Manchester comms agency Creed Communications has transitioned to employee ownership after 15 successful years in business.
Creed specialises in marketing support for employer branding, people communications and talent attraction and was established in 2007 by shareholders Caroline Hill and Simon McLoughlin. The founding pair will continue to lead the business as working directors.
The firm, which counts Iceland, Jaguar Land Rover and Vodafone among its clients, has grown its headcount over the last decade to 20 employees. It plans to hire more experts to support organic growth under the new employee-owned model.
The specialist EOT team at Brabners and Xeinadin group firms (Xeinadin Corporate Finance, Kay Johnson Gee taxation advisory and Philip Carrol accountants) advised Creed Communications on the deal and establishment of the firm’s new employee ownership trust (EOT).
It follows two years of high demand for the company, which has helped businesses with employee engagement and recruitment strategies as they’ve faced skills shortages and ‘the great resignation’ phenomenon following the pandemic.
Director and co-founder Hill said: “It’s fitting that after 15 successful years in business that we should reward and recognise [our staff’s] contribution by moving to an employee-owned model. This move ultimately sets us up to look ahead to the next 15 years of business and beyond, as we develop our experts and leaders for the future, remain agile and independent and support more organisations as they grapple with the constant and changing demands of the employment market.
“Moving to employee ownership is becoming more popular, but it remains a path that’s not well-trodden. The expertise and pragmatism of our advisers at Brabners and KJG ensured that we secured a deal that sets us up for a bright future.”
