Big Communications launches flexible benefits package

FLEXIBLE BENEFITS

Big Communications launches flexible benefits package

Big Communications, one of the largest advertising agencies in the Midlands, has launched a new flexible benefits package for its 50-strong workforce.

The agency decided to launch an employee benefits package to ensure that its employees were "rewarded for their hard work and length of service all year round, instead of paying a once-a-year bonus that other agencies rely on". As a small business,  Big Communications wanted to offer a "blue-chip" benefits scheme that reflected its blue-chip client base which includes Alliance & Leicester, Virgin Cola, and WKD. 

Big Communications selected thomsons online benefits, a firm of employee benefits specialists, to:

  • source and design the benefits
  • assist in the creation of a unique benefits brand
  • communicate the new brand to employees
  • implement the firm's Perquisite software to enable employees to enrol into their benefits, and then to use and manage their benefits whenever they wish.

Launch

The brand created was entitled "The Big Takeaway" with a theme centring around a Chinese meal. It was launched with "desk drops" on each employee’ s desk with a branded takeaway box including the benefit booklet (designed to look like a menu), fortune cookies containing different benefit messages and chopsticks. This was followed up with group presentations and one-to-one meetings conducted by thomsons online benefits. 

What's on the menu

The benefits offered included the following:

  • contributory group personal pension
  • additional three days' holiday entitlement at Christmas
  • ability to buy and sell one week’ s additional holiday
  • "Happy Birthday" enabling employees to have their birthday off on the company
  • life cover
  • critical illness cover
  • home computer initiative
  • childcare vouchers
  • tax-free bicycles
  • discounted online shopping.

A range of voluntary benefits were also offered, including:

  • discounted holidays
  • travel insurance
  • wine club
  • dental insurance
  • private medical insurance
  • hospital cash plan
  • Champneys health spa discounts
  • pet insurance
  • eyecare vouchers.

A final word

"For a number of reasons the advertising industry is renowned for its high turnover of staff. The ambitious young environment combined with a need to strike a work-life balance is something that we struggle with daily. We were looking for a provider that understood the dynamic of our people and could provide a cutting edge relevant solution. This, we got in spades from thomsons online benefits and the feedback from staff since the launch has been very positive." -- Mark Firth, Director of Big Communications.

Want to know more

thomsons online benefits was founded in 2000 to "revolutionise the way that benefits are administered and communicated". Further information can be found at www.thomsonsonlinebenefits.com

Posted 7 September 2005