Film Farmers to hand over the reel to employees

A Surrey-based video production company has secured its future by transitioning to an employee-owned trust (EOT).

The Film Farmers, founded in 2017 by husband-and-wife duo Tom and Alison Farmery, have successfully transferred ownership to an EOT, thanks to the help of Go EO, a Kent-based consultancy led by Chris Maslin.

The new structure will allow employees to have a stake in the company’s future while providing the founders with an exit strategy over time, with Tom and Alison saying the company, which has built a strong reputation working with global brands, charities and organisations, including Space For Giants, Meta and Michael Kors, is now “protected” and positioned for continued expansion.

Tom, who only considered an EOT after a plan to sell to a larger business fell through at the eleventh hour, said: “We never dreamed that our little company in Surrey would attract such wonderful clients and that we would travel the world helping to tell stories through the power of video.

“We’ve loved it and now as a team of six and working with trusted freelancers, we’re still growing yet it’s time for my wife and I to consider our future and what we want from our lives too.

“Our financial adviser suggested this may be an option for us. 

“It felt like a perfect solution where we could exit gradually, be rewarded fairly for our own hard work in building the business yet our team would be protected.

“We’re not leaving the company immediately. I have an MD role and Alison is running operations and we will exit over time. 

“We’re learning to delegate and hand over responsibility to our small team. The aim is that I will focus on new business and both of us will cease being so involved in the day-to-day running of the company."

Chris, who himself had moved his previous business into an EOT in 2021, added: “Like Tom and Alison, I was invested in my team but felt that my time leading the business should come to an end as I wanted to move on and enjoy new adventures.

“I sold to an EOT, which I’m happy was a great move for all concerned.”

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