As we celebrate EO Day, we spoke to Senior Nursery Manager and EOT Trustee Katie Humphreys about what employee ownership means in practice, how colleagues influence the future of the business, and why having a shared stake in success matters.
As an employee-owned business, you, the people who work at Tops, play an important role in shaping our future.
Our Employee-Owned Trust (EOT) exists to ensure the business continues to be run for the benefit of the colleagues who make it what it is every day. The Trust Board acts as the moral guardian of the business, representing employee voices and helping to protect our values for the long term.
Our EO Trust Board consists of Cheryl Hadland, Founder and Chair of Trustees, Sam King, CEO, Micah Faure, Legal Trustee, Stacey Nash and Katie Humphreys, Senior Nursery Manager Trustees.
Together, they help ensure colleague perspectives are considered in major strategic decisions and that the business remains focused on its people and purpose.
Katie joined Tops in 2012 as a Nursery Supervisor and has built an impressive career over the past 14 years.
After progressing to Nursery Manager and later Senior Nursery Manager, she now supports several nurseries as Deputy Company Safeguarding Lead while also representing colleagues and partners on the EOT Trust Board.
“Employee ownership means we all have a genuine stake in
the success and future of our organisation.”
– Katie, Senior Nursery Manager and EOT Trustee
When asked about a moment that truly demonstrated employee ownership, Katie immediately thought of a particularly challenging period.
“During a particularly busy period with staff shortages, the team came together to support one another. People stepped outside of their usual responsibilities, shared knowledge and focused on maintaining high-quality care for the children.”
For Katie, this demonstrated something powerful: everyone felt responsible for the success of the nursery, not just their own role.
That shared accountability is one of the key benefits of employee ownership and helps create stronger teams across the organisation.
As an EOT Trustee, Katie helps ensure our teams have a voice when important decisions are being made.
“I have the pleasure of being a voice for our colleagues and partners, particularly when it comes to how budgets are invested. It’s about understanding where money is being spent and ensuring it benefits both our teams and the children in our care.”
This role helps connect day-to-day experiences in our nurseries with the wider decisions that shape the future of the organisation.
Employee-Owned Trusts help to:
✓ Give employees a meaningful voice
✓ Protect company values for the long term
✓ Keep businesses independent
✓ Share success across the organisation
✓ Encourage long-term thinking and investment
Employee ownership is about more than how a business is structured. It’s about creating a culture where people feel valued, listened to and empowered to make a difference.
As we celebrate EO Day, we’d like to thank every colleague and partner for the role they play in making Tops a success. Together, we’re building a future that belongs to all of us.
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