Our #eoSmile Story: Why Employee Ownership was LOOP's only natural next step

At LOOP Agencies, we're not just celebrating this year’s Employee Ownership Day #EODay on 20 June; we're living its core values every single day.

This year's EO Day theme, #eoSmile, perfectly captures the genuine happiness and pride we feel as Scotland's earliest-ever 100% Employee Owned Trust (EOT). Our transition to employee ownership was the only choice for us to grow the company, deeply rooted in the "people-first" values that have guided us since our founding in late 2022.

For us, becoming 100% employee-owned isn't merely a structural change; it's a powerful signal that demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our team. As our Co-founders Vicky Hope and Ed Vickers envisioned, LOOP was built to address the challenges of modern marketing – providing speed, scale, and creative firepower without risking team burnout. Wellbeing at LOOP isn't a mere benefit; it's a fundamental principle.

We've consistently backed our values with action:

• Introducing a 9-day fortnight even before our first client was signed
• Walking away from a significant contract because a client didn't treat their team with respect
• Embracing radical transparency by sharing financials, growth plans, and even exit scenarios with our entire team

This deep-seated "people-first" mindset is now hardwired into our business. As one of our founders aptly put it, "Employee ownership isn’t just a structure - it’s a signal. It shows we mean what we say about people being at the heart of our success".

Our culture is also defined by a mantra that resonates deeply within our team: "It won’t fail because of me". This phrase, inspired by the early NASA space program, embodies a commitment to ownership, high standards, and trust among every team member, whether they're designing, managing, writing, or planning.

With the Employee Ownership Trust now fully in place, this shared responsibility isn't just a mindset; it means every team member is a direct beneficiary of LOOP’s success. It ensures that as LOOP continues to grow and expand - doubling headcount, expanding our client list, opening a London office in 2025, and investing in generative AI tools - our core values will never be diluted.

We believe a successful business doesn’t just deliver great work; it creates the conditions for people to do their best work together.

This commitment aligns perfectly with the broader purpose of EO Day 2025. Run by the EOA (Employee Ownership Association), EO Day is a pivotal moment for the employee-owned community across the UK to "shine a light on the incredible achievements and successes of exceptional employee owners". It's designed to raise awareness of employee ownership as a "better way of doing businesses".

The benefits of employee ownership, championed by the EOA are clear and compelling, and we see them reflected in our own journey:

• Improved Employee Wellbeing: Employee owners report higher job satisfaction, a greater sense of achievement and job security, and are more likely to recommend their workplace compared to those in non-employee owned businesses.
• Increased Productivity: Employee-owned businesses are, on average, 8-12% more productive per employee
• Fostered Creativity and Innovation: This model encourages a collaborative environment where new ideas thrive
• Economic Impact: The UK now boasts over 2,250 employee-owned businesses, contributing between £32-£41 billion to the UK economy annually and employing over 310,000 people.

By celebrating EO Day 2025, LOOP is proud to stand alongside this growing sector, showcasing the profound impact employee ownership has on employees, businesses, the wider economy, communities, and the environment. We're excited to contribute to pushing employee ownership further into the business mainstream.

At LOOP, our #eoSmile is genuine because we truly believe in the power of people-first principles and the collective strength of employee ownership. It’s about building a different kind of legacy, together.