HR Consultancy provider Wellington HR Ltd has become an employee-owned business. The Somerset-based firm was founded in 2019 by Dr Shelley Poole and has seen successful growth since then on account of its unique business model of working in collaboration with other HR consultants.
Employee ownership is a fast-growing model of business ownership, with over 2,250 businesses in the UK as of March 2025 according to the Employee Ownership Association.
Employee-owned businesses can be set up in different ways, but typically the shares of the limited company are held by an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), which ensures that the profits of the business are shared in an equitable manner between employees. 
Natalie James from the Wellington HR team will act as the Wellington HR Employee Trustee, ensuring that that employee voice is represented on the EOT.
She said: “I’m honoured to have been appointed as the Employee Trustee. Having been part of the Wellington HR team for the past 18 months, it’s been incredibly rewarding to be involved in our employee ownership (EO) journey. EO is deeply meaningful to us—not just as a concept, but as a way of working and growing together as a team and a business.”
While most employee-owned businesses are sold by the owner to the EOT for their market value, Dr Poole has decided to sell Wellington HR for a nominal sum of £5.
Dr Poole, who has a doctorate based on researching employee voice within employee-owned businesses, said: “For me, employee ownership not only makes good commercial sense, but also aligns with my values.
“I believe that the employee ownership model provides an opportunity for people to work together to grow a financially successful business and share in the rewards of that.”
She added: “By Wellington HR starting its employee-owned journey without a large debt, I believe it has the best opportunity to continue thriving.” Dr Poole will remain employed as Managing Director of Wellington HR for the foreseeable future.
The team said they were excited about the opportunities ahead and recently held a party with clients and contacts to celebrate. Team member James said: “While we already embrace the principles of employee ownership in our day-to-day operations, officially becoming an EO business marks an exciting new chapter.
“As both an employee and a trustee, I’m proud to contribute to how we shape and run Wellington HR. Being part of the decision-making process can feel like a big responsibility, but it also presents a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of our future and help guide the direction we take as a business.”
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