Chief executive Tony Jones was introduced as the man who saw such a bright future for the company he ended up buying it.

Then he decided to give his employees a share in it too.

Jones said he had decided to implement the innovative scheme as he had both a huge belief in the business, and more importantly in the people that work within it.

Each employee was entitled to 800 shares each. Working Lunch said the shares could be worth thousands when they are redeemed.

The shares are an option, and as its a tax efficient scheme, the rules say it will last for around 10 years, Jones said.

In the next five to 10 years when an event happens such as a sale or an MBO, the full value of the shares can then be redeemed.

Mailing operator Phil Strainer said Jones had always stressed that when he took control of the business he would give something back to the workforce.

He has, and I now feel more confident in the business than I have done over the last 14 years, he said.

KPMG partner Simon Jones who consulted on the scheme, said more and more companies were looking at svhemes such as this, as a way of incentivising staff.

As it was a tax-efficient scheme, upon redemption the tax charge on any value realised by the employees should be minimised or even eliminated.

The BBC were attracted to the Welsh sheetfed magazine printer by the recent media coverage given to its stakeholder scheme.

by Andy Scott