Agency correspondent, Heather Nicholls, speaks to Abby Sammons, marketing & partnerships manager at Wise to discuss the company’s 35th anniversary, what it means to be an employee owned company and how this benefits the company and its clients.
Wise Productions is a creative event production company based in London, specialising in lighting, audio, video, design, and bespoke set and scenic. Whilst many of their events are delivered within Unique Venues of London, they also work throughout the UK and internationally. The company was founded in 1990 by David Wise and 2025 marks their 35th anniversary.
Two and a half years ago, Wise Productions transitioned to an employee ownership model, meaning that the majority ownership of the company has transferred from David Wise to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), which hold the shares on behalf of the employees of Wise.
When Founder David Wise decided that he wanted to retire, he explored various options for the company’s future, coming close to sealing a deal to sell to a larger company. He ultimately decided that this wasn’t the right choice for the company, afraid that it could compromise the values, company culture and overall direction he had spent over thirty years building. This led him to discover employee ownership.
Now, Wise’s employee ownership model is an example of both direct and indirect ownership. David still owns 30% of the company, while the other 70% is owned by the employees through an employee beneficiary trust. Abby says: “David made the decision to sell to his employees to nurture our culture, empower staff and support growth. Collaboration has always been pivotal to our success, so transitioning to employee ownership felt like a natural reflection of our industry reputation and existing values. It was a perfect reflection of our identity and David’s philosophy.”
The transition to an employee-owned company has significantly impacted Wise Productions’ culture, fostering greater motivation, accountability, and engagement among employees. There has also been a shift in problem-solving within the company, with it becoming everyone’s responsibility. Now, instead of just approaching the leadership team with issues, employees bring ideas to the table and collaborate on solutions, creating a greater sense of teamwork and accountability. Abby says: “Everyone has a stake in the company’s success. This means there’s a vested interest in the success of every event we deliver, leading to a heightened attention to detail, an increased focus on client satisfaction and overall higher-quality work.”
With everyone having a stake in the company, it is important for there to be a way for employee owners to have a platform to share their thoughts and contribute to the company’s decision-making process. To achieve this, Wise Productions introduced a new initiative in late 2023 called Employee Voice, designed to promote open dialogue and ensure that all voices are heard.
The initiative is structured like a council, with representatives from each key department. Employee Voice meets monthly online and has quarterly in-person sessions. The leadership team sends strategic questions or topics to the Employee Voice chair for employee input. The representatives gather feedback from their teams and report back their findings. This collaborative approach ensures that employees are engaged in shaping the company’s future.
In addition to Employee Voice, Wise also have quarterly updates where they align their 90-day objectives with their one-year, three-year and ten year business goals. Abby says: “This creates an effective two-way dialogue between employees and leadership.”
In 2023, Wise Productions won the EO Transition of the Year Award, for demonstrating early engagement with employees and setting a textbook example of how to manage a transition effectively. Furthermore, they regularly conduct co-owner surveys, with sections dedicated to employee ownership to make sure that everyone is happy with how things are going. They have also recently introduced an Employee Ownership Charter to keep everyone aligned and engaged.
As part of being an employee-owned company, Wise Productions practices financial transparency. Employees are regularly updated on how the company is performing, how close they are to achieving targets and the cost of operational costs, such as rent. Abby says: “This openness fosters a culture of trust, as employees have a clear understanding of the business and how they can contribute.”
The employee ownership model also leads to heightened attention to detail and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality service, meaning that it positively impacts client relationships and service quality. As everyone in the company has a stake in the success of each project, it directly benefits client relationships and overall service delivery. Client relationships are approached as shared successes and with greater accountability, than in a non-employee-owned company.
Marketing and partnerships coordinator, Marie-noel Nji said: “I had never experienced an employee-owned company before—I came from a traditional corporate environment. After researching Wise and seeing their recent award and anniversary, I found the model intriguing. Since joining, I’ve realised I made the right choice. There’s a strong sense of accountability and motivation knowing that employees truly have a stake in the company’s journey and success. It’s very different from what I was used to, but in the best way possible.”
The transition to an employee ownership model has proven to be a transformative decision for Wise Productions, not only strengthening their internal culture but also enhancing the quality of service they provide to clients. By fostering a sense of collective responsibility, greater collaboration, and financial transparency, the company has created an environment where everyone is invested in its success and future direction.
As Wise Productions celebrates its 35th anniversary, the employee-owned model stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to its people and its clients, ensuring that their legacy of creativity and excellence will continue for years to come.
