Five years ago, Clearleft became an employee-owned company. It was a quiet, intentional step towards securing the future of the business in a way that felt true to our values. No big fanfare, just a simple belief that the people who shape Clearleft every day should also have a say in what it becomes.
“The employee ownership trust has a simple mandate: to ensure the long-term success of the company for the benefit of its employees.”
That idea still shapes how we work at Clearleft. It influences how we share responsibility and how we make decisions with the long term in mind.
So, what’s changed and what hasn’t?
Since then, we’ve seen the impact in many ways. Ownership has helped build more openness and trust across the team. It has encouraged shared responsibility and pride in what we do and who we do it for. It has helped us stay focused on what matters most, especially during times of change.
Being employee-owned hasn’t changed who we are, but it has reinforced the kind of company we want to be. A company built on people, with a culture that supports each of us to do our best work and contribute to something bigger than ourselves.
Looking ahead
It might not be the right model for every business, but if you are thinking about the future of your company and want to explore alternatives to traditional ownership, reach out, we would be happy to share what we have learnt.
