#2 Protecting Purpose in an Employee‑Owned Business – A Conversation with Rob Haward

Описание: Barry is joined by Rob Haward (Riverford) for a practical conversation that links employee ownership with the realities of running a large, values-led organisation, including what has to change in leadership, communication, and culture for EO to actually “work” day-to-day.

Riverford’s transition is discussed in the context of protecting purpose long-term (and avoiding the business ending up “in the wrong hands”), while still staying commercially sharp and operationally disciplined.

What’s covered in this episode

● Rob’s route into food and farming, and how those early experiences shaped his values and leadership.

● The why behind the move to employee ownership, including legacy, purpose protection, and long-term stewardship.

● How Riverford approached the transition, including exploring other ownership models before landing on an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

● The importance of over-communication, engaging people early, and tackling misconceptions head-on.

● Governance in practice: Riverford’s democratically elected co-owner council, how it gathers input, and how agendas are shaped.

● Making EO real beyond the legal structure: listening culture, closing the loop, and building systems that encourage an “owner mindset”.

● The tension points: decision speed, risk aversion, information flow, and why middle management can be either the blocker or the unlock.

Moments to listen out for

● The long-running internal conversations about ownership (including a memorable board meeting setting).

● “The Founder’s Wishes” and why documenting purpose and values matters more than most founders realise.

● Riverford’s continuous improvement approach: “Improve Tomorrow Together (ITT)”, built on lean thinking and designed to turn motivation into action.

Quickfire highlights

● Rob’s take: employee ownership as a “much needed” model that can balance society, planet, and commercial success.

● Biggest EO surprise: how well the founder handled selling the business while staying positively engaged.

● Book mention: Turn the Ship Around (as an accessible leadership read relevant to empowerment and engagement).

If you’re a business owner exploring employee ownership, this episode gives you a clear view of the operational and leadership work that sits behind the headline benefits, without pretending it’s effortless.

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