GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has launched a car discount affinity scheme for all its employees.
The affinity scheme will enable all 18,500 staff to take advantage of discounts that GSK has negotiated with car manufacturers.
Currently, GSK has 5,000 staff who are eligible for a car allowance because they are perk drivers or need a car for their job.
Initially, the discounts for all staff through the affinity scheme will be available on cars from GSK's preferred manufacturer, Volkswagen Group, which also owns Audi. Discounts with other manufacturers may be negotiated in the future.
Harsha Modha, director, benefit programmes at GSK, said: "We knew we could get really good deals on cars from manufacturers, so we wanted to pursue that idea further.
"What we are offering is an all-employee car scheme to everyone at GSK, so that employees can either buy or lease a car from the provider at a preferential rate."
Perk drivers will maintain their cash allowance and also be able to benefit from the cash discounts on offer. In addition, they will be able to choose their own insurance and servicing agreements, which is something they were not able to do previously.
GSK is using its current car supplier, Masterlease, to handle the arrangements and the affinity scheme is being communicated to staff in the company's quarterly internal magazine.