EMI schemes
EMI schemes for creative businesses. The most tax-efficient way to give the people who make the work a stake in it.
The Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme is aimed at helping businesses reward and retain employees.
It may be that you are a start-up and can’t pay competitive wages yet so giving shares is a good way to bridge the gap.
It may be that you want to keep certain employees and giving them shares will tie them and their commitment to the business.
Whatever the reason, the EMI scheme allows a business to issue share options to employees at a set price – which they can purchase at a date in the future. The hope is that at that future date, the shares will be worth more than the share option price so the employee makes a nice gain- which is tax-free under the scheme. We can help set up EMI schemes so if you are thinking about it – give us a call.
Who this is for in the creative industries?
Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) is a tax-advantaged share option scheme available to qualifying UK companies, allowing them to grant share options to employees with favourable tax treatment compared to other forms of equity compensation.
WallsMan Creative sets up and administers EMI schemes for UK creative businesses: checking eligibility, agreeing a valuation with HMRC, drafting the scheme, and handling the ongoing compliance an EMI scheme requires.
Studios and agencies wanting to retain key people without the cash cost of a large pay rise or bonus.
Growing businesses competing for talent against companies that can offer equity as standard.
Founders who’ve promised “equity eventually” and want to actually implement it properly.
Companies preparing to raise, where a well-run EMI scheme is a credible, investor-recognised way to have already addressed key-person retention.
Frequently Asked Questions about EMI schemes
An EMI (Enterprise Management Incentives) scheme is a UK government-approved employee share option plan that lets qualifying employees buy shares in your company with generous tax advantages.
EMI schemes help attract and retain key talent by offering valuable tax-efficient share options without significant cash outlay, aligning team incentives with business success.
Qualifying companies must meet size, trading activity, and independence tests under HMRC rules, and employees must meet eligibility criteria such as working a minimum number of hours and not holding excessive shares.
Employees typically pay no income tax or National Insurance on the grant of options, and gains on exercise of options may qualify for lower capital gains tax rates; employers may also get corporation tax relief.
Yes – we assess eligibility, design the scheme structure, prepare documentation, and help you secure HMRC clearance where required.
Eligible existing staff and future hires who meet HMRC criteria can participate in your EMI scheme.
We help respond to HMRC queries, provide clarifications, and assist in maintaining compliance with ongoing scheme administration requirements.
Often, yes – especially if you want to retain creative talent and align team incentives with long-term value creation in a tax-efficient way.