Celebrating Shared Ownership

There's a special kind of magic filling our studios these days. You can feel it in the lively brainstorming sessions, the shared laughter over coffee, and the collective pride when a project comes to life. This October, as we celebrate Employee Ownership Month, we're taking a moment to reflect on the path that has brought us here—to a place where each of us at Hanbury isn't just an employee but an owner.

David Keith, our CEO, captures it perfectly: "Owning a part of Hanbury isn't just a financial benefit—it's a profound motivator. It changes how we approach our work, knowing that every project's success is a personal success as well." And he's right. There's something incredibly empowering about knowing that our creative breakthroughs and collaborative efforts contribute not just to the firm's growth but to our own shared success.

Introduced just a year ago, our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is designed to ensure everyone has a seat at the table. Shares are accrued annually by all employees, allocated based on salary levels but capped to prevent any imbalance at the top. This means that whether you're designing projects, managing operations, or steering the firm’s trajectory, your contributions are valued and recognized equally.

Pat O'Keefe, our COO, gives insight into the practical advantages: "Our ESOP serves as a strategic tool for business health. It drives us to be responsible and collaborate more effectively, knowing the firm's growth is a direct reflection of our personal and collective efforts. This alignment not only boosts morale but enhances our resilience in a competitive industry."

Walking through our studios, you can feel the energy. Vibrant discussions unfold as employee-owners share ideas and perspectives that shape not just projects but the direction of our firm. This democratic approach fosters open dialogue and shared responsibility, aligning with Hanbury’s longstanding commitment to continual learning and constant state of becoming.

Across the industry, firms are recognizing the value of employee ownership in promoting long-term stability and enhancing job satisfaction. Inspired by successful models from peers, we integrated ownership into every level of our operations, making each of us a stakeholder in our collective future. Firms adopting models like ours report higher levels of happiness and productivity, and we can certainly attest to that.

But beyond business strategy, our ESOP is about building something greater together. It's about creating a place where we're all invested in each other's success as much as in our own. Whether we're collaborating in the studio or presenting to clients, knowing we each have a stake in the outcome creates a powerful, collaborative spirit that's hard to replicate.

Here's to us—to the challenges we've overcome, the milestones we've achieved, and the road ahead. Together, we celebrate not just Employee Ownership Month but the shared purpose that makes Hanbury more than a firm—it makes us a community.