South England-based tree preservation and maintenance firm Connick Tree Care has announced that it will become employee owned.
The plan was first announced to the business’ 75 members of staff in October 2022, and the process commenced this month, with the transition to an employee ownership trust (EOT) due to take place over the next few months. It was designed to secure the business for employees now and the future, at no cost to them.
Owner and managing director Mike Connick committed to hand the business over to the employees, with all shares held in a trust for the benefit of current and future employees. Connick’s management team and employees will remain unchanged, but all employees will become beneficiaries and be eligible to share in the trust’s profits.
According to the business, the decision was part of a long-term plan to maintain its family focus and friendly ethos as Connick begins to plan for his retirement.
Connick said: “I want to make sure that the business stays in the hands of the team who helped build it. Moving to an EOT is an opportunity to make sure the caring ethos we’ve fostered at Connick Tree Care can continue, with our employees themselves at the helm, as joint owners. This really is a chance for our staff to own a stake in the business and be part of its success into the future.
“I am proud to be working with the amazing group of people who’ve each helped make the business what it is today. This news gives our team certainty about the future and acknowledges the hard work and efforts they’ve made to help grow Connick Tree Care over the last 38 years. I believe this will be a fantastic opportunity for the entire team and our customers across London and the south east.”
