Adam Kene

If you are looking to sell your company within the next five years you will need to ensure that your key employees are ‘locked in’ and motivated to work towards a sale which delivers value for shareholders. A unified approach by all stakeholders during the process of putting the company to market, and subsequently selling once a buyer is found, frequently has a positive effect on valuation and negotiations.

Background In April 2017 the off-payroll working rules were introduced to the public sector, which shifted the burden of proof in determining employment status from contractors to public sector hirers. This fundamental change has netted over £400 million from workers who otherwise would have been paid gross, taking most of their remuneration as dividends. From April 2020 the legislation will be rolled out to the private sector.

Rupert Morrison is fascinated by organisation design. He describes how Apple’s legendary co-founder Steve Jobs deliberately created complex architecture in the offices of what would become one the world’s most valuable companies. “By forcing people to take longer routes it would get people talking. By creating social moments and therefore breaking down silos it had the effect of getting people working closer together and creating value,” he says.