Hutchison 3G has introduced holiday trading for its 3,500 staff to test their interest in flexible benefits. Staff can now buy or sell one week of their annual leave.

The telecoms company is considering launching flexible benefits in April next year, but wants to gauge the degree of employee interest in the concept before doing so.

It will consult employees over the summer months to find out which benefits they would value in a flex package, before then selecting a provider to work with.

Seth Russell, director of reward at Hutchison 3G, said: "Focus groups are being set up across the organisation. Representatives from the head office in Maidenhead and the Glasgow office will be involved, as well as the other sites. We want to have representatives from all different departments."