Starboard Hotels to develop centralised EV scheme for employees across UK
Starboard Hotels has launched a new electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (EVSSS) for employees, delivered through Tusker.
The owner and operator of franchised hotel brands such as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express and Best Western, wanted to enhance its employee benefits offering in a way that delivered both financial advantages for colleagues and meaningful environmental impact.
The scheme launched on 28 January, with 17% of people already creating an account, and one already placing an order for their EV.
Adaptable systems
Key to choosing its provider was ensuring that all systems were adaptable and robust enough to manage the number of Starboard’s cost centres, while providing a smooth, seamless experience for eligible employees.
Simon Gardner, procurement manager at Starboard Hotels, said: “Feedback from our team members made it clear that they were really interested in an electric vehicle scheme, and because this aligned with Starboard’s ESG priorities, introducing an EV salary sacrifice scheme felt like an obvious next step. It’s a great way for us to reduce our environmental footprint and operate more sustainably, while also giving our people meaningful financial support.”
Several providers were analysed and considered. Tusker was chosen as it offered the best returns for both employees and Starboard as an employer, as well as having a significant geographical footprint, wide availability of vehicles, and short guaranteed lead times for employees to receive their vehicles.
Gardner said: "We realised that we needed to focus on the one thing that would make the biggest difference for our people. For us, that was the net value each employee receives every month."
Implementation was simple, with Tusker taking on the logistics and Starboard Hotels communicating to staff internally with Tusker pre-set communications, and two well-received online workshops. So far feedback from employees reflects excitement and enthusiasm for the new opportunity.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, Tusker
Tusker is the UK’s leader in salary sacrifice cars. Part of Lloyds Banking Group, it has more than 15 years’ experience in offering an affordable way for employees to drive a new, fully insured, and maintained car. Its scheme, which is available to over 1.8 million UK employees, offers a range of options, from pure electric cars to hybrids and even traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. It provides a tailored scheme for organisations’ individual needs.
