Employees sowing seeds of success

A long-established agricultural merchant has reached another milestone in its 138-year journey as its employees take the helm.

Lanarkshire-based Galloway and MacLeod is set to make the transition with the support of Baxi Partnership Ltd, the UK’s leading employee-ownership consultants, and Co-operative Development Scotland.

Galloway and MacLeod, with its well-established history in the Scottish agricultural sector, has transformed its Stonehouse operation from a local animal feed and fertiliser supplier to a £13 million turnover business with 31 employees supplying customers across the UK and Ireland.

Chairman, Ralph MacLeod, whose family has been involved in the business for three generations, was inspired by David Erdal’s book Local Heroes which detailed Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd’s journey into employee ownership.

Ralph realised the model may be the right vehicle for Galloway and MacLeod to enable growth and development without the restrictions of a traditional business structure. Another important consideration for Ralph was securing jobs in the local community which could not be guaranteed if the business was sold or merged with a competitor.