Priority Industries for Succession Advisory
& Employee Led Buyouts
At Blue Harbour Capital, we work with values-driven founders and leadership teams across a range of industries where legacy, continuity, and employee commitment matter most.
These are the sectors where succession planning and employee-led transitions
create the greatest impact:
1. Professional Services
- Engineering, consulting, legal, architecture, and accounting firms
- Often founder-led with strong internal leadership teams
- Ideal for management buyouts (MBOs) and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs)
Why it fits: Trusted relationships, recurring revenue, and talent retention make internal succession highly effective.
2. Manufacturing & Industrial Services
- Precision manufacturing, custom fabrication, logistics, and maintenance services
- Strong cash flow and operational teams create buyout viability
Why it fits: High employee tenure and hands-on knowledge are critical to continuity and cultural preservation.
3. Technology & Digital Agencies
- Software development, IT services, creative and digital marketing firms
- Frequently knowledge-based with founder dependency
Why it fits: Ideal for trust-based ownership (EOT) and hybrid succession models that preserve innovation while distributing ownership.
4. Healthcare & Allied Services
- Physiotherapy, aged care, disability services, clinics, and community health
- Often highly mission-driven and team-oriented
Why it fits: Strong alignment between employee ownership and purpose-driven culture; suitable for phased exits and employee-led transitions.
5. Construction, Trades & Built Environment
- Commercial contractors, specialist trades, engineering services
- Typically founder-led with skilled teams and repeat business
Why it fits: Well-structured ELBOs and hybrid ownership models are gaining traction here, especially where legacy and staff retention matter.
6. Education, Training & Workforce Development
- RTOs, corporate training firms, coaching organisations
- Purpose-led businesses with strong internal culture and client trust
Why it fits: Employee engagement and cultural continuity are key; ideal candidates for ELBOs or trust-based models with coaching support.
7. Agri-business & Regional Enterprises
- Food production, logistics, rural consultancies, agritech, and distribution
- Often family-run or community-rooted, with intergenerational leadership needs
Why it fits: Strong interest in stewardship models, hybrid transitions, and vendor-financed ELBOs in rural and regional settings.
8. Creative Industries
- Design firms, PR agencies, media production, and publishing
- Relational, values-driven, often reliant on founder relationships
Why it fits: EOTs can offer tax-efficient succession with cultural continuity in creative and IP-rich firms.
9. Purpose-Driven & Social Enterprises
- B Corps, cooperatives, non-profits transitioning to hybrid models
- Focused on impact, legacy, and team empowerment
Why it fits: Ideal for values-led exits where mission continuity is non-negotiable. EOTs, ELBOs and stewardship funding align naturally.
Why These Sectors?
These industries often share common characteristics:
- Deep customer and employee relationships
- Strong internal teams with succession potential
- High cultural or founder dependency
- Desire for continuity over disruption
- Resistance to private equity or strategic sales
They are also well-suited to Blue Harbour Capital’s core strength: combining transaction execution with pre and post-deal coaching and advisory to ensure leadership readiness, cultural stability, and strategic follow-through.
Ready to Explore a Transition?
If you’re an owner in one of these industries — or leading a team ready to step into ownership — let’s start the conversation.