Information
We organise workshops, information events and personal exchange on every aspect of workers’ buyouts.
Workers’ Buyout
Business succession by the employees
The workforce takes over and runs the company as a cooperative. We accompany the entire process.
The concept
Workers’ buyout: the workforce takes over
A proven model
A workers’ buyout is a concept used successfully worldwide to rescue businesses that have run into crisis. The workforce takes over the company, or parts of it, and continues to run it as a cooperative. In 2019 we further developed the concept together with partners from Italy for business succession in Germany.
Business succession in Germany
Demographic change is making business succession a central issue. In Germany there is a growing lack of successors for existing companies, and the average age of owners is reaching a new high. Workers’ buyouts make it possible to continue successful companies despite the lack of external successors – in shared responsibility.
What we do
We accompany the transition – from the first question to founding
Advice and support
We advise and accompany interested companies on the path to founding and jointly running a cooperative.
Networking
We support exchange between organisations that already have experience with cooperative business succession.
Infrastructure
Together with our network we create supportive framework conditions for this form of succession.
Employee Participation
Together with the Institute for Corporate Democracy, we offer consulting and implementation of models such as the Coop ESOP.
INQA-Coaching for Succession
We help businesses and employees to become future-proof - and thus contribute to securing skilled workers.
When the workforce takes over, knowledge, work and value creation stay in the region – in shared responsibility.
In the media
Press and Publications
We not only accompany workers’ buyouts, but also share our experiences: in TV documentaries, interviews and scientific publications.
ZDF · plan b
“Succession urgently wanted”
In 2024 we accompanied the workers’ buyout of the company Roterfaden from initial consultation to the founding of the cooperative – a ZDF documentation team was on site. The business is now successfully continued by the employees as a cooperative.
heute.de
Interview on cooperatives
How cooperative succession keeps businesses, knowledge and jobs in the region.
Publication · Routledge
Routledge
Global Cooperative Economics and Movements: Old school meets new global efforts to promote cooperative principles through modern employee-buyout innovations – as a free-access document.
Publication
Workers’ Buyout for Company Succession
Alternative organisational models for company succession and their positive effects on businesses, employees and regions.
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Further publication
Placeholder – the editorial team can add another publication or media feature here: upload a photo, add source, headline, short text and link.
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Further feature
Placeholder – a second open box for another publication, interview or TV feature.
Rethinking business succession together
Interested in a cooperative succession? We advise you – from the first consultation through networking to founding.