DIGITAL AGENCY GIVES ITSELF UP TO EMPLOYEES

Torchbox, a digital agency with 65 employees and offices in Charlbury and Bristol, has become the first digital agency in the UK to transfer its entire business to its employees.

The company offers digital product development and marketing to clients across the non-profit, healthcare and higher education sectors. It created Wagtail, a popular open source content management system now used by the NHS, NASA and Google.

profits and will continue to help run the business via the Trust, in a model similar to that of the John Lewis Partnership.

Internet company storms awards for seventh time

Storm Internet has bagged a seventh win at the 2019 UK Internet Industry Awards, the ISPAs, this year taking home Best Hosted Service.

Storm was shortlisted in three categories for Best Cyber Security, Best Customer Solution and Best Hosted Service. The judges were particularly impressed by the company’s identification of technical risks to customers and targeting investment internally to address this.

Salim Benadel, Storm Internet’s founder, said: “To take a win in this category is a real honour and testament to the hard work of our team.”

“When we were considering the future of Torchbox, we thought about the importance of retaining our independent spirit, continuing our fast growth and empowering our brilliant team”

Torchbox’s employees, who will receive a taxfree bonus of up to £3,600 every year as part of the deal, have elected a Trust of Directors from the existing workforce. The Trust will work alongside Torchbox’s directors to develop the business.

Torchbox founders Olly Willans and Tom Dyson will be part of the Trust for five years, until the business has repaid their majority stakes. Staff will eventually be able to decide how to direct agency

“When we were considering the future of Torchbox, we thought about the importance of retaining our independent spirit, continuing our fast growth and empowering our brilliant team,” explained Tom. “By far the best people to own Torchbox are those who have made it a success. We wanted to commit to it entirely without maintaining any kind of minority shareholding.”

Alex Bridge, senior developer, has been made a trustee director.

He said: “Being able to help create the future of the company you work for is a brilliant opportunity. The trustee directors are going to make sure that Torchbox is well set up for growth and success – it’s a big responsibility, but an exciting one.”