The company transitioned to its new employee ownership model by way of an employee ownership trust (EOT) on 7^th October.

Established in 1996 and based in London, Criteria specialises in qualitative fieldwork, sourcing participants for research including online and offline focus groups, ethnography and user experience (UX) testing. The company employs 23 people.

Criteria said it has decided to take this step to involve all employees in the future direction and success of the business. 

Elaine Francis, founder and board director, Criteria Fieldwork (pictured), said: “After a successful management buy-out in 2006, this feels like a natural progression – to extend ownership even further to encompass employees at all levels.

“The day-to-day running of the business will not be affected by this change but by widening employee participation, we are securing a healthy and sustainable value-driven ethos for the future”.

Employee ownership business models offer employees a financial stake in the business as well as a say in how it is run. 

Several businesses in the research sector have become employee-owned in recent years, including The Nursery Research & Planning, DJS Research, MM-Eye and BritainThinks (now Thinks Insight & Strategy).