07 October 2025 π’ New Financial & Lifestyle Benefits β Month 1 Highlights We’re excited to share the fantastic engagement we've seen since launching our new employee benefits programme just one month ago! π Electric & Petrol Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme Employees can now drive a brand-new electric, hybrid, or petrol car with: No upfront costs Inclusive insurance & maintenance Fixed monthly salary deductions π First month stats 343 accounts created on the Tusker portal π 19 cars ordered already! 2 cars delivered – stay tuned for a user story coming soon! πΏ Green Initiative Success We’re proud to report that 100% of vehicles ordered support our sustainability goals: 14 fully electric vehicles 5 hybrid vehicles On 15th July 2025, the Government announced a new £650 million grant to support the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), which is in place for eligible orders after 16th July 2025. The grant will apply to eligible EVs with a recommended retail price (RRP) under £37,000. Link below to find out more: Electric Car Grant 2025 — Tusker π’ If you haven’t yet explored this opportunity, please follow the below instructions: Create an account - simply click on the Tusker Home Page, select 'Create an Account' and enter the below: Email address First name Last name Company code is WALS Where it then asks for employee/payroll/NI number or work email address – You only need to input employee number Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions (SCAVCs) π° This scheme allows you to boost your retirement savings while saving on Income Tax and National Insurance through salary sacrifice. πFirst month stats! 88 accounts created on the portal! π 24 Shared Cost AVC’s accepted π’ If you haven’t yet explored the opportunity via My Money Matters, now is the time to take a closer look at My Money Matters This isn’t just a small tweak — it’s a financially powerful upgrade that benefits you and the Council. How it works? If you are new to SCAVC’s – active members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) can boost their retirement savings by paying into a SCAVC scheme. You receive tax and National Insurance (NI) relief at source and under current rules, could take your SCAVC pot as a tax-free lump sum*, alongside your LGPS retirement benefits (*subject to HMRC limits). If you have an active AVC investment linked to the LGPS, and are looking to convert to SCAVC’s: Your AVC investment stays with Prudential — so there’s no change in provider, no disruption to your pension planning. Your contribution value and investment choice remain the same But if you pay National insurance, the cost to you drops significantly, thanks to both tax and National Insurance (NI) relief at source. The Numbers Speak for Themselves Let’s break it down with a simple example: Under the SCAVC arrangement, a basic rate taxpayer who pays NI, pays just £68 for a £100 pension contribution. That’s a 15% saving compared to the standard AVC route. And if you’re a higher-rate taxpayer, the savings are even greater — potentially reducing the cost of a £100 contribution to £58 or less. A Win-Win for You and the Council - it’s not just employees who benefit. For every £100 contributed under SCAVC, the Council saves £13.80 in employer National Insurance contributions, even for contributors who are over their state pension age. That’s a meaningful saving across the workforce — helping to support public services while at the same time providing an invaluable means of boosting your income and retirement savings. Why Wait? Switching to SCAVC is simple, seamless, and financially smart. You keep the same provider, the same investment strategy and the same pension goals — but you pay less for the same contribution. And if you’re already contributing to an AVC, converting to SCAVC is the obvious choice. You can begin the conversion journey by clicking on the following link to register for a My Money Matters Account – it literally takes 5 minutes to do, but will make an almost immediate difference in your pocket: My Money Matters Need help? Employee Benefits Visit FAQs Under Benefits For any queries, please raise a helpdesk ticket – Employee benefits How to raise a Helpdesk ticket Previous Article Next Article Please login or register to post comments.