Edwards Group and IGas Energy awarded for share schemes

Edwards Group, IGas Energy and Pearson are among the winners of the Employee Share Ownership (Esop) Centre Awards 2013.

The awards, which were presented earlier in November, recognise examples of excellence in the provision of all-employee share schemes.

Edwards Group, a manufacturer of vacuum pumps and abatement technology, was awarded ‘Best employee share ownership plan (more than 1,500 employees)’ for its international sharesave scheme, which was launched in an eight-week timescale and achieved take-up rates of 61% in the UK and 43% internationally.

IGas Energy, an oil and gas exploration and production company, was awarded ‘Best employee share ownership plan (fewer than 1,500 employees)’ for the 75% take-up levels its UK share incentive plan achieved.

Pearson, the publishing and education organisation, was awarded ‘Best all-employee share plan communications’ for its international sharesave.

The award finalists included:

Best employee share ownership plan (more than 1,500 employees)

  • Arm Holdings (nominated by YBS Share Plans)
  • Edwards Group (nominated by Equiniti)
  • Rio Tinto (nominated by Computershare)

Best employee share ownership plan (fewer than 1,500 employees)              

  • Asos (nominated by Capita Employee Benefits)
  • IGas Energy (nominated by Equiniti)

Best all-employee share plan communications

  • Morrisons (nominated by YBS Share Plans)
  • Pearson (self nominated)
  • Telefonica (nominated by Global Shares)

Phil Ainsley, managing director, employee benefits solutions at Equiniti, said: “It is fantastic to be part of the team that delivered for those [employer] clients that have won these awards.

“The other nominations were of a very high calibre so it is real credit to everyone involved who worked so hard to ensure the schemes launched successfully and seamlessly.”