Seven Search and Selection Ltd has signed a deal to transfer full ownership across to its employees.
“With it being Seven’s 20th birthday this year, this has made us reflect and consider the future, in particular the future ownership of the business,” says Gabby Rosenberg, co-owning director and one of the original employees at Seven Search and Selection.
“Selling the business in full (100%) to its employees in the form of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) was a no brainer for us and means that Seven continues to retain the collective values, expertise and commitment of the people in it.”
Rosenberg explained how other ownership transfer strategies were likely to cause disruption and damage the brand that has been built around its core values over the last 20 years. An EOT means all Seven colleagues will be working for each other with a common goal of sharing in the growth and success of the company.
“The team at Seven are a very loyal bunch who all live and breathe our values of honesty, understanding, commitment and passion. The EOT means we can reward those who form the bedrock of the company, and the people that make Seven what it is are now an even more integral part of its future. This move was the only one that made sense to us, it means we are passing the baton on to those who truly understand our business, culture, and values.”
Having ownership of the company means that all employees are now personally invested in the success of Seven.
Kieran Robb, managing consultant and employee of Seven for over eight years, said: “I feel lucky to be part of a business that truly puts people at the heart of its strategy. Seven has been a big part of my professional life, and for me to now have an ownership stake in the company is very exciting. I feel even more empowered to continue driving Seven forwards.”
Gabby, along with the other Seven owning directors Liam Stokey and Stewart Wilson, have circa 60 years combined employment at Seven between them and they will all continue to form the leadership team at the recruitment firm that specialises in the FMCG and consumer goods sector. With clients such as Hovis, Aldi, Ocado, Ferrero and General Mills, amongst others, Seven is one of the longest standing, sector-specific consumer recruitment firms in the UK.
The team at Seven were supported by Andy Francey and Brad Adams (Freeths LLP) and Ian Meek (Buckle Barton Chartered Accountants) in the Employee Ownership Trust sale.
