On 29th May this year, we mark a major milestone: five years of being proudly employee owned. It’s a model that’s shaped the way we work, the way we think, and the way we grow — together.

To celebrate, we’re launching a series that shines a spotlight on what employee ownership (EO) means to us, to our clients, and to the future we’re building.

What is employee ownership?

Employee ownership means that a company is owned, not by a single founder or external investors, but by its employees. At Answer Digital, this means every team member has a real stake in our business, for us, this is in terms of personal responsibility, culture and outcomes.

We're owned by an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), which holds the shares on behalf of the team. This structure gives us long-term stability, protects our independence, and means every success we achieve is shared.

Why did we choose to become employee owned?

In 2019, our founder Gary Parlett was looking to step back from the day-to-day running of the business. But instead of selling to an external buyer — which could have brought in external agendas and risked changing what makes Answer unique — we made a bold and deliberate choice: to stay true to our values and become employee owned.

The culture and values at the heart of Answer had always prioritised collaboration, integrity, and putting people first — so the shift to employee ownership wasn’t a reinvention, but a natural evolution. The model fit us perfectly. No need to change our core — just a way to strengthen it for the future.

This move meant we could protect everything that makes Answer, Answer, while placing the future of the company in the hands of the people who live and breathe it every day. No outside investment, no compromise — just a business driven by its people, for its people.

As Gary shared at the time: “It is the ultimate people strategy. EO gives Answer independence and enables us to keep doing the right thing for our clients and our people.”

What does our EO status mean for our clients?

Clients often ask us what makes Answer different. The answer, quite literally, is ownership.

Because we’re employee owned, every member of our team thinks like an owner. We take pride in what we deliver, we care deeply about outcomes, and we’re accountable to one another — not a boardroom elsewhere.

That owner's mindset means better service, better decisions, and long-term thinking. We build relationships based on trust and shared purpose, because we’re in this for the right reasons, not just to hit profit targets, but to make a real impact.

It also gives us flexibility. As an independent, employee-owned business, we can write our own rulebook, which means we’re more agile, accommodating and responsive to our clients’ needs. We’re free to partner with whoever we believe is the best fit, expanding our ever-growing network of skills, capabilities and expertise.

Ultimately, being employee owned lets us do what’s right; not just what’s expected. And our clients feel that in every project we deliver.

What does our EO status mean for our team?

Employee ownership gives our team something powerful: a voice and a vested interest in the business we’re building together.

It creates a culture of shared responsibility, openness and ambition. People feel empowered to speak up, make decisions, and challenge the norm — simply because they’re not just employees, they’re owners. That sense of ownership extends to how the company is governed, too. Through our elected Employee Trustee, employee voice is represented at the highest level, guiding all our important business decisions and helping to shape the direction of Answer in a way that puts people first.

It also protects our independence. We get to choose the direction we go in, who we work with, and how we operate. That freedom lets us focus on what really matters: solving complex problems with smart technology, and creating space for people to thrive.

What are we most looking forward to in the future?

Five years in, we’re just getting started.

We’re excited to keep evolving our ownership culture, to develop the next era of leadership from within, and to continue building a business that’s owned by its people and driven by its purpose.

A key focus for us this year is supporting our people to develop their owner’s mindset. This shift means seeing our work not just as a series of tasks, but as contributions that are critical to our collective success. It’s about taking initiative, thinking long-term, and acting in the best interests of Answer.

Our overall goal is to continue developing g Answer into a place where people feel connected, empowered and proud — and where our clients feel the difference that true ownership brings.

Because when everyone has a stake, everyone brings their best. And that’s what makes employee ownership, for us, the Answer.

How are we marking our 5-year anniversary?

To mark five fantastic years of employee ownership, we’re throwing a proper Answer-style celebration. On our official EO anniversary — 29th May — we’ll be hosting a birthday party in the office. And in July, we’ll be taking the celebrations up a notch with our summer away day, themed around five years of being employee owned. It’s the perfect excuse to step back from the day-to-day, come together on mutual ground, share stories, reflect on the journey so far, and of course, enjoy some well-earned fun, games and a few surprises along the way. Here’s to five years of ownership, and to everything still to come!