We’ve always believed that planning for the future shouldn’t wait until the last minute. Succession is a big part of building a responsible, resilient business, for our clients, our team, and the communities we work with.
After looking carefully at a number of options, we’ve chosen the one that felt right for who we are and where we’re going: becoming fully employee owned. From today, 100% of BIC’s shares are held in an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), on behalf of all our people.
Why employee ownership?
There were other options on the table – but an EOT stood out for us. Why? Because it:
- Safeguards the legacy of our founders, recognising more than 20 years of growth and innovation.
- Provides continuity of leadership – nobody is leaving, so clients and colleagues have the reassurance of stability.
- Offers employment security for staff, creating confidence for the long term.
- Gives us all a greater say in our future, empowering every member of the team to shape where BIC goes next.
Or, as Huw Watkins, Founding Director, puts it:
“Although there were a number of paths open to us, employee ownership was the one that best safeguarded our history and values. It reflects who we are: a people business, built on trust, collaboration, and long-term partnerships. This move ensures continuity of leadership while opening the door to new opportunities for the people who make BIC what it is.”
What it means for our team
Overnight, every member of staff has become an owner. This shift empowers all of us to make sustained contributions that deliver success for our clients, our communities, and for one another.
Wyn Jones, our newly appointed Employee Trustee Director, put it simply:
“Becoming employee owned gives every one of us a stake in the future of BIC, not just financially but in the decisions we make and the impact we want to have. It’s a proud moment for the whole team, and it deepens the commitment we already feel to our clients, each other, and the communities we serve.”
and as Angharad Evans, one of our longstanding colleagues, reflected:
“Knowing that we each own a slice of the business gives us an even greater commitment to delivering for our clients and for each other.”
What it means for our clients
For the organisations we support, from local businesses and public bodies to universities, national partners and beyond, the message is simple: you can expect the same BIC, with added purpose.
Our leadership team remains unchanged. Nobody is stepping aside, nobody is walking away. What changes is the opportunity for every employee to contribute in a more meaningful and sustained way, bringing fresh perspectives and renewed energy.
It also means we’re in a unique position to help other organisations thinking about succession. With in-house expertise in leadership development, governance, and strategic planning, the team is already helping organisations think long-term and now brings direct experience of employee ownership to the table.
As Linda Grant, Managing Director, notes:
“Succession planning isn’t something you leave until you need it. By transitioning now, we’ve secured the long-term future of the business, not just for us, but for our clients and the partners we work alongside every day. This is the right next step, at the right time, for the right reasons.”
We couldn’t have reached this milestone without expert guidance. Our thanks go to Cwmpas, the UK’s leading advocate for employee ownership, Geldards, who have now supported more than 30 businesses in Wales and beyond to make the shift and BPU & Co Chartered Accountants who provided valuation advice.
Paul Cantrill, Cwmpas said: “Back in 2018 I was delighted to assist the Board of Directors at BIC Innovation with the introduction of a share scheme which would allow employees the opportunity to buy shares in the company. Following the experience and success of the scheme, the company has now taken a logical and strategic step to become fully employee owned through the introduction of an Employee Owned Trust which will own shares on behalf of the entire team at BIC. This development comes at a great time for employee ownership in Wales as we approach and celebrate the 100th employee owned company. BIC Innovation has been in the vanguard of this development, actively championing and contributing to this success so it is entirely fitting that the company should be itself celebrating being fully employee owned.
Congratulations to all the team at BIC!”
Looking ahead
It’s the beginning of a new era for BIC Innovation. We’re the same trusted partner we’ve always been, but now with an even stronger foundation for resilience, growth, and shared success.
Employee ownership gives us space to grow, to evolve our services, and to keep doing what we do best: helping organisations thrive.
Together, we own the future.
