One of Britain’s best-known high street brands is making a major change that will put extra cash in staff pockets.
The move will give thousands of workers a direct stake in the company’s success and a share of the profits.
The Entertainer, which owns Early Learning Centre and runs 160 shops and more than 1,000 concessions across the UK, will transfer into an employee ownership trust from September.
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The change means employees will be entitled to a share of the company’s profits in the form of bonuses, as well as having a say in how the business is run.
Gary Grant, who opened the first shop in Buckinghamshire with his wife Catherine 44 years ago, said: "This is a significant decision for the family, and one we haven’t taken lightly, but it feels like the right time to transfer our entire shareholding into an employee ownership trust."
The move is designed to secure the long-term future of the business while rewarding the staff who have helped it grow into one of the country’s most recognisable toy chains.
He is handing 100 per cent ownership of the family business to an employee trust, giving staff both a share of future profits and a voice in how the company is run.
"If the business had been sold just for money that would not have been passing on the baton in the way in which the family would have wanted," Grant said.
The Entertainer staff set for bumper bonuses as toy giant becomes employee-owned
| GETTYMost of the company’s profits are generated in the run-up to Christmas, and Grant said it was too soon to confirm whether staff would receive a bonus for the current financial year.
He expects the "real rewards" to be felt for the year ending in January 2027.
"That's when I think the staff will start to see something a little bit more meaningful," he said.
The shift comes amid a wider trend of businesses exploring alternative ownership models as a way to reward staff loyalty
| AldiEmployee ownership trusts have become increasingly popular in recent years, allowing workers to benefit directly from the company’s success.
Staff can receive annual tax-free bonuses of up to £3,600, alongside other profit-sharing arrangements.
For The Entertainer’s more than 2,000 staff, the new model could provide a welcome financial boost and a stronger voice in decision-making.
The retailer, known for its high street presence and family-focused brand, has expanded steadily since its first store opened in Amersham in 1981.
Staff could see their first profit-related bonuses paid as early as next year
| GETTYIt acquired the Early Learning Centre brand in 2019, further cementing its position as a leading name in the UK toy market.
The shift comes amid a wider trend of businesses exploring alternative ownership models as a way to reward staff loyalty, improve productivity and secure succession plans without selling to outside investors.
The Entertainer joins a growing list of UK companies choosing the employee ownership route, including well-known names such as John Lewis and Richer Sounds.
The John Lewis Partnership is the largest employee-owned business in the UK with total trading sales of more than £12bn and a workforce of around 70,000 Partners.