Solarsense Wins Highly Commended in Rising Star Category at Employee Ownership Association Awards 2024

Solarsense is thrilled to announce its highly commended achievement in the Rising Star category at the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) Awards. This recognition celebrates the company’s exceptional growth, commitment to employee ownership, and its ongoing impact in the renewable energy sector.

The prestigious award, collected at a national gala event during the EOA Annual Conference, highlights Solarsense’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, sustainable work environment that empowers employees to play a key role in the company’s success.

Solarsense transitioned to an employee-owned model in May 2023. The decision was driven by the founders, who prioritised their vision for the company’s future and their employees over a remunerative buyout. The company adopted a hybrid employee ownership structure, transferring a controlling interest to an all-employee Trust, with the two founders retaining 12.5% ownership each. While this structure keeps the business reliant on the founders, it ensures that they are incentivised to grow the company and lead it to success.

“We sense a strong ambition that our employees see the opportunity we saw when we started to grow Solarsense – a company that can be a force for good while creating a sustainable, strong livelihood, instead of a company just after the endless pursuit of high profit and a quick sell on. Most people join Solarsense for more than putting food on the table. When CVs arrive, there is a clear ambition to work in renewables. These applicants have bought into the idea of clean energy and the urgency of mitigating climate change. We think every company would benefit from having nature and community as their key priorities.”

Stephen Barrett, Founder of Solarsense

As an employee-owned B Corporation, Solarsense excels in both financial performance and environmental stewardship. The company promotes a collaborative work culture by empowering its employees through growth opportunities, involvement in decision-making, and shared responsibilities. By focusing on ethical practices, community engagement, and employee well-being, Solarsense sets a strong example of how employee ownership can drive success while making a positive impact on society.

“In the current climate it’s easy to put the focus on the number at the bottom right-hand side of the spread sheet, but if that becomes the only focus, businesses can end up serving investors or cutting costs and compromising what they set out to do. When I first sat down with Stephen I knew this was a different model. It felt dead on target, combining corporate positivity with a clear plan for growth and a strong view on how everyone in the company can be a part of it. And you can see from the get-go how everyone is engaged and rewarded for their input.”

Ashley Wood, Commercial Director of Solarsense