We are delighted to share the exciting news that our client Sarah Haywood Exceptional Celebrations, the UK-based luxury wedding and events company, has become the first business in the weddings sector to transition to employee ownership.

On Wednesday 11^th February 2026, Sarah and her husband sold 75% of their shares to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), securing the long-term independence of the business and providing their specialist team with an opportunity to have a meaningful stake going forwards.

Sarah’s decision to transition the business into employee ownership follows a three-year succession and leadership programme designed to move the business beyond founder dependency and to protect it from consolidation in a sector increasingly dominated by private equity and global lifestyle groups.

Sarah has grown the business from a home-based start-up into a multi-million-pound international operation, producing complex, high-value weddings and private events for ultra-high-net-worth families and global clients across Europe and beyond and is celebrating 20 years in business this year.

Under the new structure, 75% of the shares are held in trust for the benefit of the employees, with Sarah retaining a 25% stake demonstrating her continued commitment to the business.

Sarah Haywood said: “The business was built slowly, deliberately and with extraordinary care – just like the events we produce. Selling to an external buyer would have changed its culture overnight. Employee ownership allows us to protect what makes the business special, reward the people who actually deliver the work and ensure continuity for our clients.”

CEO Lee Sansom added: “This is a rare example of a founder-led luxury business choosing long-term stewardship over a trade sale. Sarah Haywood is a true British entrepreneurial success story – a micro-business grown into a globally respected brand. The EOT is a bold, forward-looking step that gives us stability, independence and a governance structure that supports sustainable growth rather than short-term extraction.”

The EOT now anchors that transition, ensuring that ownership, management and delivery are aligned – a model that is increasingly being adopted by UK professional services firms but has not previously been seen in the wedding events sector. The change also reflects a shift away from a personality-led perception of the brand toward the reality of a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team delivering complex, multi-million-pound events worldwide.

The transition to employee ownership was led by Hannah Welch, Senior Manager and Lindsay Hegarty, Legal Manager.