A trust run on behalf of employees acquired 65% of the shares in the agency on 1 October, and means the London-based agency joins a growing group of around 470 UK businesses, including John Lewis Partnership, Aardman Animations and recently IT recruitment firm Damia Group.

Founder and managing director Tony Andrews said: “It is an incredibly proud moment for Blackbridge to become the first employer marketing agency owned by its employees.

“The board made this decision because all the evidence shows that shared ownership delivers a superior business performance. Employee-owned businesses are more entrepreneurial in outlook, more effective at retaining talent and more committed to corporate social responsibility.

“Ultimately, this progressive decision will make our work for clients even better. We may be the first in our sector to make this change but we won’t be the last.”

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