Big Communications, one of the largest advertising agencies in the Midlands has launched a new flexible rewards package for their 50 employees entitled "The Big Takeaway".

Big Communications decided to launch an employee benefits package to ensure that their 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-to-medium sized business they wanted to offer a "blue chip" benefits scheme that reflected their blue chip client base which includes Alliance & Leicester, Virgin Cola, and WKD.

Big Communications selected thomsons online benefits to:

• Source and design their benefits;
• Assist in the creation of a unique benefits brand;
• Communicate the new brand to employees;
• Implement their "Perquisite™" software to enable employees to enrol into their benefits, and then to use and manage their benefits whenever they wish.

The brand created was "The Big Takeaway" with a theme centring around a Chinese meal. It was launched with desk drops on each employee's desk containing a branded takeaway box containing 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.

The benefits offered included the following:

• A contributory Group Personal Pension;
• An additional 3 days holiday entitlement at Christmas;
• The 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 such as:

• Discounted holidays;
• Travel insurance;
• Wine club;
• Dental insurance;
• Private medical insurance;
• Hospital cash plan;
• Champneys health spa discounts;
• Pet insurance;
• Eyecare vouchers.

Mark Firth, Director of Big Communications comments: "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."

More press releases from Thomsons Online Benefits:
Huntswood implement flexible benefits to aid recruitment

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