Aviva has launched an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme for UK employees, helping to support them with tackling climate change.

Aviva’s salary sacrifice scheme is run by Zenith and provides access to fully electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Mini Electric, available on two- or three-year contracts

The scheme arrives on the back of Aviva’s pledge in March 2021 to reach net zero carbon by 2040. This includes a target of net zero carbon emissions from Aviva’s own operations and supply chain by 2030.

The salary sacrifice scheme is run by Zenith and provides access to fully electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Mini Electric, available on two- or three-year contracts. Included within the price are Aviva’s comprehensive insurance, servicing and maintenance, road fund licence, breakdown cover, replacement tyres, accident management, delivery and collection and 24/7 support.

It’s part of ongoing climate-related activity to support and enable Aviva colleagues to take their own action against climate change. For example, colleagues have 21 hours’ volunteering leave a year, which can include climate-related causes, and can also donate to environmental charities through Aviva’s Payroll Giving scheme.

Aviva has also increased the range of bikes on its Cycle2Work scheme, further assisting UK colleagues to commute to work in an environmentally friendly way. In July, the scheme limit increased from £2,000 to £4,000, making a wider range of bikes available, including electric bikes.

And the insurance giant has also signed up to the EV100 initiative, reporting annually on progress to switch its motor fleet to electric vehicles. It’s already committed for all new company cars in the UK, Ireland and Canada to be battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) vehicles by 2025. This will save up to 4,200 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Danny Harmer, chief people officer, Aviva, said: “Our people are hugely passionate about our net zero carbon by 2040 goal, so we are looking for practical ways to help them limit climate change. Aviva’s electric vehicle and Cycle2Work schemes are two ways we are supporting them to put this into practice.”