Six of our employee-owners had the privilege of representing Smile Together at the National Employee Ownership Association (EOA) conference in November 2024. Alongside other employee-owned businesses, our team travelled to Telford, where they participated in a series of valuable presentations and workshops aimed at deepening the understanding of employee ownership and fostering connections within the EO community.
Since becoming an employee-owned community interest company in 2016, Smile Together has empowered our employees to have a voice in shaping the company’s future. In 2022, we earned our B Corp certification, and we’re currently working on recertification to ensure that we continue to operate with the highest standards of social and environmental impact. We are committed to making Smile Together a positive force for our employees, our community, and the environment.
We are always eager to share our employee ownership journey and achievements, and the EOA conference provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded businesses. It was a chance to inspire one another and to continue thriving together.
Our team found the focus on workplace culture particularly valuable, especially the talk by John Lewis, which provided insightful perspectives on both internal and external restructuring. The workshop on Artificial Intelligence was also a highlight for our team. Overall, the key takeaway from these sessions was the importance of building a robust, secure cultural framework that supports business growth while maintaining relevance. We also recognised the critical role of collaborating with the EOA to drive progress, with the ultimate goal of achieving milestones such as Good Business Charter Certification.
Our team returned with a wealth of insights, which will undoubtedly inspire and instil pride in our employee-owned company. They particularly enjoyed the dinner and the prestigious EOA awards. We’re already looking forward to next year’s conference and the opportunities it will bring!
