At Cambrian Training Group, people have always been at the heart of everything we do — and this June, we are proud to celebrate Employee Ownership Day (EO Day) 2026 alongside organisations across the UK.
Taking place on Friday 19 June, EO Day is organised annually by the Employee Ownership Association (eoa) and shines a spotlight on the businesses and individuals helping to create stronger workplaces through employee ownership. This year’s theme, #OwningIt, celebrates the positive impact employee ownership has on employees, businesses, communities and the wider economy.
As one of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, Cambrian Training Group is delighted to be part of the growing employee ownership movement and to recognise the incredible contribution our employee owners make every day.
For more than 30 years, Cambrian Training Company has supported learners and employers across Wales through its apprenticeship programmes. From hospitality and food manufacturing to leadership and management to business administration to retail and sustainable resource management, our success has always been built on teamwork, collaboration and a shared commitment to helping people achieve their potential.
Employee ownership strengthens those values even further by giving employees a genuine voice within the organisation and a shared sense of responsibility for its future success. It helps create a culture where people feel valued, supported and empowered to contribute ideas, innovation and expertise.
Faith O’Brien, Managing Director of Cambrian Training Group, said:
“Employee ownership is incredibly important to us because it creates a real sense of belonging and shared purpose across the organisation. EO Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our people and recognise the commitment, passion and professionalism they bring to Cambrian Training Group every single day.
“We firmly believe that when employees feel empowered and valued, businesses become stronger, more innovative and more resilient. As an employee-owned organisation, we are proud to continue investing in our people, our learners and the employers we support across Wales.”
The benefits of employee ownership are reflected across the wider Cambrian Training Group, including Trailhead Fine Foods, the Welsh food manufacturing business behind the award-winning Welsh Salt Beef & Get Jerky snack brand. Established in Mid Wales in 2018 and built on a commitment to quality, innovation and great-tasting, high-protein meat products, the business has grown from a local success story into a nationally recognised brand stocked by retailers and wholesalers and enjoyed by consumers across the UK.
For Emma Morris, Director of Sales at Trailhead Fine Foods, Employee Ownership Day is an opportunity to celebrate the collective contribution of colleagues across the business and reflect on what it means to be an employee owner.
“Being part of an employee-owned business gives everyone a real sense of pride and purpose because we all have a shared interest in the success of the company. This year’s #OwningIt theme perfectly captures the culture we have built at Trailhead Fine Foods. It’s about taking ownership of our actions, being accountable for the decisions we make and understanding how the work we do every day contributes to the wider success of the business.
“When people feel empowered to take responsibility, share ideas and drive improvements, it creates stronger teams, better outcomes and a more resilient organisation. I’m incredibly proud to be an employee owner and to work alongside colleagues who are committed to delivering the very best for our customers, our brand and each other.”
EO Day also highlights the wider impact employee-owned businesses have across the UK economy. Today, there are more than 2,500 employee-owned businesses nationwide, supporting more than 310,000 employee owners and contributing billions of pounds to the UK economy every year.
Research led by the eoa has shown that employee-owned businesses often achieve higher levels of productivity, innovation and employee wellbeing, while also creating workplaces where people feel more secure, motivated and engaged.
At Cambrian Training Group, those values align closely with the company’s business objectives.
“As we celebrate EO Day 2026, we would like to thank all our employee owners, learners, employer partners, customers, partners and stakeholders for being part of our journey and helping us continue to make a positive difference across Wales.”
To learn more about Employee Ownership Day, visit the Employee Ownership Association website.
