EOT adviser in Linlithgow, Scotland

Innes Chalmers – Covenant Financial

Innes Chalmers is a Chartered Accountant and freelance Finance Director working with owner-managed businesses who want clarity, control and better decisions from their numbers. Based in Linlithgow, Scotland, he works with founders at pivotal moments, including preparing for funding, navigating growth, or planning an exit. Innes brings a calm, experienced financial voice to the table when it matters most.

EOT expertise

Working as an independent trustee for Employee Ownership Trusts, Innes offers financial and governance expertise to EOT boards post-completion. His broader exit experience includes supporting the sale of Abbey Business Centres, a £20m turnover business where he served as Finance Director. This gives him first-hand understanding of what a successful transition involves from the inside.

Qualifications and background

A qualified Chartered Accountant, who completed his training with PwC in London, Innes specialised in management consulting, cost reduction and systems work. He has since held senior finance roles at Dell and Abbey Business Centres. He has also worked independently across property, hospitality, technology, manufacturing and fine art, including PE-backed companies. He also serves as chairman of two charities.

How Innes works with Go EO

Innes works alongside Go EO to support Scottish business owners exploring an EOT sale. Go EO handles the technical transaction: valuation, legal documentation, tax clearance and trust registration. Innes provides the broader financial context, helping founders get a clear picture of where the business really stands, preparing it for the process ahead, and bringing ongoing governance expertise through his work as an independent EOT trustee.

What is an Employee Ownership Trust?

An EOT is a way for a business owner to sell their company to their people. The founder's shares transfer to a trust held on behalf of the workforce, and the business repays them over time from future profits. Employees gain a genuine stake in the organisation, without putting any of their own money into the business. For founders who have built something they believe is worth preserving, that continuity matters. Rather than selling to an outside buyer with their own agenda, an EOT keeps the business in the hands of the people.

Why work with an EOT adviser?

An EOT sale involves financial, legal, tax and governance considerations that go well beyond the transaction itself. An experienced adviser helps founders understand their options clearly, prepares the business for the process ahead, and makes sure nothing falls through the gaps. The right adviser brings both technical knowledge and commercial judgement, helping founders make confident, well-informed decisions at every stage.