EOT adviser in Kilmacolm, Scotland

Ralph Leishman – 4-Consulting

Ralph is a strategy consultant, employee ownership adviser and non-executive director with deep experience supporting business owners considering a move to employee ownership. He has helped dozens of companies assess their options, take the decision, and transition through to successful completion.

EOT expertise

Through 4-Consulting, Ralph delivers employee ownership feasibility studies and explore succession options. Ralph is an independent member on a number of Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) boards, bringing practical governance insight to businesses operating under employee ownership.

Qualifications and expertise

A Chartered Accountant and Member of the Institute of Directors, Ralph combines commercial, financial and governance experience with sector-specific knowledge. He continues to stay close to best practice in employee ownership, including participation in employee ownership masterclasses with Cooperative Development Scotland.

How Ralph works with Go EO

Ralph works alongside Go EO to support founders through the full EOT process. Go EO manages the technical transaction - valuation, legal documents, tax clearance and trust registration. Ralph's contribution sits around that: helping founders and businesses think through the strategic and cultural dimensions of moving to employee ownership, and bringing governance expertise through his work as an independent EOT trustee.

He is able to give founders specialist support at every stage of the journey.

Why work with an EOT adviser?

An EOT sale is not just a transaction, it's a shift in how a business is owned and led. The process involves financial structuring, legal documentation, tax planning and ongoing governance, as well as the human side of bringing employees with you through the change. An experienced EOT adviser helps founders assess whether employee ownership is the right path, plan the transition carefully, and make sure the business is set up to thrive under its new structure.

What is an Employee Ownership Trust?

An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is an exit route that offers founders the opportunity to sell their business to their employees. Different to a management buyout, with an EOT, the staff do not invest any of their own money into the business. Instead, the founder sells the shares to a Trust, which holds them collectively on behalf of employees. The business repays the founder over time from future profits, any extra profit is shared among the staff.

As well as rewarding the team that have helped you build the business, EOTs retain the culture and independence of the business. And come with CGT relief on 50% of the sale proceeds.