Fully Funded Employee Ownership Feasibility Study Support

Explore Whether Employee Ownership Could Be Right for Your Business

Employee Ownership Ireland is offering fully funded feasibility study support for businesses in Northern Ireland that want to explore whether an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) could be a suitable succession option.

What is an Employee Ownership Trust?

An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is a business ownership model where a company is owned on behalf of its employees.

This can allow business owners to step back or exit while:

Protecting the future of the business
Retaining jobs and skills
Preserving company culture and values
Giving employees a meaningful stake in long-term success

Who Is This Support For?

This programme may be suitable for:

Founder-led businesses considering succession planning
Family businesses preparing for the next stage of ownership
Established SMEs without a clear buyer or successor
Businesses seeking to protect local jobs and roots
Companies interested in rewarding employees and strengthening long-term stability

What Does the Feasibility Study Cover?

The study provides an early-stage assessment of whether employee ownership could work for your business.

It can help you explore:

Whether your company may be suitable for employee ownership
What an Employee Ownership Trust could mean for owners, employees, and the business
Key financial and operational considerations
Potential next steps if you decide to explore the option further

Participation in the feasibility study does not commit your business to transitioning to employee ownership.

Why Consider Employee Ownership?

Employee ownership can help business owners:

Plan an exit in a structured way
Protect jobs and valuable skills
Keep the business rooted locally
Preserve company values and culture
Give employees a greater voice in the future of the business
Avoid selling to a competitor or external buyer when that may not align with your vision