--- title: "The Big Bang sale to the workforce" description: "A one off transformation of ownership designed to make staff think of it as their company." canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/let-it-go/the-big-bang-sale-to-the-workforce/ updated: 2026-11-03 --- # The Big Bang sale to the workforce > A one off transformation of ownership designed to make staff think of it as their company. Stephanie Shirley's framework, from Let It Go, pp. 179 to 183. Framework 5 of 7 from [Let It Go](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/let-it-go/index.md) by Stephanie Shirley. Category: Offers and pricing. ## The steps 1. **Board approval.** Agree to sell a substantial proportion of the Founder's shares to the workforce. 2. **Prospectus and publicity.** Prepare the legal and financial documents and run an internal campaign. 3. **Double voting rights.** Amend the articles so shares held by current workers carry two votes. 4. **Offer to all.** Offer 30 per cent of the founder's remaining holding at £2.70 a share, with a 50 share minimum, to over 1,000 staff. 5. **Set a floor.** Require the workforce to invest at least £1m between them for the sale to go ahead. ## Where it comes from From chapter: 17. Losing My Grip, pp. 179–183 At the 1987 silver jubilee the company pays its first dividend and gives every worker a share. The company changes its name to FI Group, grows by acquisitions and sees its quality standard adopted by NATO. A new chairman, Sir Peter Thompson, argues for a single 'Big Bang' share sale rather than piecemeal gifts. In September 1991, 1,000 staff are offered shares, and the workforce ends up controlling the company on major issues. ## The animation 24 seconds, 4:5, no sound. - MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/let-it-go/the-big-bang-sale-to-the-workforce.mp4 - MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/let-it-go/the-big-bang-sale-to-the-workforce-dark.mp4 - Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/let-it-go/the-big-bang-sale-to-the-workforce.png - Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/let-it-go/the-big-bang-sale-to-the-workforce-dark.png