Help celebrate the first UK Employee Ownership Day on Thursday 4th July 2013 / Dathlu Diwrnod Perchnogaeth gan y Gweithwyr cyntaf y DU ar Ddydd Iau 4 Gorffennaf 2013

The Wales Co-operative Centre is joining its UK partners, the Employee Ownership Association, Co-operative Development Scotland and Co-operatives UK in celebrating the inaugural UK Employee Ownership Day on 4th July.

The UK

A series of events and activities are taking place across the UK. A national conference is being held in London to raise awareness of employee ownership as an economically strong and balanced business model responsible for increased productivity, employee health and well-being, and innovation.

UK employee owned companies have a turnover of around 3 per cent of GDP (over £30 billion) and operate in a range of sectors including healthcare, social care, education, transport, manufacturing, retail and professional services.

Over the past 12 months there has been a 10% increase in the number of companies in the UK converting to employee ownership. Employee-owners have higher levels of job satisfaction, feel a greater sense of achievement and job security and are more likely to recommend their workplace than employees in non-employee owned businesses. Employee ownership in the private sector is worth around £30billion to the UK economy.

The Wales Co-operative Centre

The Wales Co-operative Centre has a strong and long standing commitment to supporting employee ownership and increasing employee engagement within the Welsh workplace. We have supported employee ownership transitions throughout Wales and were instrumental in developing the deal which led to over 200 miners buying and running Tower Colliery in Hirwaun, Aberdare.

The Centre employs a specialist employee buy-out team which provides advice to businesses across Wales on succession planning and employee ownership. The Wales Co-operative Centre hosts regular events on employee ownership for business owners across Wales.

We actively promote employee ownership and planned business succession to professional advisors and business support agencies across the country. We ran an event at the recent Co-operative Congress in Cardiff on the benefits of employee ownership aimed directly at business intermediaries to try to break down some of the pre-conceptions about the approach.

Defusing the Business Succession Time Bomb

In 2012, the Wales Co-operative Centre published a report ‘Employee Ownership: Defusing the Business Succession Time Bomb in Wales' which calls for business owners to consider employee ownership as a viable and sustainable option for planned business succession. The report is available to download from the Wales Co-operative Centre website here

Awareness of the benefits of employee ownership is still lower than we would like it to be. There are many good examples of employee ownership in its different forms and different stages in Wales, some of which are listed below.

Indigenous businesses which are Employee Owned or are developing employee owned approaches.

Aber Instruments

Science Park

Aberystwyth

Aber Instruments produces measuring instruments for fermentation in brewing, It has 28 employees. Aber Instruments started a transition to employee ownership over ten years ago and this year became completely employee owned. The company employed a number of different approaches to the transition including selling shares directly to the employees and setting up an employee benefit trust (EBT) to hold shares on behalf of the employees. www.aberinstruments.co.uk

Skye Instruments

Ddole Enterprise Park

Llandridnod Wells

Sky Instruments produces specialist climate monitoring equipment. It employs 18 people and operates in extremely niche markets. Approximately 70% of its sales are exports. Its owners started the move towards employee ownership as a means of keeping high tech jobs in Powys. They have utilised an indirect ownership approach, an Employee Benefit Trust which both employees and owners believe offers an equality of voice to the employees as the transition progresses. Continuity and local identity are strong motivation factors for the owners of this business. Within a few years, they will have withdrawn their equity stake and left a sustainable business in Wales. www.skyeinstruments.com

Primepac Solutions Ltd

Rassau Industrial Estate.

Ebbw Vale.

Primepac Solutions Ltd is a worker co-operative that fills bottles, sachets and tubes for clients including leading brands in the health and personal care sector. The co-operative was formed when their parent company decided to withdraw from Wales following a major fire which destroyed their packing facilities. A group of employees was formed in response to this and they were able to use their redundancy payments to set up a new company. The company employs 22 permanent staff and between 10 and 20 temporary staff. Since 2007, PrimePac Solutions Ltd has seen a year on year increase in both turnover and budget. Its turnover has increased from £370k in 2006 to £3.8million in 2012. The firm has paid out dividends to shareholders greater than the amount they invested at the start.

