A year ago today, BIC Innovation became 100% employee owned.
We could mark the anniversary by telling you what the last 12 months have meant for the business. We could talk about governance, the structure, the decisions we make, the lessons we’ve learned and what comes next.
But employee ownership was never meant to be about the structure alone.
It’s about the people within it.
So, one year on, we’re stepping back and letting some of the people within BIC tell the story in their own words.
Four people. Four very different perspectives on the same business.
Huw Watkins, our Founding Director, who has seen BIC evolve through every chapter of its ownership story.
Anna Pearce, who has experienced that evolution from within the team since joining BIC in 2011.
Brandon Ristow-Wilson, one of our elected Employee Trustee Directors, bringing an employee perspective to the governance of the Trust.
And Grace Smith, offering a fresh perspective on what employee ownership could mean for the next generation at BIC.
We asked them what employee ownership means to them, what the first year has taught them, and what they’re looking forward to next.
Huw Watkins, Founder
For me, employee ownership is about securing BIC’s future while staying true to what has always made the business what it is: its people.
BIC has never been about one individual, and moving to employee ownership felt like a natural way of recognising the contribution everyone makes and giving the team a genuine stake in what we build together.
It also brings responsibility. Ownership is about having a voice, but also understanding that the decisions we make today affect the future of the business and the people who will be part of it tomorrow.
Why did employee ownership feel like the right next chapter?
Succession was something we knew we needed to think about carefully rather than wait until it became a necessity.
There were different routes we could have taken, but we wanted to protect BIC’s independence, retain the knowledge and experience we’d built over the years, and create continuity for employees and clients.
We had already taken a step towards wider ownership through our hybrid model, so the EOT felt less like a complete change of direction and more like the next stage of a journey already underway.
When you look at BIC today, what makes you feel most positive about where it goes next?
The people.
BIC has evolved considerably over the years, but the quality, experience and commitment of the team have always been at the heart of its success.
A year in, we certainly don’t have all the answers, nor should we expect to. But seeing people step forward, contribute ideas, take responsibility and think about what BIC could become gives me real confidence about the next chapter.
Anna Pearce, Head of Marketing
Anna joined BIC in 2011 and has seen the business evolve and experienced BIC’s ownership journey from within the team, seeing the business move from hybrid employee ownership into a fully employee-owned structure.
What does employee ownership mean to you?
We already had a very collaborative culture where people were encouraged to contribute ideas, have a voice and take responsibility, and I think employee ownership has just given that more meaning. It’s more those little moments where you find yourself thinking about BIC slightly differently because you know you have a stake in where it goes next.
One year on, does working at BIC feel any different?
Honestly, in lots of ways, not much, and I think that’s a good thing.
The changes have been more subtle. We’ve been able to keep doing what we do while gradually understanding what employee ownership means and how we can make the most of it. I think that’s probably why it has felt relatively seamless. We weren’t trying to become something completely different; we were putting a structure around a way of working that was already very much part of BIC.
What are you looking forward to in Year Two?
Seeing how the little things continue to build.
We’ve had a year to get used to being employee owned. Now it’s about seeing what we can do with it, how employees become more involved, how our voices are used and how we continue to shape what employee ownership means at BIC. If anything, the first year has shown that employee ownership fits quite naturally with who we already are.
Brandon Ristow-Wilson, Employee Trustee Director
Brandon brings another perspective. As one of our elected Employee Trustee Directors, he sees employee ownership both as a member of the team and through the governance of the Trust.
What does employee ownership mean to you?
Employee Ownership means sharing the pains and the gains. If you need help, you can ask for it. If you have a win, you share it. Employee ownership helps us all come together behind the same goals.
What made you want to put yourself forward as an Employee Trustee Director?
Honestly, it scared me a bit. I’d never been a Director before, but I’ve always been fascinated by how a business works and I genuinely love working at BIC. I thought, what better way to understand how everything fits together than by putting myself forward as an Employee Trustee Director?
What have you learned about employee ownership since becoming more involved in its governance?
I’ve learned that things don’t happen overnight, and that’s often for a good reason. Decisions need time, different perspectives need to be heard and you have to think about what’s right for all employees, both now and in the future. It’s a reminder that meaningful change is often about getting better all the time, rather than moving quickly.
As we move into our second year of employee ownership, what are you most looking forward to?
I’m hopeful that, over time, we’ll see the long and winding road of preparation translate into tangible benefits for all employees.
Grace Smith, Marketing Coordinator
And then there’s Grace, who brings a different perspective again. Having joined BIC two years ago, she experienced the business just before the move to employee ownership and has now spent her early career growing alongside that transition.
What does employee ownership mean to you?
To me, employee ownership means feeling like we all have a genuine stake in BIC and where the business goes in the future. It makes the work we do feel more connected to the bigger picture, because the success of the company is something we can all contribute to and share in.
What has stood out to you most about the first year?
Probably how involved everyone can be, the sense of involvement and the conversations around what employee ownership actually means for us. It feels like something we’re growing into, and seeing people become more aware of the part they can play in BIC’s future has been really positive.
As someone earlier in their career, what do you think employee ownership could mean for your future at BIC?
Being earlier in my career, I think employee ownership makes the future at BIC particularly exciting. There’s an opportunity to grow alongside the business, have a voice in its future and feel genuinely invested in what we’re building. For me, it makes BIC feel like somewhere I can develop my career while also contributing to something that we all have a stake in.
Four people. Four perspectives. And four slightly different answers.
That’s part of what makes employee ownership interesting.
It doesn’t mean everyone suddenly thinks the same way. It means we share a stake in the same business, and a responsibility for what happens next.
Reaching our first anniversary is something we’re genuinely proud of. But the last 12 months have also reminded us that becoming employee owned was only the beginning.
We’re still learning what it means to live that ownership, through our Trustee Board, through greater employee voice and through the decisions we make together.
Has it all been plain sailing? No.
Have we learned a lot? Absolutely.
As we move into Year Two, the focus is on building on those lessons and making employee ownership an even more meaningful part of how BIC grows, evolves and succeeds.
For our clients and partners, that means the continuity, experience and values they know remain in place, backed by a team with an even greater stake in BIC’s long-term success.
If you’re exploring succession planning, considering employee ownership, or simply curious about what it could mean for your business, our inbox is always open.
