KOK is pleased to announce its transition to employee ownership via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). The company is now 100% owned by current employees and this strategic move to embrace employee ownership underscores KOK’s commitment to empower its dedicated workforce and ensures the long-term future of the business.
Company owner, John Okey has sold 100% of the company shares to Keelagher Okey Associates Trustees Limited (The EOT). The EOT holds the shares on behalf of current KOK employees. All employees will benefit from share ownership as beneficiaries of the EOT. The sale was completed on the 27th of March 2025.
A new management structure is now in place. KOK are excited to announce the appointment of long-serving Head of Services Derek Bradshaw as Managing Director and he will continue to be responsible for the strategic direction of the company, assisted by the Senior Management team consisting of Office Manager (Diane Barnes), Head of Quantity Surveying (Alison Collins) and Head of Operations (Stuart Leak).
A Board of Trustees has been established and will have oversight of the company’s performance to ensure the KOK management team is running the company in the best interests of employees.
The decision to transition to employee-ownership was driven by a desire to remain independent, to preserve the company’s values and a
recognition that the company was built on the hard work and commitment of its employees.
The company was formed from a partnership of traditional Chartered Quantity Surveyors in 1980, based in the heart of Warrington. Over the subsequent 45 years we have grown our suite of services in response to the growing needs of our clients, and now provide Cost
Management, Quantity Surveyor, CDM, Building Regulations and Principal Designer services across the UK, in the private and public sectors.
‘I am immensely proud that KOK have become an employee owned trust. For many years, our success has been due, in no small measure, to the dedication, skills and quality of our staff and consultants. It is only right and proper that they now have a real opportunity to drive the business forward and truly share in that continued success. We very much look forward to serving our valued clients as an EOT’.
‘I would like to personally thank John Okey for not only his stewardship over the last twenty plus years, but also for having the vision and belief in the staff and senior management team to enable this EOT to come to fruition’.
– Derek Bradshaw, Managing Director
“Our business is built upon the knowledge, experience and expertise of our people who are each grounded in the core skills, values and methods of their profession, offering a bespoke service working closely with all our Clients to establish the best approach for the delivery of their project. I’m incredibly excited to help drive that change and see what the future holds for KOK”.
– Stuart Leak, Head of Operations