Bolton’s TVD Group Celebrates Employee Ownership Day

Bolton’s TVD Group has celebrated its first Employee Ownership Day and previewed the opening of one of the North West’s largest AV showrooms.

Tuesday 4th July 2023: Booming Bolton business, TVD Group, has celebrated the company shift to majority employee ownership with a company-wide celebration day and a sneak preview of its impressive new showroom. TVD, creators of the Mitchell & Brown TV brand, distributor to the audio-video trade and a commercial AV project integrator, had been a family-owned and run business for nearly 30 years before transitioning to employee ownership this year.

The company employs over 50 people, now co-owners of the business, supports local events and charities as well as Bolton Wanderers FC, and uses local suppliers where possible. The event was supported by TVD’s suppliers and partners, including Advantech, Midwich, Exertis, B-Tech and Philips, as well as Platinum Event Partner, Samsung.

“TVD Group has gone from strength to strength based on our commitment to customer service, our team, and the local Bolton community,” comments TVD Managing Director, Lucia Maguire.

“The transition to majority employee ownership is a natural extension of our commitment to our employees, the area, and the business. Employee ownership has been shown to improve employee engagement, boost productivity and fuel progress, and will enable the business to continue to grow and flourish in Bolton long into the future.”

The Employee Ownership Day brought together employees from every department of TVD Group to network, exchange ideas, and celebrate shared ownership. The ‘team’ feel was enhanced by ‘Co-Owner’ T-shirts, games, and presentations about different departments and processes to enable staff to understand every aspect of the business. TVD’s local heritage and family values of customer service which have underpinned three decades of growth were set out as key business drivers into the future.

Employees were also given a tour of TVD Group’s soon-to-be-opened AV showroom, set to be one of the most impressive TV and audio demonstration facilities for the AV trade in the North West. The newly developed almost 1000 square feet facility houses a full display of everything from hospitality TV and large format displays to the attention-grabbing Samsung ‘The Wall’ MicroLED display.

It also includes Mitchell & Brown’s consumer TV range, including its latest 4K UHD QLED smart TVs. These high-tech TVs compete directly with the ‘big four’ TV brands, backed up by TVD’s Bolton-based helpline for customers.

The day rounded off with a company-wide evening celebration as TVD Group’s new owners continued the festivities at a local venue.

“The EO day is another milestone in TVD’s development,” adds Lucia. “It cemented the new financial and ownership structure, as well as our core values, with the very people now fully responsible for taking the business forward – its new majority owners; TVD employees.”

“We have had a very positive reaction from our new co-owners. Employees are already thinking about the business differently which has prompted some great questions and suggestions. We can already see evidence of co-owners driving efficiencies, particularly through cost savings in the business. There is a greater sense of shared goals through higher levels of transparency and engagement, and this will help us to continue our sustainable growth into the future,” adds Lucia.

Employees who have been with TVD Group for 12 months or longer are then eligible to become co-owner of the business. The employee trust holds 51% of the employee shares with the other 49% remaining with the Brown family. To facilitate a good flow of communication, co-owners from across the business have volunteered to join the EBT Committee, which meets for a quarterly review of financial performance and to discuss any issues arising, as well as suggestions and ideas that have been raised. 

For more images, information on TVD Group, or an interview with Lucia Maguire, Managing Director please get in touch. 

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Editors notes

Founded in 1996 by Jim Brown and his sons Matthew and Daniel, TVD Group started from humble beginnings in a shop in Leigh and has now become a leading UK provider in audio visual solutions. Putting the customer at the heart of everything it does and offering unrivalled service and quality products has acted as a catalyst for growth, which has seen the group go from strength to strength.

In 2016, to celebrate the brand's 20th anniversary and pay tribute to their late father, the two brothers decided to develop their very own exclusive TV brand, names 'Mitchell & Brown' using their father's surname and Jim's mother's maiden name.

Built by Europe’s largest TV manufacturer, who design and manufacture TV’s for almost every major brand around the world, each television undergoes rigorous control processes and testing. Mitchell & Brown TV sets come in various sizes, including LED TVs from 20” to 75” with build in features such as Freeview Play, Smart TV apps, 4K UHD, WIFI, Hotel Mode and DVD Combi.

The Mitchell & Brown TV range comes with an industry-leading 7-year warranty, so its products have a reputation for client satisfaction and reliability.