Firm celebrates putting staff at centre of its resounding success
CHILDREN toured the site of a successful Bollington firm as part of an event to celebrate employee-owned businesses.
Tullis Russell hosted a day of events at its Church Street plant attended by other key ‘EO’ businesses including John Lewis, Parfetts Cash and Carry and Gaeia.
Students from the Bollington St John’s and Pott Shrigley Church School also toured the site to find out more about employee ownership.
The 205-year-old business produces paper, cartonboard, security paper and specialist coatings and has more than 740 employees working across its three international sites.
Fred Bowden, chairman of Tullis Russell led the events and called for organisations across the north west to consider the benefits of employee ownership.
He said: “By design, our structure places people at the heart of the operation and allows them to share in its successes. Employee ownership facilitates independent decision making, allowing us to focus on the long-term without the short-term pressures often imposed by external shareholders.
“Our commitment to this ethos was inspired by the strong personal belief of our then chairman David Erdal that employee ownership was a healthier, more satisfying company structure for employees to work in. His championing of the link between a deeper level of employee ownership and greater customer satisfaction continues to guide our strategy today.”
Iain Hasdell, from the Employee Ownership Association, commended Tullis Russell for its work.
He said: “Companies such as Tullis Russell are great examples of the success and engagement that can be achieved in an employee owned environment.
“The EOA is delighted to work on their behalf to celebrate Employee Ownership Day, and make it easier for other UK companies to follow their lead into employee ownership so that we can reach our target of 10 per cent of UK GDP to be generated by employee owned business by 2020.”