A global provider of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) accreditation has become employee owned in a bid to “preserve its reputation”.
The TEFL organisation undertook the move to prevent its workers from having to relocate from the Inverness headquarters and retain its values.
Co-founder Joe Hallwood said the change would also help to provide job security for staff.
“Some of our employees have been with us since the first few months and know the company inside out - we trust them to do right by the firm and have no doubt it will continue to thrive under their care,” he commented.
TEFL was launched from a garden shed in 2008 by founders Hallwood and Jennifer MacKenzie, and claims to have more qualifications than any other provider.
Last year, the company reported 81% growth and revenues rising to £4.8m, from £2.4m in 2019.
It now employs more than 30 employees from more than five different countries, including 17 core staff, 11 of whom are local to the office.
While the pandemic resulted in the move away from in-person learning, TEFL launched virtual classroom courses and on-demand online courses to address the need.
Hallwood and MacKenzie were introduced to the employee ownership model by accountancy firm Azets and Scottish law firm Ledingham Chalmers, which helped advise on the move.
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