FEATURE
hasn’t always been here, but it’s not been far away. The company moved into the Penrith site just over 10
years ago, and they’ve just taken over another warehouse on the same ‘estate’. Tebay services are just over the road, and it’s easily accessible for wagons, cars, and of course, cycles. And it’s not just the HQ that’s been designed with
employees in mind, as Braithwaite explains. “Lyon equipment had to look after the future of the business. They didn’t want to sell it out to someone who was going to take it on, ruin it and sell it. They’ve always been very staff-driven. “It was decided the best way was not to sell shares, but
to sign the whole business over to the employees. That was done in 2022, and there is a Board of Trustees: two employees and one independent. We still have a managing director in place, but he must report to the trustees. “It’s successful in that it works from the ground up.
People are invested in the company, from turning off lights to closing doors in winter, there is a noticeable difference within the business.” It sounds ideal for employees, but what does the business get out of this arrangement? “The benefit is that it is secure for all the employees. They
get a tax-free bonus at the end of the year, which is in the employee’s interest. And we’ve got control. We can’t just be sold out or told that we’re going to move our company to Brighton.”
34 | June 2026
Larking was enticed back to Lyon Equipment after a short hiatus with another distributor, and said this initiative was part of the reason. “There’s not an investment group that the Board of
Directors ultimately have to answer to because they want to get a return on their investment,” Larking continues. “They’re just looking at the numbers and nothing else, whereas our board of directors must answer to the employees, essentially, which means that they’re thinking more about the staff than the numbers. “I’m not saying they’re not thinking about the numbers and
the day-to-day running of the business, but ultimately, every member of staff has a vested interest in how the business is performing, and it’s knowing that there’s longevity there.” It’s clear from a brief tour of the business that people appear to be proud of where they work. There is a sense of pride, and many of the staff have worked for Lyon for over 10 years – staff retention is high, even as the company expands. Over 100 people are working for Lyon now, many of them local to the Penrith site. So, while we won’t be seeing Lyon stocking ‘gimmicky’
products, the careful and considerate approach to distribution and business growth is something to be admired. Particularly in the current economic climate, with uncertainty and seemingly every day a new company becoming a victim of the modern era, perhaps a diverse portfolio and a breadth of knowledge across several industries is what the cycle market and other distributors should look to. ●
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