In 2012, Primepac Solutions won the prestigious Productivity and Performance Award at the national Employee Ownership Conference in Birmingham. The award showcases the most dramatic and powerful examples of employee owned organisations driving up levels of productivity to deliver improved performance, and leading to exemplary outcomes in a particular field. www.primepacsolutions.co.uk

SCS Group

Caerphilly

Allan Meek established SCS Group in Caerphilly in 1993. To produce ventilation and smoke control systems in new residential buildings. By the early 2000’s, with a large workforce and a turnover of over £5m he started to think about succession planning. He established an Employee Benefit Trust in 2005 to buy company shares using retained earnings in addition to shares being sold and gifted to individuals directly. The recession in 2008 delayed Allan’s plans, necessitating rapid changes in the business and slowing the rate at which the EBT was able to buy company shares. However, Allan’s primary concern is leaving behind a successful business with rewards going to those who have committed their energies to the company. The luxury of Allan Meek’s’ position is that there is no urgent necessity for him to exit which allows him to focus on what is best for the business. www.groupscs.co.uk

Non – indigenous employee owned businesses operating in Wales.

Arup

4 Pierhead Street

Capital Waterside

Cardiff

Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists who offer a broad range of professional services. They are most famous for their work on the structural design of Sydney Opera House and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

In Wales, one of Arup’s highest profile projects was their involvement in the construction of the National Assembly for Wales Senydd building, where they provided structural, civil, transportation, facade, geotechnical, wind and lift consultancy to the project. http://www.arup.com/Projects/National_Assembly_for_Wales.aspx

Arup is a wholly independent organisation owned in trust for the benefit of its employees and their dependants.

www.arup.com

John Lewis Partnership

St David’s 2

Cardiff

The John Lewis Partnership's 84,700 Partners own John Lewis and Waitrose’s. The partnership owns 29 department stores and 274 supermarkets as well as six John Lewis at Home retail outlets, an online and catalogue business, a production unit and a farm. The partnership turns over in the region of £9.5b. The Cardiff store in the St Davids 2 development is the largest currently operated by the partnership outside London.

Ownership is held in Trust on behalf of the employees. Employees have a voice in the running of the business through a series of staff councils, staff magazines and other communication tools. Benefits include paid secondments, staff excursions, subsidised canteens, and a bonus system that has delivered at least a month’s extra salary per year since 1999. www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk

Social Media

To help raise awareness of employee ownership, show your support by using the hashtags #EODay and #employeeownership on Thursday 4th July.

Contact Us

Please contact the Wales Co-operative Centre with any enquiries about how employee ownership or co-operative approaches could help businesses and entrepreneurs in your constituencies by mail, email info@walescooperative.org or by calling 0300 111 5050.

Dathlu Diwrnod Perchnogaeth gan y Gweithwyr cyntaf y DU ar Ddydd Iau 4 Gorffennaf 2013

Mae Canolfan Cydweithredol Cymru yn uno a’i phartneriaid yn y DU, y Gymdeithas Perchnogaeth gan y Gweithwyr, Datblygiad Cydweithredol yr Alban a Co-operatives UK, i ddathlu Diwrnod Perchnogaeth gan y Gweithwyr cyntaf y DU ar 4 Gorffennaf.

Y DU  

Mae cyfres o ddigwyddiadau a gweithgareddau yn cael eu cynnal ledled y DU. Cynhelir cynhadledd genedlaethol yn Llundain i godi ymwybyddiaeth o berchnogaeth gweithwyr fel model busnes cytbwys a chryf yn economaidd sy’n gyfrifol am gynhyrchiant cynyddol, iechyd a lles gweithwyr, ac arloesedd.

