How do you transform an entire country's approach to business succession? In this episode, I sit down with Glen Dott, a specialist advisor in employee ownership at Cooperative Development Scotland, part of Scottish Enterprise. Glen shares the remarkable story of how Scotland went from having just 15 employee-owned businesses to over 340 in less than a decade, making it a global leader in the EO movement.We explore the pivotal role of the Nuttall Review in 2014, the psychology behind why business owners choose employee ownership over traditional exits, and the practical challenges of financing EO deals. From his farming background that sparked his interest in cooperatives to his front-row seat watching Scotland's EO revolution unfold, Glen provides unique insights into what makes successful transitions work and how government support can catalyze grassroots movements.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:11 Glen's Journey to Employee Ownership 02:29 Owner Motivations Beyond Money 03:43 From Farming to Scottish Enterprise 05:20 Glen's Role in EO Advisory 07:25 The Dramatic Growth in EO Awareness 09:39 Consistent Lead Flow and Market Maturity 11:04 Tax Benefits Driving Uptake 12:18 Financing EO Deals - The Reality 20:47 What Makes Successful EO Transitions 25:23 Professional Management vs Entrepreneurial Founders 27:42 The Kemco International Success Story 30:33 Entrepreneurial Orientation in EO Businesses 33:19 Scottish Government Goals and Results 35:19 Accelerating EO Growth - Lessons from Northern Ireland 38:07 Quick Fire Questions 41:51 Where to Connect with GlenKey Takeaways:Why most EO-bound owners have motivations beyond money and want businesses to remain local and intactHow Scotland's EO sector exploded from 15 to 340+ businesses, with 60% being Scottish-headquarteredWhy most EO deals are financed through deferred consideration over 5-10 years rather than bank lendingHow strong company culture and democratic decision-making are prerequisites for successful EO transitionsWhy "Freedom Day" (debt payoff) psychology matters for employee motivation during transition periodsHow Northern Ireland's grassroots, privately-funded approach is accelerating EO growth faster than top-down modelsAbout Glen Dott:Glen is a specialist advisor in employee ownership at Cooperative Development Scotland, a unit within Scottish Enterprise. With a farming background that gave him early exposure to cooperative models, Glen has been instrumental in Scotland's remarkable EO growth story. He manages lead flow for potential EO transitions, supports feasibility studies, and has helped develop Scotland into one of the world's leading EO regions through practical support, market building, and policy development.Connect with Glen:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/glen-dott-512b141a/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://scottish-enterprise.com/  Connect with Andy Farquharson:LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/ Instagram - https://instagram.com/andyfarq Website - https://abettermonday.me/ Email - [email protected] 

Ver todos los episodios