Entertainer founder transfers shares to employee trust

Gary Grant and his family will transfer shares in Entertainer to an employee trust, giving 1,900 staff a stake and a say in profits and governance.

The Entertainer founder puts toy retailer in hands of employees

Gary Grant, 66, and his wife Catherine built The Entertainer from a single shop into the largest toy retailer in Britain with more than 160 stores and 1,900 staff. Next month they will transfer all shares to an employee trust, allowing staff to participate in profits and to have governance influence through the structure of the trust.

Grant says the move is about finishing well and leaving a business that has tried to be a force for good. He adds that selling the company only for money would not have allowed the baton to pass in the way the family hopes, and staff could benefit from John Lewis style bonuses.

The plan reflects a broader shift toward worker ownership in UK commerce. If managed well, it could improve retention and alignment between staff and strategy, especially in a low margin, high competition sector. It also introduces governance complexity and questions about how profits will be shared and how outside partners or lenders would respond.

For other family businesses the Entertainer example offers a test case in succession planning and value creation beyond cashing out. It could influence investor views if the model proves scalable and transparent.

Highlights

The next chapter for Entertainer will reveal how well the model travels in a tougher market.