joining the eoa Membership Council and representing Boardmans,” says Georgia.

“As an SME, we bring a unique perspective to the EO space, and I’m looking forward to contributing ideas, learning from others, and helping strengthen the support and voice for employee owners across the UK. 

“It’s a brilliant opportunity both personally and professionally – and one I hope will bring value back to our team too.”

Sam Moles, Digital and Personal Brand Specialist, Stephens Scown LLP

After being crowned ‘Employee Owner of the Year’ at the 2023 UK Employee Ownership Awards, we’re delighted to have Sam on the EMC. 

Sam recently took on the new role of Digital and Personal Brand Specialist at South West law firm, Stephens Scown LLP. Since it was founded as a traditional law practice in 1938, it’s evolved into an employee owned firm that’s certified B Corp.

“I’m thrilled to have been appointed to the EMC; I know how fortunate I am to have this opportunity to represent the members of the eoa and I will do my absolute best in the time that I hold this position,” says Sam.

“What I hope to accomplish in that time is: the continued delivery of great support to members to help them to help their businesses thrive, to increase the number of businesses from the EO community that become members of the eoa to gain the benefits of membership, and to learn and develop personally from the exposure to my peers in this community,”

Matt Deighton, Managing Director, Saxon Furniture

As Managing Director of Saxon Furniture, Matt brings a lot of insight and experience to the EMC. 

Sofa manufacturer Saxon Furniture were founded in 1982. In 2024, it became a 100% employee ownership trust. 

"Having recently led Saxon Furniture through our transition to employee ownership in 2024, I'm keen to contribute the fresh perspective of a newly transitioned business whilst learning from the wealth of experience within the EO community,” says Matt.

“My aim is to serve as an effective ambassador for the eoa, by supporting other organisations considering this path, sharing both the practical realities and the transformative benefits that employee ownership brings to businesses and their people.”

If you’d like to register your interest in joining the EMC, click or tap here. The recruitment window is currently closed, but we’re always keen to hear from new people.