100%
Employee-Owned
Since 2022, our company has been owned wholly by its staff
A Shift Towards Long-Term Sustainability and Growth
ShapeBlue, the CloudStack company, announced in 2022 that it has become a 100% employee-owned business: owned by all of its employees for the benefit of all of those employees.
100% of the shareholding of the company is now held by an Employee-owned Trust (EOT) for the benefit of its staff, whilst the existing leadership team remains in place with no planned changes to the company’s strategy.
A message from our CEO
“I am very proud to say that ShapeBlue is now 100% employee-owned. This guarantees our future as an independent company and allows us to continue to deliver for our customers through our deep involvement in Apache CloudStack.
Our leadership team remains unchanged, and I am very much looking forward to leading the company through this next phase of its development. It does, however, change our overall purpose – we are no longer a company that’s ultimate purpose is to make gains for a small group of shareholders. The ultimate power and value in this business have shifted from its shareholders into the hands of the people who generate that value: its employees.”
Our customers rely on us to provide business-critical support to their production systems. By becoming 100% employee-owned, we remove a ‘single point of failure’ and guarantee consistency and longevity.
As a company that lives by certain values (openness, transparency, individual responsibility), the transition to employee ownership felt like a natural next step.
Steve Roles, Chief Operating Officer
ShapeBlue
The employee ownership model works really well for me. I feel like I can contribute more to the long-term growth and sustainability of the company. The biggest change I have witnessed since ShapeBlue’s transition to an employee-owned company is the ability to have a bigger contribution to the many different business processes. The biggest benefit to our customers is the increased focus on the company’s long-term sustainability.
Jamie Pell, Digital Marketing Lead
ShapeBlue
Switching to the employee-ownership model brought a strong sense of ownership and commitment among our team as they became stakeholders in the organisation. We always had a culture of responsibility and proactivity. Now people can be sure that their voice is heard, and they work for the benefit of their own company, thus shaping their future.
Ivet Petrova, Marketing Director
ShapeBlue
Working in an employee-owned company for a year, I absolutely love the model! It brings out the best in all of us, with a real sense of ownership and dedication. Our teamwork and motivation have skyrocketed, making the work environment awesome. We’re more engaged, collaborative, and innovative, and it feels like we’re all working together towards long-term success. It is great for our customers and partners as we go the extra mile to provide top-notch service and products. I’m excited about our future and how Employee Ownership will keep driving us forward as a tight-knit, passionate team!
Boris Stoyanov, QA Manager
ShapeBlue
ShapeBlue joined the Good Business Charter, demonstrating a commitment to responsible business practices. As an employee-owned company, we believe in the importance for businesses to regain trust and show they care about more than just profit. ShapeBlue has always been led by its mission to deliver the best to its employees, customers and open-source community.
The Good Business Charter accredits companies which cover certain criteria in 10 areas, including companies actively supporting and encouraging employee well-being, having robust measures in place to encourage diversity at key stages of recruitment, selection and retention of employees, caring about the environment and encouraging the development of good environmental practice as an organisation, and many more.
A word from the Trustees
Abhishek Kumar
Current Trustee
“As a trustee for ShapeBlue, my role is to represent the interests of the employee-owners and ensure the business is run with their long-term benefit in mind. The employee ownership model empowers individuals with a real sense of ownership, enhancing motivation and collaboration to drive collective success.”
Harikrishna Patnala
Current Trustee
“As a new trustee, my role is to represent the interests of all employees and help uphold the principles of the employee ownership model. At ShapeBlue, being a trustee is made easy thanks to the responsible and accountable nature of the previous trustees (Boris and Nicolas) and the board of trustees. The model has created a strong sense of collective ownership, where everyone is aligned and committed to the company’s success. Nicolas and Bobby have also been very supportive to Abhishek and I, as we step into this role. It’s rewarding to be part of a culture where transparency and trust are not just ideals, but everyday practices.”
Nicolas Vazquez
Former Trustee
“After being elected as trustee, I had a big learning curve in the first few weeks. To support our development, the company arranged for Boris and I to attend an EOT training course. That was helpful to understand and clarify the concepts about the roles in the EOT, especially about our employee trustees roles. Applying these concepts wasn’t hard, as we had great guidance from the rest of the trustees on the trustees’ meetings. Over time, we became more comfortable with the dynamics of the trustee discussions and were able to actively contribute from the perspective of employee trustees.”
Boris Stoyanov
Former Trustee
“Being one of the first trustees during the early days of ShapeBlue’s transition to employee ownership was both exciting and a learning curve. We had to understand the model from scratch and figure out how to embed its principles into how we work. Over time, I’ve seen how it’s helped build trust, transparency, and a stronger sense of collective purpose within the company. It’s definitely shaped a more inclusive culture where everyone feels invested!”
Part of the Employee Ownership Association
The EOA represents the employee-owned sector in the UK. They support businesses to explore and progress their EO, helping to unlock the potential of employees, business and the economy.
