RMS PR Marketing & Design becomes employee owned

RMS PR Marketing & Design has become the latest agency in the north west to adopt an employee ownership model.

Founded by Ruth Shearn in a back bedroom in 1991, the agency has become a pillar of the regional PR and marketing scene, serving clients across a wide range of sectors and sizes, from owner-managed businesses to challenger brands and global corporations.

The move to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) has seen Shearn and her co-directors, Victoria Richardson and Andrew Avery-Torrance, sell their shares to a trust operated on behalf of the employees.

Reflecting on the journey, Shearn said:

“My boyfriend and I had just split up, and his parting words were, ‘You’ll never set up a business on your own, you haven’t got what it takes …’  which actually spurred me on!

“I’ve always had imposter syndrome about being a business owner because money has never been my main driver. Instead, my focus has always been on giving great service to clients, creating a fantastic workplace, providing opportunities for people to develop, and simply being decent.

“It would be disingenuous to say it’s all been plain sailing.  Over the past 34 years, RMS has weathered several recessions, Brexit, a global pandemic, Liz Truss, and countless other challenges.

“I began thinking about an exit back in 2020 but the pandemic put paid to that. Since then, we’ve received several approaches from investors and other agencies but none felt right. The culture we’ve built here is too important to compromise.

“The EOT means the team will have a greater say in the running of the business and will have a vested interest in continuing our success.  It also allows me to gradually step back, although I actually seem to be working harder than ever at the moment!

“This is a great opportunity for younger members of the team to be close to the flame of running a business. Future salaries and bonuses will be directly linked to agency profit so I anticipate the team taking a greater interest in agency strategy and new business but also simple things like turning the heating off over the weekend!

“For clients and prospects, it’s business as usual but with the added assurance that the team will be even more dedicated to providing excellent service because they now have a personal interest in retaining and nurturing client relationships.”

RMS is based in Altrincham and provides a range of services including PR, digital marketing, design, copywriting, content creation and internal communications. Its clients include WestBridge, Warburtons, Swizzels, Muse, McLaughlin & Harvey, NHS, Trafford Leisure, Manchester Law Society and various SMEs from a range of sectors including manufacturing, legal, property and financial services.