Careers: Positions Open (1)

Candidate Brief – Just Pudding Basins Employee Ownership Trust, Independent Trustee and Chairperson

Background and History
Just Pudding Basins Ltd was established in 2011 by founders Howard and Anna Jones, it started as a small business supplying plastic pudding basins across the UK trade market, initially operating from a converted cow shed in Northamptonshire, UK.

A period of significant growth saw the business take on new product lines and move into new markets, most notably its relationship with the US-based Howard Products to distribute their range of specialised polishes and cleaners. This relationship functioned as a segway for the business to launch products through online sales platforms including Justpuddingbasins.co.uk, eBay and most importantly Amazon.

Growth continued at pace, which led the business to relocate its offices and warehouse facilities to the Northeast Lincolnshire coast. The company now operates across several ecommerce platforms and boasts a product range spanning approximately 1200 lines.
Employee numbers have grown, and the business is now a small but key employer in the local area.

Today the business supplies and distributes its products to more than 11 countries worldwide.

By 2022, Owners Howard and Anna were keen to consider their exit strategy from the business and after more than a decade of sustained growth, the decision was made to transition the business into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). The Trust was established in July 2022 with the intention for the business to become 100% employee owned. The decision would also act to ensure that the business would retain its identity and independence while securing the long-term interests of its workforce.

As part of the establishment of the EOT, a new governance structure was put in place in July 2022, this included the introduction of a Trustee Board and associated formal committee structure. The Trustee board have been in place to oversee the performance of the Trust, ensuring good governance and oversight of the business’ operations. This has led to a number of positive key changes to how the business operates day to day as well as being able to demonstrate significant improvements to governance, audit and compliance matters.

In July 2024, the Board appointed a successor to the founders of the business to act as General Manager. The transition and succession planning has made good progress, to the extent that the founders have now relinquished their operational responsibilities in the business but continue to act as advisors and mentors.

Since the establishment of the EOT, The Trustee committee has been Chaired by an Independent Trustee, the term of this role is due to end in June 2025, and it is now the intention of the trustees to find a replacement that will continue to act as Chairperson to the Board.

A role profile for the Independent Trustee and Chairperson can be downloaded here .zip .pdf