Sewell Estates Co-Owner Council releases first annual report

The estates arm of Sewell Group became part-employee owned in January 2023, when majority shareholder and group Chair Paul Sewell moved 25% of the company’s shares into an employee ownership trust. All 300 people who work across Sewell Estates’ eight businesses became Co-Owners, meaning they have a greater say in how the business is run, and share in any company profits.

The Co-Owner report was co-written by two ‘voice champions’ from different parts of the business that sit on the group’s Co-Owner Council; the body that represents everyone from across Sewell’s businesses.

Some of the main achievements include launching a new Co-Owner Charter, which outlines the responsibilities of all employees to ensure the business is serving its customers in the best possible way and continuing to drive efficiencies and improvements.

New employee benefits have also been introduced, including enhanced cost of living pay increases, health screenings, a new payroll saving scheme and uplifts in holiday allowances.

Co-Owners have also been actively submitting ideas for developing the business through new or improved ways of working and identifying areas for making productivity gains and cutting waste.

Dieter Franks, Co-Owner and Site Manager at Sewell Construction, said: “It’s been fantastic to see our ideas and suggestions not only heard but implemented throughout the business. The positive feedback I’ve received has been so encouraging and has motivated me to share my thoughts and ideas even more.”

Since launching its employee ownership trust, new governance arrangements have been put in place, which include a Trust Board and Co-Owner Council to represent the voice of its people. The team have attended events up and down the country to learn more about employee ownership and share examples of best practice, and Co-Owners have had the opportunity to attend board meetings to directly input into the running of the business.

Stuart Verry, Co-Owner Council Member and Operations Manager at Sewell Group’s health estates consultancy Community Ventures said: “I am extremely proud of what the Council has achieved so far. A group of people from varying roles across the group has developed into a cohesive unit who support each other as we navigated through the first year of employee ownership.”

The Co-Owner report rounded off an exciting twelve months for the company, which has included the completion of major refurbishment projects at Hull Trinity House Academy and Ron Dearing UTC’s STEAM Studios in Hull, supporting health and education organisations across the country to deliver the best care for patients, the opening of new office buildings in East Yorkshire and the North East, and being named on the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024 list.

Read report here.