Employee-owned firm increases all-staff payment by 25%

One of the largest employee-owned firms in the country handed out £5,000 to each qualifying member of staff last year, it has been revealed.

The newly published accounts for Ison Harrison Limited for the year ended December 2025 show that the dividend payment increased by 25% after a bumper year.

Every staff member, whether they are a fee earner or support worker, is eligible for the payment so long as they worked at the firm for the whole year. The total profit distribution available to staff increased from £986,400 to £1.7 million as headcount rose from 349 to 431.

The company also paid a dividend of £2.2m to accelerate repayment of the deferred consideration to the firm’s previous owners, who founded the employee ownership trust in 2022.

The firm, which has since opened its first office outside Yorkshire, in Manchester, reported that pre-tax profit increased by 37% to £6.4m while revenue went up by 39% to £33.8m.

The cash reserves also increased by 24% to £10.6m. The highest paid director received remuneration of £526,140 – up from £411,950 the previous year. 

In his accompanying report written last month, director Jonathan Wearing said the employee ownership status was an important factor in the firm’s success.

‘As an employee-owned business, the company benefits from a strong culture of shared purpose, accountability and long-term commitment,’ he said, ‘Employee ownership helps align the interests of colleagues with the success of the business, supporting engagement, retention and collaboration across the firm. This ownership culture strengthens the company’s competitive position by encouraging employees to contribute to sustainable growth, high standards of client service and the continued development of the business.’