Contract Overview
HealthTrust Europe’s framework agreement framework is designed to give access to a range of Employee Benefits designed to support the attraction, retention and wellbeing of employed staff into healthcare provider organisations.
This framework offers the following benefits:
- Free to access for all healthcare providers and Public Sector Organisations.
- Data protection controls and innovative mechanisms for driving and delivering sustainable value.
- The majority of pricing (except where stated on the rate cards), carries no on-cost to the Customer as the Awarded Suppliers generate revenue from their benefits sourcing activities
This is a new contract that is designed to offer a full suite of easy to access HR and workforce contracts. Employee Benefits is the latest Framework Agreement to compliment and build the Total HR suite of framework agreements sitting alongside established lots:
- TWS II Lot 1a – National Permanent Recruitment;
- TWS II Lot 1b – International Healthcare Recruitment;
- TWS II Lot 2b – Bank and Agency Demand Solutions;
- TWS II Lot 3a – Medical Locum and General Practitioner Workers;
- TWS II Lot 3b – Nursing and Care Service Workers;
- TWS II Lot 3c – Allied Health Professional and Health Science Service Workers;
- TWS II Lot 4a – Non-Medical Non-Clinical Services Bands 1-7;
- TWI II Lot 4b – Non-Medical Non-Clinical Services Bands 6-9, including Very Senior Managers and Executive Recruitment;
- Total Language Solutions Lot 1 (Spoken);
- Total Language Solutions Lot 2 (Non-Spoken); and
Payroll Management and HR Service Solutions.
Lot 1a: Flexible Employee Benefits – Managed Service with Digital User Platform Including:
- Salary Sacrifice – Cycle to Work,
- Salary Sacrifice – Buying and Selling of Annual Leave,
- Salary Sacrifice – Affordable Technology,
- Salary Sacrifice – Payroll Giving,
- Rewards and Recognition,
- Employee Discounts,
- Discounted Gym Membership,
- Salary Deducted Loans,
- Insurance and Wellbeing Services including Health Cover.
Lot 1b: Flexible Employee Benefits – Specific Scheme Providers (one or more) including:
- Salary Sacrifice – Cycle to Work,
- Salary Sacrifice – Buying and Selling of Annual Leave
- Salary Sacrifice – Affordable Technology,
- Salary Sacrifice – Payroll Giving,
- Rewards and Recognition,
- Employee Discounts,
- Discounted Gym Membership,
- Salary Deducted Loans,
- Insurance and Wellbeing Services including Health Cover.
Lot 2: Car Leasing (Salary Sacrifice)
- Offers a range of vehicles including, but not limited to, environmentally friendly vehicles which help towards NHS Net Zero.
Lot 3: Financial Wellbeing
- Access to money management tools
- Salary deducted loans
- Employee Pensions
- Lot 1a: Flexible Employee Benefits – Managed Service with Digital User Platform
Liaison Financial Services Ltd
SME HCI Ltd (trading as Vivup)
- Lot 1b: Flexible Employee Benefits – Specific Scheme Providers (one or more)
NHS Fleet Solutions c/o Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
SME HCI Ltd (trading as Vivup)
Cycle To Work Limited (trading as Wheelies Direct Solutions)
- Lot 2: Car Leasing – Salary Sacrifice
Liaison Financial Services Ltd
NHS Fleet Solutions c/o Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Lot 3: Financial Wellbeing
Background
Since 2015, South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAST) has provided its 6,000 staff access to NHS Fleet Solutions (NHS FS) car salary sacrifice schemes. In February 2024, SWAST called off NHS FS’s two salary sacrifice schemes via direct awards—Fleet through Lot 2, and Home Electronics Lot 1b—of HealthTrust Europe’s (HTE’s) Flexible Employee Benefits, Personal Vehicle Leasing & Financial Wellbeing 2022 Framework, for four years.
Challenge
SWAST aimed to provide its employees with attractive and practical benefits while managing administrative burdens and ensuring environmental sustainability. The challenge was to transition the fleet to ultra-low emission vehicles and offer comprehensive benefits that would enhance employee satisfaction and wellbeing.
Solution
- Guaranteed surplus retention for every car ordered.
- A range of scheme features and protections which reduce risk and administration.
- Continuity of support in key roles, with many of the supplier’s staff having over 10 years of NHS service.
- Special Offer deals with particularly short delivery lead-times.
- Option to add a home charging point to EV orders, saving in income tax and National Insurance.
- £150 damage waiver at the end of the lease contract.
- SWAST decided to pay the reserve mileage rate for using the salary sacrifice lease car for business use, helping cover employees for any excess mileage due at the end of the contract.
For the Home Electronics Scheme:
Staff using the scheme on average are ordering two products per order at a value of £650, providing convenient access to essential household items, the latest wearable and mobile technologies, and other innovative products used around the home.
The Result
- As of March 2025, SWAST has 309 cars on the road with 33 more on order.
- The fleet profile has increasingly transitioned to ultra-low emission vehicles, with 94% of orders now in this category.
- Employees benefit from attractive offers, reduced tax and National Insurance, and additional protections such as the damage waiver.
- The Home Electronics scheme has been well-received, with staff ordering valuable and innovative products.
The partnership between SWAST and NHS FS exemplifies the successful implementation of HTE’s Flexible Employee Benefits Framework. By offering a range of attractive benefits and support, both SWAST and NHS FS have enhanced employee satisfaction and wellbeing. This collaboration highlights the importance of innovative and flexible employee benefits in fostering a positive and productive work environment. HTE’s Framework continues to be a valuable resource for organisations seeking to provide their staff with comprehensive and practical benefits.
Existing members should talk to their Account Manager for further details.
If you are not a customer of HTE please contact our Customer Care team on 0845 887 5000 or email customercare@htepg.com
