Structura becomes employee owned

Structura, one of the UK’s leading specialist façade engineering and structural glass contractors, has become an employee-owned business under the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) model. Initium Corporate Finance, itself an employee-owned advisory firm, advised Structura throughout the transition.

Established in 1984 and headquartered in Chessington, Surrey, Structura has grown into a nationally recognised façade specialist working across sectors including commercial offices, education, healthcare, transport, heritage buildings and major public-sector infrastructure. Via its 90-strong team, the company delivers an integrated suite of services spanning design, engineering, manufacture, installation, refurbishment and maintenance, with in-house expertise across glass, aluminium, cladding, and complex bespoke façades.

“Initium have guided us through the EOT process with clarity, professionalism and genuine understanding of our culture and long-term objectives” – Daniel Rickman, Structura

Over more than 35 years, Structura has built a reputation for high-quality, technically demanding work on some of the UK’s most prestigious and sensitive building envelopes. Structura’s project portfolio includes landmark commercial and public buildings such as the National Gallery (Grade I), the Royal Academy of Arts, BT Tower, Devonshire Square, Heathrow Terminal 4 and many other significant commercial, cultural and education projects across the UK.

The business is triple-ISO accredited, a Certified Carbon Neutral company with Net Zero ambitions, and a London Living Wage Employer, credentials that underpin its approach to quality, sustainability and social value. Under the current leadership team, the business has demonstrated strong growth and rising profitability in recent years.

The decision to transition to employee ownership reflects Structura’s core values: independence, craftsmanship, long-term thinking, and a culture in which highly skilled engineers and project professionals have a meaningful voice in the business’s future.

“We first came to Initium to increase our understanding of EOTs, and gain clarity on whether we were ready to make to transition” – Daniel Rickman, Structura

Daniel Rickman, MD at Structura, said: “This is an important and proud moment for everyone at Structura. Our strength has always been our people, who deliver technically demanding work every day.”

“Moving to employee ownership felt like the right next step: it protects our independence, rewards the teams who have built the business, and locks in the standards and values we’ve maintained. This builds on our collective transformation of the business over the past few years, secures continuity for our clients and gives our people a real stake in the future of the business.”

Regarding Initium’s role in the transaction, Daniel added:

“As directors and custodians of the business, this move has been part of our strategic thinking for some time. We first came to Initium to increase our understanding of EOTs, and gain clarity on whether we were ready to make to transition. We were drawn by the fact that Initium themselves are employee owned, and that first-hand knowledge has proved invaluable. Charles Ainslie and the team have guided us through the process with clarity, professionalism and genuine understanding of our culture and long-term objectives. Their expertise has helped us shape a structure that fits the business we are today.”

Charles Ainslie of Initium Corporate Finance, who led the transaction, commented:

“It has been a privilege to support Structura’s leadership team in shaping a future that protects both the company’s independence and the exceptional specialist expertise that sets it apart. The shareholder’s steadfast focus on delivering a deal that was truly in the best interests of the company was particularly impressive.”

Alongside Initium Corporate Finance, who provided start-to-finish support across all areas of the EOT including valuation, deal structuring, governance, communication and overall project management, Structura was advised by Andrew Bretherton and Paul McCourt, legal and tax leads from Keystone Law.

What is an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)?

An Employee Ownership Trust enables a company to be owned by its employees via a trust structure. Rather than individuals buying shares directly, the EOT holds them collectively on behalf of the workforce. This model allows founders to exit while preserving the company’s culture, independence, and long-term focus — and it gives staff a meaningful stake in the business they help to build.

Initium became employee owned under this model in 2022. Learn more about EOTs