Discovery Trust is boosting the recruitment and retention of staff while furthering its sustainability credentials, thanks to the introduction of a Tusker salary sacrifice car benefit scheme.

Discovery Trust has introduced an energy bill salary sacrifice scheme at the same time

The trust, a Leicestershire-based partnership of 13 primary schools and two Special Educational Needs schools, selected the scheme to bolster the benefits provision for its staff across all levels of the organisation.

Discovery Trust found the recruitment and retention of staff becoming an increasing issue, as the rise in hybrid working environments in other industries challenged the traditional view of the teaching sector as offering the ultimate in flexibility, with the rise in hybrid working environments.

The new scheme is providing a helpful boost to the trust’s appeal as an employer while the Tusker scheme set-up enables vehicles to be offered to a wide range of employees, from basic-rate taxpayers up to more senior management.

In an added boost for staff, Discovery Trust has introduced an energy bill salary sacrifice scheme at the same time. This means that as well as benefiting from a brand-new and more environmentally friendly electric vehicle for a fixed monthly sum while saving on their tax and NI, staff can also charge their vehicles in the same tax-efficient manner, too.

As the amount for the car is taken before tax and NI, the employer can also save money in their NI contributions, as well as with pensions.

The scheme was spearheaded by Discovery’s chief finance and operations officer, Steve Orton, who had introduced a Tusker scheme for an educational trust as part of a previous role.

Orton commented: “Setting up the Tusker scheme was a no-brainer, it was a really simple process which was delivered sooner than we expected. It all worked really well, and the Tusker team were very supportive, they understand the challenges that schools and staff have, I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”

Alison Argall, business development director at Tusker, commented: “Discovery Trust, like many other multi-academy trusts, recognises that the Tusker scheme can enhance their employment package, while enabling the schools to save money through Class 1 NI and pension contributions.”