GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is finalising a deal that will bring all of its voluntary benefits in the UK under one plan.

The pharmaceutical firm hopes to launch Youatwork's online voluntary benefits software in November to replace a number of local deals.

Harsha Modha, benefits programmes manager at GSK, said: "At the moment we manage all of our voluntary benefits ourselves. We've got 30 to 40 providers and it's difficult for us to manage them all so we've chosen a management company to assist us with that process."

She added that she hoped the scheme would reduce the cost of providing such affinity arrangements.

The FTSE firm has also seen over 4% of its workforce take up childcare vouchers following a launch in June. GSK saw 700 of its 18,000 staff sign up in the first month, with a further 100 for the second month.

Modha said she was especially pleased with the take-up because many firms have only seen 2% of workers signing up.

"We have 25 sites in the UK [so] we had a massive campaign of advisers going out during lunchtime sessions and pulling people in, presenting how the scheme works. And it wasn't just mothers; it was fathers saying 'this will be very useful for us'."