A Place in the Sun Production Company, also known as Freeform Productions, has transitioned to become an employee ownership trust (EOT).
The production firm, which makes the Channel Four’s show A Place in the Sun, has passed ownership of the firm from the original founder shareholders to the newly created Freeform Productions Employee Trust. This decision was made to celebrate the show’s 25th year anniversary and to share its future success with its employees.
The organisation will be governed by an EOT board, which will operate alongside the existing board.
Antoine Palmer and Ann Lavelle, the founders and current owners of Freeform Productions, will remain to oversee the transition to a different type of production firm, which will be run for the benefit of its employees and freelancers.
Michelle Heeley, creative director, and Linda Glendinning, head of production, will also join the Freeform board as directors.
Freeform was incorporated in 1997. More than 1,200 episodes have been produced to date and the show has been recommissioned by Channel Four through to 2028.
Palmer said: “We are delighted to pass the ownership of Freeform to its employees. We hope that, in due course, this will pioneer a new way of working in factual television in which everyone involved shares in the success of hit television programmes. I am sure that our brilliant employees and management will use this opportunity to help make Freeform even more successful.”
Lavelle added: “Making great TV is a team effort. We have been incredibly lucky to have worked with the most talented and best. Handing the company to the employees feels like a wonderful way to say thank you. I know the team at Freeform will make this transition a brilliant success.”