Yn y DU, mae gan gwmnïau a berchnogir gan weithwyr drosiant o amgylch 3 y cant o’r CMC (dros £30 biliwn) ac maent yn gweithredu mewn amryw o sectorau gan gynnwys gofal iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol, addysg, trafnidiaeth, cynhyrchu, adwerthu a gwasanaethau proffesiynol.

Dros y 12 mis diwethaf, bu cynnydd o 10% yn nifer y cwmnïau yn y DU sy’n trosi i berchnogaeth gweithwyr. Mae gan weithwyr sy’n berchnogion lefelau uwch o foddhad yn eu gwaith, gwell synnwyr o gyflawniad a diogelwch swyddi, ac maent yn fwy tebygol o argymell eu lle gwaith na gweithwyr mewn busnesau nad ydynt wedi eu perchnogi gan y gweithwyr. Mae perchnogaeth gan y gweithwyr yn y sector preifat yn werth tua £30 biliwn i economi’r DU.

Canolfan Cydweithredol Cymru

Mae gan Ganolfan Cydweithredol Cymru ymrwymiad cryf a hirsefydlog i gefnogi perchnogaeth gan y gweithwyr a chynyddu ymrwymiad gweithwyr o fewn gweithleoedd Cymreig. Rydym ni wedi cefnogi trawsnewidiadau perchnogaeth gan y gweithwyr ledled Cymru ac roeddem yn gyfrwng i ddatblygu cynnig a arweiniodd dros 200 o lowyr i brynu a rhedeg Glofa’r Tŵr yn Hirwaun, Aberdâr.

Mae’r Ganolfan yn cyflogi tîm arbenigol cyfranbrynu gan weithwyr, sy’n darparu cyngor i fusnesau ledled Cymru ar gynllunio olyniaeth a pherchnogaeth gweithwyr.

Mae Canolfan Cydweithredol Cymru yn cynnal digwyddiadau cyson ar berchnogaeth gweithwyr ar gyfer perchnogion busnesau ledled Cymru. Rydym ni’n hyrwyddo perchnogaeth gan y gweithwyr a
chynllunio olyniaeth gweithwyr i ymgynghorwyr proffesiynol ac asiantaethau cynorthwyo busnes ledled y wlad. Cynaliasom ddigwyddiad yn ddiweddar yn y Gyngres Gydweithredol yng Nghaerdydd ar fanteision perchnogaeth gan y gweithwyr, a oedd wedi’i anelu’n uniongyrchol at ganolwyr busnes er mwyn ceisio chwalu rhai o’r rhagdybiaethau am y dull.

Atal Bom Amser Olyniaeth Busnes Rhag Ffrwydro

Yn 2012, cyhoeddodd Canolfan Cydweithredol Cymru adroddiad ar ‘Perchnogaeth Gweithwyr:  Atal bom amser olyniaeth busnes yng Nghymru rhag ffrwydro’sy’n galw ar berchnogion busnes i ystyried perchnogaeth gan y gweithwyr fel dewis dichonadwy a chynaliadwy ar gyfer cynllunio olyniaeth
busnes. Gellir lawrlwytho’r adroddiad o wefan Canolfan Cydweithredol Cymru yma.

Mae ymwybyddiaeth o fanteision perchnogaeth gweithwyr yn parhau i fod yn is nag y byddem yn ei hoffi. Mae yna nifer o enghreifftiau da o berchnogaeth gweithwyr yn ei wahanol ffurfiau a’i wahanol gamau yng Nghymru, ac mae rhai o’r rhain wedi’u rhestru isod.

Busnesau cynhenid sydd wedi’u perchnogi gan weithwyr neu sy’n datblygu dulliau perchnogaeth gan y gweithwyr.

