The Design Solution shifts to employee ownership and strengthens leadership with new directors

UK. Airport planning and retail design specialist The Design Solution (TDS) has placed the company under the ownership of its employees. 

Within the management structure, Robbie Gill remains Managing Director while Graeme Johns and Nick Taylor remain directors.

The leadership team is consolidated with the appointment of Kevin Patience and Tom Johnson as new directors, both of whom have been with the company for over ten years. 

Current TDS owners have sold the company to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). This effectively transfers ownership, management and control to the staff while leaving the business operation unaffected.  

EOTs are a well-established approach to passing a business into the hands of its employees, particularly in the UK.  

Partly inspired by the historic cooperative business model, adaptations of the EOT model are slowly evolving across several countries.

These are encouraged by the successful adoption by several UK companies, including John Lewis Partnership (UK’s largest EOT) and home entertainment specialist Richer Sounds. 

In the field of architecture and design, Arup, Mott MacDonald, Zaha Hadid Architects and Foster + Partners have adopted this ownership route. 

London-based The Design Solution is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. It has undertaken over 1,000 design projects in its history and supported over 180 airports in 86 countries. 

The Design Solution Founder and Managing Director Robbie Gill commented: “We have been on a unique journey over the past 40 years and delivered some amazing projects.  

“At the heart of that success is the skill of our designers, but we feel that the culture and ethos of the company have also made a major contribution. We think it absolutely vital that we preserve and support that ethos. 

Kevin Patience (left) and Tom Johnson join (below, from left) Nick Taylor and Graeme Johns as The Design Solution directors

“Having been approached to sell on many previous occasions, we considered that route, along with a range of other alternatives.  

“However, these all sat uneasily with me personally, as well as with the other directors. We wanted to do what would be best for our team and give them the best opportunity to develop the company going forward.” 

TDS has confirmed that its operations will continue uninterrupted, and the current project portfolio remains unchanged and on schedule. 

Gill added: “All of us are thrilled by this outcome. It is a guarantee to our staff, clients and co-consultants that the same creative vigour, customer-focused design and commercial acumen will remain at the heart of our projects going forward.  

“We now have a new, stronger foundation for the company and we look forward to the next 40 years of success for TDS.” ✈

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