The company, founded in 1998 by Fiona and Charlie Cameron, trades under the names Christmas Direct, DZD, and Sparkling Lights. It supplies festive lighting and decorations to the public, but its main income is from its diverse business customers, including film and television companies, prestigious retail stores, hospitality venues and town centre lighting projects.

The Camerons chose an EOT to ensure the future of the company remained in the hands of its 20 employees. They explained: “The Corporate Christmas Tree Company has always been a family business, with a great staff and customers. We explored several sale options, including a trade sale and external investment.

“We settled on an employee ownership trust as we are able to provide our employees an independent future whilst knowing that the business is being run by the people who know it the best and who have always had its best interests at heart.”

Operations director, Alasdair Seftor, said he believes “the sale of the business to an EOT is a perfect solution” as it will allow the company to continue its success while retaining “the same talented members of staff, some of whom have been part of our team for over 10 years”.

The Corporate Christmas Tree Company Limited was advised by Douglas Roberts, Nimarta Cheema and Faye Saunders of TLT, and Ivan Houston from Scholes & Co.