The Nutribox, a new Sheffield business offering healthy snack boxes, and leading independent firm of Chartered Accountants, Barber Harrison & Platt (BHP) are working together to make it easier and more affordable for employees to snack more healthily.
In these challenging economic times it is important for employers to demonstrate how they value employees to achieve recruitment and retention objectives. But coming up with different and creative ideas to do that without spending a lot of money isn’t always easy. A salary sacrifice scheme to buy products like The Nutribox could be the answer.
Salary sacrifice schemes are not new and BHP’s specialist Employer Solutions team regularly advises on such schemes. Employees pay for a product or service out of their monthly salary before tax and national insurance (NI) deductions and make a saving as their subsequent NI payments are reduced. Depending on the benefit provided, tax relief may also be available on the cost of purchase.
Nick Davies, a Senior Consultant at BHP, advises employers across the UK on employee benefit schemes. Observing the appeal of The Nutribox from both an employee and employer perspective, Davies said, “many firms are looking at ways of adding value for their employees to aid recruitment and retention, and drive performance. By making employees aware of the service provided by The Nutribox, companies can provide their employees with easy access to healthier snacking options, which in turn can improve energy and concentration levels. The Nutribox can also be purchased via a salary sacrifice scheme which allows for an NI saving (and potentially tax relief) on the cost of purchase.”
Commenting on where the idea had come from for the partnership with BHP, Nutritional Therapist Ann Sinclair said, “all of us in The Nutribox team love food and we understand that working out what’s healthy can be really confusing. Operating this pilot scheme with BHP helps us achieve our goal of getting great snack products to customers who want to eat more healthily without it being hard work, in a more affordable way.”
