11 hours ago
Glasgow bathroom supplies business is now employee-owned
Wetrooms International Group, founded by brothers Brian and Bill Crombie in 2005, employs almost 80 staff, including those working in its Ceiling2Floor branches in Anniesland, Govan, and Kirkintilloch.
The Rutherglen-based business has now become Scotland's newest employee-owned company, with the brothers retaining a 26 per cent share in its transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Staff have celebrated being handed a greater stake in the firm's success as the business recorded a 20 per cent increase in turnover during the first quarter of 2025.
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Brian said: "For us, this is about building a legacy for our team, recognising the loyalty of our staff.
"Becoming an EOT was the logical step for us to take.
"It makes sense for everyone.
"Most of our staff have been with us for a long time and we have a great management team.
"Becoming an EOT opens opportunities for our people to develop their careers, brings benefits to us and provides a level of comfort and confidence to the staff, suppliers and customers we work with that Bill and I are still here.
"It's the ideal fit."
Bill said: "The business is in a real period of growth with huge potential to expand significantly over the next five years.
"We have the right team in place to achieve that."
Trustees from the workforce will oversee the business as part of the new EOT structure.
Wetrooms International was guided through the transition to employee ownership by Ownership Associates, with assistance from Reference Point Advisory and legal advice from Lindsays.
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Matthew McPhee, Anniesland branch manager at Ceiling2Floor, said: "Our transition to an EOT is a really positive step.
"While it's business as usual for us and our customers, the change internally gives our management team greater involvement in the business operations, which is really exciting.
"I'm looking forward to this new chapter."
Nicholas Howie, a Glasgow-based partner in the corporate law team at Lindsays, said: "Brian and Bill's decision to transition to an EOT allows them to continue to play a key role in the future of the business while putting a legal and financial framework in place that creates a long-term legacy for their team.
"It's the ideal fit for them."
Carole Leslie, Ownership Associates director, said: "It's fantastic to see a growing business such as Wetrooms realise the positive impact of employee ownership, not least allowing the team who have helped deliver its success so far to retain control of its future and share the benefits."
