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The head of one of Wales’ most successful independent TV companies is creating a “mini-John Lewis” and handing it all over to the staff.

Dylan Huws, managing director of Caernarfon-based production company Cwmni Da, is turning the £5 million a year firm into an Employee Owned Trust.

The move is being project-managed by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

With legal advice from a top Cardiff-based firm, Geldards, they have drawn up a five-year business plan which will see Mr Huws selling his shares to the trust.

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Cwmni Da was founded in 1996 and has a long and successful track record making factual, entertainment, drama and children’s programmes, mainly in the Welsh language for S4C.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

It now employs 50 staff and a host of freelancers and is based at a state-of-the-art production centre in the Goleuad building on Victoria Dock.

Their output includes some of the channel’s biggest hits like Fferm Ffactor, Noson Lawen, Deian a Loli, Dim Byd, and Ffit Cymru.

Since last December Mr Huws has been the sole owner of the company after his fellow directors Neville Hughes and Ifor ap Glyn decided to step down, both still work closely with the company.

Mr Huws, 59, said: “I was also aware that it was now time to prepare the way for the next generation and the next exciting stage in the company’s story.

“I also wanted to ensure Cwmni Da remained in the hands of staff who have all contributed to its success.”

Mr Huws will remain as managing director for three years while the transition is completed.

As part of the process, the head of production finance, Bethan Griffiths, who has been a member of staff since 2007, and financial consultant Alun Lewis from BIC Innovation Limited, have already joined Mr Huws on the board of Cwmni Da.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

In addition, three trustees including a staff representative will be appointed to look after the employees’ interests.

Why is Dylan Huws selling up to his own staff?

Mr Huws added: “In recent years, consolidation in the independent production sector has seen several Welsh companies being sold to larger entities, this means more often than not that ownership is no longer in Welsh hands.

"It would be easy to sell Cwmni Da and then step away but I wouldn’t like to think that people that I believe in and respect suddenly lost their jobs because new owners had come in and wanted to do something different.

“I went down the path of trying to look at different company models and structures and one that everyone is familiar with is John Lewis and Partners.

“Creating an Employee-Owned Trust feels like it is a perfect fit because I believe passionately that the staff are a key part of the business and that they can all benefit from their efforts.

"Shares will be held on behalf of the workforce in a trust fund and the trading company will need to prove to the trustees that the decisions that they’re making are beneficial to the workforce.”