31st Oct 2025

Weekly EOT Update — Employee Ownership Ireland

EOI Weekly

Employee Ownership in NI — This Week

Short, practical updates for advisors and business leaders. Clear next steps. NI-relevant.

Published: 31 October 2025 · Employee Ownership Ireland

Belfast roadshow panel during the Ownership Succession Breakfast — Belfast Ownership Succession Breakfast — full room, strong questions, practical answers.

This week at a glance

Strong turnout at our Belfast and Omagh roadshows. Advisors, owners and EO businesses in the room.
NI SME Business Conference & Expo, Newry — 13 November. We’re sponsoring and speaking. Free to attend.
Trustee Masterclass (online) — 4 November and EOA Annual Conference — 25–26 November (Telford).

Register for Newry Register for Trustee Masterclass Register for EOA Conference

Roadshow highlights

Belfast — Ownership Succession Breakfast

Host: Paul Prenter (Grant Thornton)

Speakers: Karen Maguire (EOI Chair; ex-Relinea), Andrew Harrison (Co-ownership Solutions), Rebecca Aitken (White Ink Architects), Laura Buckley (SCC), James Morrison (DWF Law).

Belfast speaker on stage with screen behind — Andrew Harrison sharing his knowledge on the EOT Model.

Audience member asking a question during Q&A at the Belfast event — An opportunity to network and hear the real lived experiences of EOTs.

Feasibility first: timing, valuation discipline, finance options.
Clear staff communication builds trust from day one.
Trustee independence and governance are under sharper scrutiny.

Omagh — Ownership Succession Afternoon

Host: Fergal Logan (PA Duffy & Co)

Speakers: Karen Maguire (EOI), Andrew Harrison (Co-ownership Solutions), Amanda Grimes (People 1st — Trustee Director), Patrick McCaul (PMcC Environmental Consulting Engineers), Michael Blair (Maneely McCann).

Omagh event room during the Ownership Succession session — Omagh brought strong local perspectives — rural isn’t a barrier.

questions from the audience at the Omagh event — Independent trustees, culture and oversight — real examples.

Advice and finance are accessible across NI.
Independent trustees add assurance to decision-making.
Vendor finance works when cashflow supports the plan.

See us in Newry — 13 November

We’re at the NI SME Business Conference & Expo in the Canal Court Hotel. Free to attend. A strong forum for owners and advisors to start the EOT conversation.

Canal Court Hotel exterior in Newry — NI SME Business Conference & Expo — Newry, 13 November.

Register for Newry Event

The EO Journey

The Employee Ownership Journey: Explore → Feasibility → Transition → Trust — Four clear steps — explore, test feasibility, plan the transition, steward the trust.

Training & events to watch

Trustee Masterclass (online) — 4 November. Ideal for new/prospective EOT trustees and advisors.
EOA Annual Conference — 25–26 November, Telford International Centre. UK-wide networking and case studies.

EOA Annual Conference 2025 — Meet peers, compare approaches, and bring back ideas for NI businesses.

Register for Trustee Masterclass Register for EOA Conference

What you can do next

Shortlist clients that could benefit from an EOI-funded feasibility study.
Book Newry; pencil Telford; assign a trustee-track colleague to the masterclass.
Email us for intros to NI businesses that have already transitioned.