Sarah Hewett
Welcome to the next installment of our EO Community Catalyst Spotlight series. We firmly believe that navigating the Employee Ownership landscape is best done through shared experience. Here, we gather practical insights from leaders at every stage of the EO lifecycle to help guide your own journey.
Today, we are thrilled to feature Sarah Hewett from People Untapped, a global leadership and management development consultancy.
People Untapped is relatively early in their Employee Ownership (EO) journey, making Sarah’s insights incredibly valuable for founders and teams who are just starting to navigate this structural and cultural shift. Following her attendance at the recent EOCC event in March 2026, we caught up with Sarah to discuss the power of curiosity, the reality of "Financial Freedom Day," and why employee ownership is so much more than just a change on paper.
Mercedes Frampton from I-COM caught up with Sarah to delve into their experience. Here’s what Sarah had to share.
Part 1: The EO Journey & Current Reality
Where is your business currently at on its EO journey?
We’re still relatively early in our employee ownership journey but already seeing the impact it can have on engagement and shared responsibility. For us, it’s about creating a business where people feel genuinely invested in the long-term success of what we’re building.
What has been the most surprising part of the transition to employee ownership for your team so far?
One of the most encouraging things has been the level of curiosity and engagement from the team. People are really interested in understanding how the business works and how their role contributes to the bigger picture. We've seen this in the questions we're getting around strategy and finances, and some great examples where the team are proposing cost savings or revenue-generating activities and linking it directly to our profitability. We've even seen candidates applying for roles based on their interest in being part of an employee-owned business.
During this transition/repayment period, how are you currently balancing the need to pay off the shares with the need to invest back into the business or the team?
For us, it’s about making balanced decisions that support both the long-term sustainability of the business and the experience of our team. Employee ownership works best when people see that the organisation is continuing to invest in growth, development, and opportunity. The move to employee ownership doesn't change the commitment to our team, or the need to make financially responsible decisions, and our approach has continued to prioritise both of these things.
What’s the biggest challenge you face right now when it comes to keeping your team motivated and connected to the EO vision?
The biggest focus is making sure employee ownership feels real and meaningful for everyone, not just a structural change on paper. That means ongoing communication, education, and involving people in conversations about the future of the business.
Part 2: Event Takeaways & Community Insights
Based on the conversations with other EO businesses and the insights from the panel, what is the most valuable lesson you've learned from someone else's journey?
For me, the biggest takeaway was how open EO businesses are about sharing their journeys – both the successes and the challenges. Combined with the diversity in businesses which have chosen the employee ownership route, I was amazed by the breadth of industries and differences in scales of organisations who attended. That sense of community is incredibly valuable.
Did the panel change your perspective at all on what 'Financial Freedom Day' should look like for your business?
The panel discussion highlighted the diversity of experiences of EO businesses, and that good business practice is critical to success before and after debt has been repaid. It brought home that a single day is not the thing which makes an employee-owned business successful; instead, building a strong culture of engaged and collaborative employees will set you up for success before and after debt repayment is complete.
If you could give one piece of advice to a business that is just starting their repayment period today, what would it be?
Take the time to bring your people with you. Employee ownership is as much about culture and communication as it is about structure.
Join the Conversation
A huge thank you to Sarah for sharing her experiences. Her point that "a single day is not the thing which makes an employee-owned business successful" is a powerful reminder that EO is ultimately about fostering a collaborative, transparent, and engaged culture over the long term.
Register your interest today on our events page to join our growing network, get notified about future EO North West events, and learn firsthand from businesses across the region.
