Can you convert only part of a company to an Employee Ownership Trust?

Yes. An Employee Ownership Trust can hold part of the company while the founder or other owners keep the rest, and you can move toward fuller employee ownership over time. Important: the trust's ownership percentage is not the same as who benefits. Selling 30% into the trust does not mean only 30% of employees participate. Who qualifies is set by the trust's terms, not by the size of the stake.