Aber Instruments

Parc Gwyddoniaeth

Aberystwyth

Mae Aber Instruments yn cynhyrchu offer mesur ar gyfer eplesiad mewn bragu. Mae gan y cwmni 28 o weithwyr. Dechreuodd Aber Instruments y trawsnewidiad i berchnogaeth gweithwyr dros ddeng mlynedd yn ôl, ac eleni daeth yn llwyr o dan berchnogaeth gweithwyr. Defnyddiodd y cwmni nifer o wahanol ddulliau i drawsnewid gan gynnwys gwerthu cyfranddaliadau’n uniongyrchol i’r gweithwyr a sefydlu ymddiriedolaeth budd gweithwyr (EBT) i ddal cyfranddaliadau ar ran y gweithwyr.

www.aberinstruments.co.uk

Skye Instruments

Parc Menter Parc-y-Ddol

Llandrindod

Mae Skye Instruments yn cynhyrchu offer arbenigol i fonitro’r hinsawdd. Mae’n cyflogi 18 o bobl ac yn gweithredu mewn marchnadoedd arbenigol iawn. Mae tua 70% o’i werthiant yn allforion. Dechreuodd ei berchnogion symud tuag at berchnogaeth gweithwyr fel modd i gadw swyddi uwch dechnoleg ym Mhowys. Maent wedi defnyddio dull perchnogaeth anuniongyrchol, ymddiriedolaeth budd gweithwyr y mae gweithwyr a pherchnogion yn credu ei fod yn cynnig llais cryf o gydraddoldeb i’r gweithwyr wrth i’r trawsnewidiad ddatblygu. Mae parhad a hunaniaeth leol yn ffactorau cymhelliant cryf i berchnogion y busnes hwn. O fewn ychydig flynyddoedd, byddant wedi tynnu yn ôl eu cyfran ecwiti a gadael busnes cynaliadwy yng Nghymru.

www.skyeinstruments.com 

Primepac Solutions Ltd

Ystâd Ddiwydiannol Rasa

Glynebwy

Mae Primepac Solutions Ltd yn fenter gydweithredol y gweithwyr sy’n llenwi poteli, cydau a thiwbiau ar gyfer cleientiaid, gan gynnwys brandiau blaenllaw yn y sector iechyd a gofal personol. Ffurfiwyd y fenter gydweithredol pan benderfynodd ei rhiant-gwmni dynnu’n ôl o Gymru yn dilyn tân sylweddol a ddinistriodd eu cyfleusterau pacio. Ffurfiwyd grŵp o gydweithwyr mewn ymateb i hyn a llwyddont i ddefnyddio eu taliadau diswyddo i sefydlu cwmni newydd.

Mae’r cwmni’n cyflogi 22 aelod o staff parhaol a rhwng 10 ac 20 o staff dros dro. Er 2007, mae Primepac Solutions Ltd wedi gweld cynnydd flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn o ran trosiant a chyllid. Cynyddodd eu trosiant o £370,000 yn 2006 i £3.8miliwn yn 2012. Mae’r cwmni wedi talu rhandaliadau i gyfranddalwyr a oedd yn fwy na’r swm a fuddsoddwyd ganddynt ar y dechrau.

Yn 2012, enillodd Primepac Solutions wobr fawreddog Cynhyrchaeth a Pherfformiad yn y  Gynhadledd Perchnogaeth gan y Gweithwyr yn Birmingham. Mae’r wobr yn arddangos yr enghreifftiau mwyaf dramatig a phwerus o sefydliadau a berchnogir gan weithwyr yn codi lefelau cynhyrchiant i drosglwyddo perfformiad sydd wedi’i wella, ac yn arwain at ganlyniadau rhagorol
mewn maes penodol.

