Beta Valve Systems Ltd provides long term security to its employees through employee ownership transition.

Beta Valve is continuing a trend for UK companies to become co-owned, with independent research suggesting that a combination of shared ownership and employee participation delivers superior business performance. Well-known companies that are employee owned include John Lewis Partnership and Tiptree preserves maker Wilkin ans Sons.

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Desborough Park Road Beta Valve Systems Ltd is now entirely owned by an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Beta Valve is continuing a trend for UK companies to become co-owned, with independent research suggesting that a combination of shared ownership and employee participation delivers superior business performance. Well-known companies that are employee owned include John Lewis Partnership and Tiptree preserves maker Wilkin ans Sons. Founder Ian Sparrowhawk, now a trustee-director, said: "Transitioning into an employee ownership model allows us to preserve and build on the legacy of three decades of work by our team. Employee ownership provides an assurance of continuity to our customers, suppliers and employees. We also anticipate other benefits from being Co-owned in terms of attracting and retaining talented individuals in the future. Over the past 33 years Beta Valve has established strong relationships with manufacturing and design companies by assisting engineers to achieve the results they are looking for by specifying and producing solenoid valve solutions across a wide spectrum of industries. We have formed close bonds with a number of leading solenoid valve manufacturers across Europe allowing us to supply a range of world class products to our customers." Beta Valve’s advisor Graeme Nuttall, a partner at Fieldfisher and author of the influential Nuttall Review of Employee Ownership said: "Beta Valve exemplifies why employee ownership is a neat succession solution. By moving from family to employee ownership this specialist solenoid valve supplier will continue to provide local employment and keep its customers satisfied. Founder Ian sparrowhawk had seen how other businesses were re-structured following sales to larger companies and wanted to avoid this. A sale to the trustee of an employee ownership trust provided an obvious alternative, which rewarded him and his family, whilst ensuring Beta Valve continues as a local employee owned independent business. I am confident that Beta Valves example will lead to an increased flow of more local manufacturers and distributors into employee ownership." Although still a conventionally managed company with a managing director and management team running the company, all of our employees - from stores to accounts - now have a voice in the running of the company. Indeed the trust deed requires that employees are consulted on important decisions that will affect the company. But Beta Valve have gone beyond this; our regular monthly (normally on the first Monday after the purchase ledger has been posted) meetings are where all staff get to see how the company performed financially the previous month and have a say in how this might be improved. Beta are trying to do EO well, and are trying to use it (as others have) to encourage greater employee commitment and engagement. We want our employees to feel able to voice their ideas, because it is their company, and for them to know their ideas will be listened to so that we can increase profits through greater productivity. At the same time we want to promote a happier staff through enhancing employee well being. Employee ownership has already brought a sense that everyone has a stake in the business. The management team attempt to offer clarity of purpose and transparency, as well as appreciation of employees’ efforts. A management buy-out might have incentivised a few people, but EO has incentivised the whole workforce. As beneficiaries of an EOT, staff at Beta can also look forward to the prospect of a tax free bonus of up to £3,600 per employee per tax year. It’s still early day for EO at Beta Valve, but so far the signs are good.