A SCOTTISH firm has now moved towards employee ownership, with the company transferring over a majority number of shares to its workers.
Highland Fuels is one of Scotland’s leading independent fuel distributors. Established in 1957, the company delivers fuel to domestic and commercial customers across Scotland, including the northern and western isles.
The company has a head office in Inverness, with over 250 employees spread between its most southerly office located in Manchester to its most northerly office based in Lerwick, Shetland.
Chairman and owner George Shand said he had been considering the future of the company and was mindful of the loyalty of the staff.
He said: “We’re proud of being different. We’re a Highland-based company with a very wide reach. We live our values.”
Managing director Stephen Rhodes added: “Employee ownership is perfect for us.
"It truly enables every single employee to benefit from the company’s advancement and provides the right platform for us to realise a positive culture, high engagement and great performances as we progress to the future."
Employee ownership is an increasingly popular route for many private companies. There are now over 1400 companies with this structure in the UK, with 195 of them in Scotland.
Earlier in August, Lanark-based Martin Precision Ltd also announced it would move to employee ownership after 30 years in business.
