BG Group, the global natural gas business, has launched childcare vouchers to its 1,500 UK employees.

Michelle Giddings, a senior HR adviser at BG Group, said:"We have just gone out to employees to ask them if they are interested and the deductions will [take effect] from the May 2006 payroll."

Giddings added: "This is our first avenue into salary sacrifice. All we do at the moment is offer a discount with the local nurseries so we wanted to try and boost that."