www.primepacsolutions.co.uk

SCS Group

Sefydlodd Allan Meek SCS Group yng Nghaerffili yn 1993, er mwyn cynhyrchu systemau gwyntyllu a rheoli mwg mewn adeiladau preswyl newydd. Erbyn dechrau’r 2000au, gyda gweithlu mawr a throsiant o dros £5m, dechreuodd feddwl am gynllunio olyniaeth. Sefydlodd Ymddiriedolaeth Budd Gweithwyr yn 2005 i brynu cyfranddaliadau gan ddefnyddio enillion argadwedig yn ogystal â chyfranddaliadau a oedd yn cael eu gwerthu a’u rhoi i unigolion yn uniongyrchol. Gohiriwyd
cynlluniau Allan gan y dirwasgiad yn 2008, ei gwneud hi’n angenrheidiol gwneud newidiadau cyflym i’r busnes ac arafu’r gyfradd yr oedd yr EBT yn gallu prynu cyfranddaliadau yn y busnes. Fodd bynnag, prif bryder Allan oedd gadael cwmni llwyddiannus oedd â’r gwobrau’n mynd at y rheini a oedd wedi ymrwymo’u hegni i’r cwmni. Moethusrwydd sefyllfa Allan Meek yw nad oes anghenraid brys iddo
adael, sy’n ei alluogi i ffocysu ar yr hyn sydd orau ar gyfer y busnes.  

www.groupscs.co.uk

Busnesau a berchnogir gan weithwyr yng Nghymru nad ydynt yn gynhenid.

Arup

4 Stryd Pierhead

Glannau’r Brifddinas

Caerdydd

Mae Arup yn gwmni annibynnol o ddylunwyr, cynllunwyr, peirianwyr, ymgynghorwyr ac arbenigwyr technegol sy’n cynnig ystod eang o wasanaethau proffesiynol. Maent fwyaf enwog am eu gwaith ar gynllun adeileddol  Tŷ Opera Sydney a Chanolfan Pompidou ym Mharis.

Yng Nghymru, un o’r prosiectau a gafodd fwyaf o sylw oedd eu hymwneud ag adeiladu adeilad Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, lle gwnaethant ddarparu ymgynghoriaeth adeileddol, sifil, ar gludiant,
talwyneb, geodechneg, gwynt a lifftiau i’r prosiect.  http://www.arup.com/Projects/National_Assembly_for_Wales.aspx

Mae Arup yn sefydliad hollol annibynnol mewn ymddiriedolaeth er lles y gweithwyr a’u dibynyddion.

www.arup.com

Partneriaeth John Lewis

Dewi Sant 2

Caerdydd

Mae 84,700 o bartneriaid Partneriaeth John Lewis yn berchen ar John Lewis a Waitrose. Mae’r
bartneriaeth yn berchen ar 29 siop adrannol a 274 archfarchnad yn ogystal â chwe siop John Lewis at
Home, busnes ar-lein a chatalog, uned gynhyrchu a fferm. Mae’r Bartneriaeth yn trosi tua £9.5bn.

Ar hyn o bryd, y siop yn natblygiad Dewi Sant 2, Caerdydd yw’r fwyaf a weithredir gan y bartneriaeth y tu allan i Lundain.

Mae’r berchnogaeth yn cael ei dal mewn Ymddiriedolaeth ar ran y gweithwyr. Mae gan weithwyr lais yn y modd y caiff y busnes ei redeg drwy nifer o gynghorau staff, cylchgronau i staff ac offer cyfathrebu eraill. Mae’r buddion yn cynnwys secondiadau â thâl, gwibdeithiau i staff, ffreuturiau cymorthdaledig  a system bonws sydd wedi darparu o leiaf mis ychwanegol o gyflog bob blwyddyn er 1999.

www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk

Cyfryngau Cymdeithasol

Er mwyn codi ymwybyddiaeth o berchnogaeth gweithwyr, dangoswch eich cefnogaeth trwy ddefnyddio’r hashtag #EODay a #employeeownership ar ddydd Iau, 4Gorffennaf.

Cysylltwch â ni

Cysylltwch â Chanolfan Cydweithredol Cymru os oes gennych unrhyw ymholiadau am sut y gallai perchnogaeth gan y gweithwyr neu ddulliau cydweithredol gynorthwyo busnesau a mentrau yn eich etholaeth drwy e-bost info@walescooperative.org neu drwy alw 0300 111 5050.