Aquascot is a fully employee-owned business operating under an Employee-Owned Trust structure similar to that of the John Lewis Partnership. The company was founded in 1986 and developed rapidly in salmon and sea grown trout, initially with farms before concentrating on the processing of farmed fish. The journey to full employee ownership began in 2008 and completed in 2016, a managed and clearly thought through process by the co-founders.

In July 2023 the last remaining co-founder, Dennis Overton, left his role as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Aquascot Limited and also his role as Chair of the Aquascot Trust Board. Dennis has been a strong guiding light for the business since its creation 36 years ago and leaves a legacy of a successful Highland business, with unique capabilities, operating in a rare employee ownership model. We are pleased to announce that Simon Fowler, currently Chair of Aquascot Limited, has transitioned to succeed Dennis as Trust Chair, and in due course we will announce Simon’s successor as Chair of Aquascot Ltd.

Dennis’ role as a Non-Executive Director on the Aquascot Ltd Board is succeeded by Simon Wrench, the outgoing financial director of Aquascot Ltd. Simon will provide continuity in our financial performance.

Additionally, from July 2023, David Chapman took up the new role of Manufacturing Director with responsibilities for the manufacturing operations of the business. David has been a key member of the Aquascot team for over 10 years and fully understands the farming, retail, and production processes. We congratulate David on his appointment.

These significant changes mark the start of a second generation of leadership for Aquascot, a business with an established purpose, values, and aspirations, along with strong partners as customers and suppliers, and with an actively ambitious mindset to build a future together as a truly community-based employee-owned business.