Studio G is currently transitioning to an Employee-Owned Trust alongside Gusto Construction and Rototek. Chairman Steff Wright announced the decision to make all Gusto Group employees shareholders in 2023.
Instead of just transitioning to an EOT after the announcement, we wanted to combine this with EMI shares for all our employees as an additional financial benefit whilst preparing the team for the changes and expanding on their knowledge of employee-ownership.
Now, we are only 5 months away from being completely employee-owned!
Here is everything you need to know about our transition to an EOT, what it means for our architectural practice, and the future of the company and wider group.
What is an EOT?
An Employee-Owned Trust (EOT) is a legal structure where a trust holds a business's shares on behalf of all its employees.
This framework was introduced by the UK Government in 2014 to encourage businesses to give the people who work for them a genuine stake in the company.
Now, the UK has over 2,900 employee-owned businesses, including big brands such as John Lewis Partnership, Aardman Animations and Go Ape, as well as a growing number of leading UK architecture practices.
What does it mean for our team?
By transitioning to an EOT, we can ensure that our business and the wider group remain independent, while protecting its culture and allowing employees to share directly in our financial growth and long-term success.
For our team, it means the people working hard every day get to own the business and think like an owner rather than just an employee. It gives every single person a say in how we grow, develop and achieve, while sharing in the direct success of the business.
As of 31st March 2027, Studio G and the rest of Gusto Group will be 100% Employee-Owned.
Studio G’s EOT Trustee
Across Gusto Group, six EOT Trustees were elected. One from Gusto Group, one from Gusto Construction, three from Rototek and one from Studio G.
Our EOT Trustees are responsible for representing the interests of all employee-owners and ensuring the Trust continues to operate for the benefit of current and future employees.
Adam Caffrey
Project Architect Adam Caffery was elected to represent Studio G.
Adam joined Studio G in January 2025. He has 9 years of architectural experience and a passion for sustainability. As a key part of the Studio G team, Adam is excited about his new responsibility as an EOT Trustee.
Adam said: "Being an EOT Trustee means being involved in something bigger than my own team. It’s a personal responsibility to all Gusto Group employees, to make sure the ownership we've been given is something they can actually relate to."
What our Team Thinks
The response from our team during this transition has been overwhelmingly positive.
Chairman Steff Wright said: “The journey that we've been on as a company has been to engage with and empower employees and then align our benefits to them. And our decision to issue growth shares and become employee-owned presented the ultimate alignment of benefit and responsibility to our employees. We can’t wait to see the business continue to go from strength to strength.”
Another employee said: “Being part of an EOT means we're not just employees - we're co-owners. We all have a say and a reason to make the company a success. The extra income from the shares means that I can treat the family that bit more, meaning it's not just me who benefits from being part of the business - it's another incentive to build a company we can take pride in being part of!"
Find Out More
If you would like to learn more about Employee-Ownership Trusts, how they work and how they can benefit your business, visit the EOA website!
