Employee Ownership for The Nursery

UK-based brand communications and experience research agency The Nursery has become employee-owned, with rights transferred to a trust set up for the benefit of all staff.

Founded in 2001, The Nursery provides custom qual and quant brand strategy research, including employee mood studies, research among children, and advice for start-up businesses. Two years ago, the company launched Nursery Tracking Plus, to explain how marketing changes what people know and feel about a brand, and how they behave as a result; and it acquired experience and data specialist Arkenford. Then last year, the firm launched a new division called The Nursery Health, building on its experience working across the Rx, OTC and wellness sectors.

In the year to December 2019, The Nursery reported turnover of £6.45m, and a headcount of 36 employees. Its majority shareholders - co-founders Lucy Banister and Peter Dann, and David Alterman who joined in 2007 to launch the company's quant offer - have now sold 100% of their shares to the Employee Ownership Trust, but will remain in the business. Senior managers Pauline McGowan, Ben Moxon and Pete Canning join the Board, along with Finance Director Neil Barnett. Moxon and Canning lead the Quant teams, while Gareth Simmonds continues to lead the Qual team; and Business Director Melanie Bigoni joined in April to head up Operations and Business Development.

Commenting on the move, Dann said: 'The people who work here have always been what makes this business so special, delivering expert insight to a wide range of great clients. Handing ownership over to them feels like the right thing to do; it also makes good business sense as we have a brilliant leadership team and a great group of researchers who'll be even more engaged in the success of their business as well as their clients'.

Web site: www.the-nursery.net .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.