Manchester City Council has approached other large organisations in the city to join forces and negotiate discounts for employees with local retailers and service providers by maximising the combined purchasing power of their workforces.

The council, which can already offer retailers access to 27,000 employees, has so far put the idea to the Manchester Primary Care Trust and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

Caroline Powell, personnel manager, personnel strategy at Manchester City Council, said: “We want to join forces with other organisations so we can create a greater population that retailers will be encouraged to offer discounts to. We have approached Manchester Primary Care Trust [which is] interested and want to take it forward.”

The council is keen to target entertainment discounts, and health and wellbeing service providers for deals for staff, and will work with local retailers to encourage employees to stay in Manchester during their free time.