An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is an alternative business ownership structure with specific benefits to both owners and employees. It involves the establishment of a new trust which holds a controlling interest (at least 51%) in the trading company, for the benefit of all of the employees in the business. The Trustee of the EOT may be an independent professional trustee company or a company incorporated to act as the trustee, made up of directors from within the workforce as well as independent parties.