Nottingham City Council recently gained national recognition when it won an Award for its ‘innovative and clever’ employee benefits programme – Works Perks.

The Employee Benefits Awards seek to recognise, reward and celebrate best practice amongst employers in this field.

The council beat stiff competition to win the category Most efficient application of tax efficient benefits, for its employee scheme which includes greentravel2work, giving staff the option to pay for an annual bus pass through 12 monthly reductions from their salary – saving on tax and national insurance. Employees can also order childcare vouchers and save money when buying a bike.

Almost a quarter of City Council employees have taken up at least one of the benefits on offer through Work Perks, coinciding with a 6% decrease in employee turnover.

The council also came runner up in a new category; Most effective use of reward and Most successful new benefits launch (green travel to work).

Councillor Eunice Campbell, Executive Member for Human Resources, Customer Services and Consultation said: "We are proud to have been recognised for this Award and to get the recognition on a national level; Works Perks is extremely popular and shows our commitment to providing innovative initiatives which are valued by our employees.

"To get short listed for three awards and go on to win one is a fantastic result and demonstrates that Nottingham City Council is regarded as a leader in employee benefits provision."

Other 2008 Awards winners include Reuters, Microsoft, Lloyds TSB and ASDA. For more information on who won what Award and why, visit: www.employeebenefits.co.uk/item/7301/23/5/3