BARROW-BASED TI Accountancy has announced that it has become an employee-owned organisation with a similar structure to John Lewis Partnerships.

Tracy Irwin, who founded the business in 2002 wanted her team to feel they had a stake in its future and to be involved in key decisions about the direction of the business.

Tracy said: “While I’m the founder of TI Accountancy, and will continue to be the figurehead and face of the business, I wanted to find a forward-thinking way of letting my team feel they had a stake in the business and a say of how the organisation develops in the future.

"The answer was to adopt an employee-owned structure very similar to the way John Lewis does it.

“Once a member of the team has become an integral part of the business, we invite them to become a director and shareholder in the firm.

"Things have changed so much since the business started, from humble beginnings in a bedroom of my home in Dalton, TI Accountancy now has a fantastic team in the office who are all either AAT Qualified or working towards their AAT Qualification and I wanted a way of thanking them for their loyalty and ensuring the legacy of TI Accountancy would outlive me.

“It is important to ensure that the firm can adapt and continue to leave a valuable imprint on the local business community we serve for years to come.

"With two of the current directors starting in the company as apprentices we pride ourselves on knowing that we are encouraging our next generation to become business owners.”