ESPO framework extends access to Wider Plan’s benefit offering

Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation has recently launched their new framework agreement for the provision of employee benefits, selecting employee benefits company, Wider Plan, as a supplier for all of the appointed benefit schemes. This continues Wider Plan’s long-standing relationship with ESPO, as the previous sole supplier for their expired staff benefits framework for childcare vouchers and an employee benefits and discounts portal.

The new framework was developed to provide an efficient and effective way for public sector bodies to procure a wider range of employee benefit schemes, and it’s already being received with keen interest.

The framework is available for use nationally by any public sector body in the UK and covers a selection of salary sacrifice schemes and voluntary benefits, including cycle-to-work, childcare vouchers, holiday purchase, qualifications and workplace training, travel to work, healthcare and wellbeing, employee discounts and a fully-managed benefits portal.

In total, sixteen suppliers were successfully awarded on to the framework, enabling clients the choice of which employee benefits supplier provides the best value schemes for their organisation.

Wider Plan were the only supplier awarded a position on the framework for all appointed individual benefit schemes and a fully-managed employee benefits service, including innovative schemes such as Wider Skills and Workplace Transport.

We’re really pleased to have been appointed again – the framework takes away the administration of procuring employee benefits for public sector employers, saving them both time and money. With the efficient call-off procedures, employers will be able to gain almost instant access to our full range of employee benefits, and with salary sacrifice benefits offering such significant National Insurance savings for employers, the earlier they can get on board the better.

Alison Chalmers, Wider Plan