Newcastle Hospitals appointed NHS CPC Drive, in partnership with Tusker, to provide a salary sacrifice car scheme for more than 14,000 eligible full-time staff in June 2012 after going out to tender to find a new supplier.  

The all-inclusive package includes all servicing and maintenance, fully comprehensive motor insurance, tyres, annual Road Fund Licence and breakdown cover.

Staff nurse, Rachel Balls, is now one of several hundred satisfied employees who have taken advantage of the hugely cost-effective offering.

‘I particularly liked the fact that everything was included,’ said Rachel, ‘as my insurance and breakdown cover on my BMW was starting to become very expensive.’

She placed an online order for a new Nissan Juke Visia 1.5dCi SUV 110PS.All cars are built to order based on each employees preferred specifications such as colour, trim and any additional options. CPC Drive stayed in touch with her throughout the process and her brand new car was delivered to her home three months later. 

There’s no carbon ceiling on vehicles that staff can choose under the scheme, but there is a financial disincentive to select those emitting more than 120g/km CO2, in support of the Trust’s Carbon Management Strategy.

Staff can view and quote on all the cars available under the scheme through a user-friendly online site and are also kept in touch with the latest developments about the scheme through a series of web bulletins, emails and payslip attachments, while several large staff benefits events have also been held with around 1000-1200 attending each event.

The salary sacrifice car arrangements are provided in conjunction with NHS CPC Drive, the health service fleet management offering which provides NHS Trusts with a range of fleet management services, including car leasing, salary sacrifice cars, the management of grey fleet vehicles and expenses management, and for which Tusker is the preferred supplier.