United Nations International Year of Co-operatives event showcases four decades of employee ownership at John Lewis Edinburgh

Co-operative Development Scotland hosted a special event at John Lewis Edinburgh today (Monday 5 November) to highlight the benefits of employee ownership.

The John Lewis Partnership is one of the most renowned names on the British High Street, and is owned in trust for the benefit of its workers (Partners) who share the profits of the business and feel a real sense of ownership, which in turn helps to boost the working culture and enhances the customer experience.

This is the sixth in a series of Co-operative Development Scotland-organised visits to successful employee-owned businesses taking place across Scotland in 2012. One more will follow later this year on 16 November at Tullis Russell in Glenrothes.

At the event Barry Blamire, managing director of John Lewis Edinburgh, who has been with the Partnership for over 16 years, explained how and why the employee ownership business model has proved successful for the John Lewis Partnership.

Louise Elliott, personnel manager, also set out how the Edinburgh branch makes co-ownership a part of everyday working life for its Partners.

Sarah Deas, chief executive, Co-operative Development Scotland, provided an overview of employee ownership. The event was also attended by prominent politicians including Marco Biagi the SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central.

Sarah Deas said: “John Lewis has achieved success since it was established as a Trust for the benefit of the workers by John Spedan Lewis in 1929. There is growing interest across Scotland in employee ownership with more companies now adopting this business model.

“The John Lewis model succeeds by empowering employees to fully unlock their potential. It is one of the best known employee owned companies in the world and has delivered years of success.”

Barry Blamire, managing director of John Lewis, Edinburgh said: “Every business is different and has its own way of operating. Here at John Lewis we’ve found that giving Partners the rights and responsibilities of ownership through active involvement in the business works best for us.

“For our Partners it is a fairer model – when the Partnership does well, every one does well.”

Marco Biagi, SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central, said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with John Lewis. It was interesting to hear first-hand from staff the benefits of becoming employee owned. The result for John Lewis has been a reputation for dedication from staff members and a high standard of customer service.

“I hope that other companies in Scotland will consider the employee owned business co-operative model as a means of delivering growth.”

There are 578 co-operative businesses in Scotland with a combined turnover of more than £4bn and employing 28,600 people.