The Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation introduces voluntary benefits scheme

The Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) has introduced a voluntary benefits scheme for the public sector organisations within its region.

Any national public sector organisation can offer the scheme to its staff simply by completing a form through the ESPO.

The local authority purchasing consortium set up the scheme to simplify staff benefits across public sector organisations. The scheme includes childcare vouchers and an employee discount scheme through Wider Plan (which includes Kiddivouchers) and a bikes-for-work scheme through Halfords.

Employers can access a user guide through ESPO's website to learn more about the scheme and its potential cost savings.

Rosalie Parkin, a buyer in strategic procurement and commissioning at the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), said: “It means they do not have to go through any advertising, any supplier assessment, or any procurement procedures, because we have done all that for them.

"All they need to do is fill out a simple access agreement and start implementing it right away. The administration is taken care of by the providers ,which offers further savings for public bodies by reducing the time involved.”

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