How employee ownership helps Rubric thrive: View from the boardroom

• Glen Dott (Independent Trustee)
• Françoise Henderson (Founder Director)
• Julia Hill (Management Director)
• Hannah Jack (Employee Director)

1. What are three words you would use to describe working in an employee-owned business?

• Hannah: Inclusive, collaborative, transparent
• Julia: Engaged, dynamic, hands-on
• Françoise: Collaborate, discover, adapt
• Glen: Shared, responsible, long-term

2. What motivated you to take on your role on the EOT Board?

• Hannah: I was interested in seeing how the business operates from a different perspective to my day-to-day role [as Lead Localization Workflow Engineer]. I wanted to bring a unique perspective to the role as previously it’s been held by members of the project management team.
• Françoise: I wanted to ensure that the company I founded continues to develop, grow, and thrive.
• Glen: For me, it was the opportunity to play a part in shaping Rubric’s future in a way that protects what makes it special. The move to employee ownership was a very deliberate choice to prioritize continuity, culture, and people. As Independent Chair, I see my role as making sure we stay true to that—while still supporting the leadership team to grow the business in a sustainable way.

3. How do you think employee ownership influences Rubric’s culture and decision making?

• Hannah: I think it encourages a more transparent and open environment between the employees and leadership than you would typically see elsewhere. Having employee representation on the Board creates more opportunities for communication, feedback, and discussion around the direction of the business.
• Julia: We are independent and in charge of how we shape the company strategy in response to changing market requirements and the culture of the team.
• Françoise: Employee ownership fosters a spirit of collaboration, a sense of shared adventure, and the agility to adapt as circumstances evolve.
• Glen: Rubric has always been a collaborative business, but employee ownership strengthens that and makes it more intentional.
  Employees have a say in working practices; they’re involved more widely in decisions about the business. There’s greater openness, more interest in how the business is performing, and more thoughtful decision making. People are naturally more aware of the longer-term impact—not just on the business, but on each other.
  From a Trust perspective, it also provides a bit of a guardrail, making sure that employee benefit and long-term value stay front and center.

4. What does employee ownership mean to you?

• Hannah: Employee ownership to me means that employee voices are heard and can directly influence decisions made by the company.
• Julia: I’m involved in shaping the company’s direction and how we operate—I’m not just an employee ID in a corporate company.
• Françoise: A fresh beginning, rather than the end of an era.
• Glen: I think of it as stewardship. It’s not just about who owns the business today—it’s about looking after it for the people who are here now and those who will join in the future.
  At Rubric, it reflects a conscious decision to build something sustainable, where success is shared and the culture is protected and the business is rooted within Edinburgh and Scotland.

5. What message would you share with colleagues about being part of an EOT?

• Hannah: Employee ownership works best when everyone engages with it. It’s everyone’s responsibility to contribute to the EOT to make the company the best it can be.
• Julia: Working for an EOT of Rubric’s size enables everyone to have a voice and to be heard, from daily operational matters to influencing the direction of the company.
• Françoise: Play your part, take pride in what you do, and look forward with optimism.
• Glen: Engagement of employees is crucial. Employee ownership gives everyone a genuine stake in the business, but it’s not passive. The more people contribute ideas, ask questions, and take an interest in how things work, the stronger Rubric becomes as a result.

6. What behaviors and mindset do you think employee ownership encourages?

• Hannah: It encourages everyone to take an interest in the long-term success of the business as they have a personal stake in it.
• Julia: Openness, ownership, responsibility, engagement, drive to improve, transparency, collaboration.
• Françoise: It encourages a genuinely collaborative approach, coupled with a collective desire to progress, improve, and succeed together.
• Glen: EO encourages a shift towards:

7. How do you feel Rubric has evolved since becoming an EOT and how do you see that continuing in the future?

• Françoise: The results have been impressive. A positive mindset, a willingness to innovate, and the ability to embrace change have all combined to drive real success—and I see no reason why that shouldn't continue.
• Glen: From the outside, a lot feels like continuity—which was the intention. Internally, the intention was to make employees more engaged, more curious about the business, and more connected to its success. Looking ahead, I’d expect that to keep building—stronger employee voice, deeper engagement, and a continued focus on long-term growth.

8. Do you have any other thoughts you would like to share about being part of an employee-owned business?

• Julia: I don’t view working for Rubric as ‘just work’. I’m part of a team that wants to make Rubric succeed despite all the challenges.
• Françoise: Long may it continue! Embrace the challenges ahead—they are opportunities in disguise.
• Glen: For me, the biggest difference is that it changes the relationship people have with the business. It’s no longer just somewhere you work—it’s something you’re part of.
  Rubric as an employee-owned business has weathered the storms of the greatest societal and technological shifts in our lifetime due to the commitment of employees and management. That creates a different level of commitment and pride, and as Independent Chair, it’s a privilege to help support that—while making sure we stay true to what employee ownership is meant to deliver.

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