EO Day has become something special for us here at I-COM. Last year, our Share Your Smile campaign brought together employee-owned businesses from across the country to celebrate what makes them smile about being employee owned, and seeing that digital collage come to life across Manchester city centre on EO Day itself was a moment we won’t forget in a hurry.
This year, we wanted to build on that energy and create something with real staying power. Something that doesn’t just celebrate employee ownership on the day, but becomes a lasting resource for the whole EO community. So we got to work, and we’re incredibly proud (and also excited!) to share what we’ve built, a campaign that feels every bit as fitting for this year’s EO Day theme: #OwningIt.
Introducing the UK’s first interactive EO map:
The UK Is Owning It Map
Built entirely by the I-COM team, the EO Day map is the first of its kind. It's an interactive map of recorded employee-owned businesses across the UK (and a place for any EOB not yet listed to add their pin), and it launches today, ahead of EO Day on 19th June, so we can start building the most complete picture of EO in the UK together before the big day arrives. We're grateful to the Employee Ownership Association and the White Rose Employee Ownership Centre for their support with the aggregate data figures.
The theme for EO Day 2026 is #OwningIt, and that's exactly what this map is about. Every pin represents a business that has chosen a different way of doing things. Every claim is a statement: we're here, we're employee owned, and we're proud of it.
Why visibility matters for the EO movement
One of the things that struck me most in my first year as an employee trustee was how little awareness there is of employee ownership beyond the businesses already living it. People often don’t know it exists as a model, or they assume it’s only for very large organisations, or they’re simply unaware that a business they already use and love is employee owned.
That invisibility is a missed opportunity. The Employee Ownership Association is aiming for 7,500 employee-owned businesses in the UK by 2030, with a stretch goal of 10,000. Right now, there are 2,824 recorded across the country. That’s a remarkable number of businesses doing things differently, putting their people at the heart of how they operate. But too many of them are quietly getting on with it, without the recognition they deserve.
The more visible the employee ownership movement becomes, the more businesses will discover it as an option, the more talent will be drawn to EO workplaces, and the stronger our community will grow. That’s the belief that sits at the heart of everything we’ve created this year.
How to get involved
Whether your business is already on the map or not, there’s a place for you. Here’s all you need to do:
● Find your pin. Head to https://eo-map.i-com.net and search for your business. A large number of recorded EO businesses are already plotted
● Claim it. Click your pin and fill out a short form to claim it as your own. Once your claim has been confirmed by a member of our EO team here at I-COM, your pin will be marked on the map so anyone visiting can see that your business is officially #OwningIt.
● Not on the map yet? If your business isn’t there, you can submit your details via the site and we’ll add you in. Every new pin helps build a more complete picture of employee ownership across the UK.
● Share it. Once your pin is claimed, shout about it. Use the hashtag #OwningIt and tag us - we’d love to see and share your celebrations ahead of EO Day on 19th June.
We’ll be watching the map grow in real time between now and EO Day, and we can’t wait to see how far we get by 19th June!
Something built to last
One of the things we love most about this project is that it doesn’t end on EO Day. The map will remain a live, searchable resource for anyone who wants to explore employee ownership in the UK, find EO businesses in their area, or simply see the scale of the movement at a glance. For EO-curious businesses researching the model, it’s a window into what’s possible. For established EO businesses, it’s a badge of community.
We think about our own journey at I-COM, and how much it has meant to connect with other employee-owned businesses, through events, through conversations, through simply knowing others are out there doing the same thing. This map is our way of making that connection easier for everyone.
Ready to claim your pin?
Head to our map and show the UK that your business is #OwningIt. EO Day is 19th June 2026, so let’s make it the biggest one yet.
