Caption: Marie Flynn, Dr Oliver Browne, Peter O’Connor, and Rosaleen Boyle at the Annual Jack FitzPatrick Lecture 2026
Ireland should unlock the potential of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) as a solution to the country’s growing SME succession challenge, delegates at the 2026 Annual Jack FitzPatrick Lecture have been told.
Hosted by the Irish ProShare Association (IPSA), the event in Cork brought together business leaders, policymakers and advisors to explore how employee ownership models can support business continuity, protect jobs, strengthen regional economies and retain wealth within local communities.
The keynote lecture, delivered by Dr Oliver Browne of University College Cork, presented new research exploring the role of employee ownership in supporting business continuity and economic resilience.
Dr Browne’s research highlights employee ownership as a viable alternative to more traditional exit routes such as trade sales or private equity, particularly for businesses embedded in their local community.
Drawing on case studies and interviews, he found that many founders are motivated not only by financial return, but also by a desire to preserve company culture, employment and local impact – an approach described as balancing a “double bottom line”.
Speaking afterwards, Dr Browne said: “For many founders, succession is not purely a financial decision – it’s about legacy, people and place. Employee Ownership Trusts offer a way to balance those priorities.”
Stronger performance and more resilient
The lecture also pointed to evidence that employee-owned firms perform strongly relative to their peers. By placing ownership in trust for employees, EOTs encourage broader participation in decision-making and a greater focus on long-term outcomes.
Research indicates that employee-owned businesses are typically more productive and demonstrate greater resilience through economic cycles, alongside increased investment in innovation and long-term growth.
“Employee ownership is an entrepreneurial transition which leads to responsibility and decision-making being shared more widely across an organisation,” Dr. Browne added.
A further key finding is the role employee ownership can play in keeping businesses rooted in place. The research shows that employee-owned firms are more likely to retain jobs, decision-making and economic value within their local areas – an important consideration for Ireland’s regional economies.
International insight
Dr Browne’s research drew for experience in Scotland as an example of how employee ownership can grow within a supportive policy environment, with steady increases in the number of companies using EOTs to transition to employee ownership over the past decade.
This experience highlights the importance of awareness, advisory support and a clear policy framework in enabling more businesses to consider employee ownership as a succession option.
Dr Browne said: “What we see from other jurisdictions is that EOTs provide a unique policy lever for governments that enables business continuity, retains capital locally, and supports inclusive growth, all without compromising competitiveness.”
Policy Support
IPSA continues to engage constructively with the Irish Government and other stakeholders to advocate for greater understanding, policy support and incentivisation of EOTs across the country.
Marie Flynn, IPSA Chair, noted that building understanding among business owners and advisors will be an important step. “There is growing interest in employee ownership in Ireland. With the right supports and continued collaboration between industry and Government, there is a real opportunity to broaden its adoption in the years ahead.”
“If Ireland is serious about supporting indigenous enterprise and regional development, Employee Ownership Trusts should be a central part of that strategy.”
The Jack FitzPatrick Lecture is a key event in IPSA’s calendar, contributing to ongoing dialogue on the role of employee ownership in building resilient and inclusive economies.
Ms Flynn said: “We are grateful to Dr Oliver Browne for sharing his research and insights, and to all the speakers and delegates who contributed to such a constructive and forward-looking discussion at this year’s Annual Jack FitzPatrick Lecture.
“The challenge now is awareness. Once business owners understand how EOTs work, many see them as a natural fit for their succession plans – and a way to secure their legacy for generations to come.”
