Highlights from the EOA Annual Conference 2025

Last week, our team attended the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) Annual Conference 2025 in Telford, joining hundreds of leaders, practitioners and advocates dedicated to creating stronger, fairer and more people-centered businesses. 

The energy and shared purpose across the conference was impressive. This year’s theme, “Owning the Future,” set the tone for discussions on how organisations can continue to evolve and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. 

Key conversations centered on:

• The future of succession within employee-owned organisations
• The dynamics of multi-generational workforces
• The ongoing need to adapt policies and practices to meet shifting employee expectations

These themes highlighted the importance of forward-thinking leadership and a culture that can respond to the diverse needs of today’s workforce.

The keynote speeches and breakout sessions prompted rich discussions. Two insights, in particular, resonated strongly with our team:

Succession Is About Renewal

Successful succession is not about replicating what came before. Instead, it requires building future capability and ensuring continuity of purpose and trust. 

Intergenerational Collaboration Matters

With multiple generations working side by side, each brings different expectations around communication, transparency, structure and rewards. Understanding these needs is essential to creating a strong, inclusive culture where everyone can contribute and thrive.

Looking Ahead

We extend our thanks to the EOA for hosting another motivating and inspiring conference. The conversations, shared experiences and fresh insights have given us much to reflect on as we continue to strengthen our own employee-owned experience.