SSE has received 3,000 requests for cars from employees through a salary sacrifice arrangement since it was launched in May.

The energy supplier, which has 20,000 employees, has already received orders for 500 cars.

The scheme, provided by Lex Autolease, offers employees a car for a monthly fee, which includes insurance, service, maintenance and repair costs, and is deducted from their pre-tax salary .

Kevin O’Neil, development manager at SSE, said: “The salary sacrifice scheme is a great way to recognise the commitment and hard work of our staff, as part of our wider benefits package, but also support our core philosophy of sustainability and in reducing SSE’s carbon footprint.”