# SHARES SCHEME GIVES FULL OPENCAST TEAM A STAKE IN FUTURE BUSINESS SUCCESS
Published: 2021-12-07
Category: Business
Category URL: https://blockchaintribune.com/category/business/
Meta Title: Opencast launches innovative share options scheme for all staff
Meta Description: Join Opencast's new EMI scheme and have a stake in the company's future success. Get share options at a fraction of a penny per share!
URL: https://blockchaintribune.com/shares-scheme-gives-full-opencast-team-a-stake-in-future-business-success/

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Independent technology consultancy [Opencast](https://www.opencastsoftware.com/) has launched a radical new share options [scheme](https://blockchaintribune.com/britain-launches-trade-system-for-developing-countries/) to give its entire team a stake in the future success of the [business](https://blockchaintribune.com/siemens-to-carve-out-ev-charging-business/).

The move will see Opencast’s founders Charlie Hoult and Mike O’Brien – both 50% shareholders until this point – effectively give away a third of their shares to colleagues.

Unlike other company share options schemes, Opencast’s new enterprise management incentive (EMI) scheme intends to give all of its people – not just its senior managers – a stake in the business. It aims to reward loyalty, career progression and the growth of the business – as well as preserve the independence of Opencast as it grows.

Newcastle-headquartered Opencast is issuing share options to all its staff – in exchange for a nominal payment of a fraction of a penny per share – in the coming month.

Opencast is on an ambitious growth trajectory that has already seen it increase its revenues 55% in the past year, reaching 200 staff this year. To meet growing and increasingly complex client needs, Opencast aims to have a team of 500 by 2025, with revenues of £50m.

At present rates of growth, by 2025 the share options will be worth around a year’s take home pay to each and everyone working at Opencast today – assuming those people stay in the scheme and take up their share options.

Opencast co-founder Charlie Hoult said: “We are delighted to have received the official HMRC approval that our scheme needed. This isn’t the slim slice many companies fanfare as empowering colleagues – we hope we are making a big statement for the whole team to share in the growth of Opencast. It’s central to our ‘good team work’ culture.

Co-founder Mike O’Brien said: “Charlie and I started the Opencast business 10 years ago with a mission to challenge the traditional consulting model, by putting our people at the heart of all our thinking. From our start-up through to today, we have lived and breathed that mission. Rather than giving venture capitalists a stake, we’re giving our own team priority so that we can stay staunchly independent.”

Unveiling the scheme this week, Opencast chief executive Tom Lawson said: “We value the hard work of our people – and we want them to stay with us for the long term. By offering our people the chance of a future stake in our business – we hope they feel incentivised to contribute fully.”

Tom added: “Opencast’s EMI scheme is entirely in line with our vision and mission for the business: potential made powerful. Share options are the cherry on the icing on the cake – because we’re supporting our team with great career development, top-end salaries and fascinating tech work, like our recent support for HMRC in helping build its online pandemic services.”

**Administration by Vestd**

Opencast is using leading UK digital share scheme platform Vestd to manage its EMI scheme [Vestd](https://www.vestd.com/) is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

All Opencast staff will have an ‘option holder’ dashboard on Vestd, where they can review the details of their options at any time.

**For more information on EMI schemes [visit the Vestd website](https://www.vestd.com/emi-share-options-scheme).**


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