5 reasons why Greater Manchester’s leaders are embracing EV salary sacrifice
Greater Manchester has always been a blueprint for industrial evolution. Today, as the region aims to become carbon neutral by 2038, a full 12 years ahead of the national target,.The local business community is now driving the North West's path to 2038.
At our recent Leadership Event, we sat down with business leaders to discuss a pressing challenge: How do we balance sustainability goals with the need to offer competitive, cost-effective benefits in today's job market?
For Estelle, Head of People at Whisper TV, the answer was found in a seamless EV salary sacrifice. "I was just waiting for the catch," she noted. "And there was nothing." Her experience reflects a growing trend: transitioning from traditional "perks" to strategic, high-impact tools.
Here are five reasons why the most forward-thinking employers are making the switch.
1. Your employees will love it
Our workforce is changing. Research shows that 74% of employees want their employers to provide an EV salary sacrifice option, yet over half are hesitant to ask.
In a competitive regional hub like Manchester, staying one step ahead of your team's needs is essential. Leaders like Lucy, Global Senior Manager at WPP, have seen immediate uptake, with 40 cars already on the road. By offering the scheme proactively, firms aren't just providing a car; they are signalling that they understand the modern employee’s values.
2. It’s tax-efficient, for you and your people
In the current economic climate, "cost-neutral" value is the gold standard. EV salary sacrifice is a rare win-win for the balance sheet, as it can even save you money:
For Employees: Payments are taken from gross salary (before tax and NI), offering savings of up to 40%.
For Employers: Save on Class 1A National Insurance Contributions through lower gross salaries.
As Theresa, Head of Change at Verso Wealth Management, points out, this allows businesses to maximise the package without increasing the payroll budget.
3. Everything you need, in one package
A big part of the appeal for employees is just how simple the scheme is. A benefit only works if it actually makes life easier. The EV salary sacrifice is an all-in-one package, including car, charger, energy, insurance, maintenance and much more.
At MSC UK, the all-in-one nature of the scheme has had a huge impact. “It’s the fact that everything is just there – even insurance and maintenance,” said Andrew, the company’s Regional HR Manager. “Just having that peace of mind has been so powerful for us and for our employees.”
4. It’s easy to set up and run
One of the first things we hear from businesses is: “This all sounds great – but isn’t it going to be expensive or complicated to run?” The answer is simple: no. Our EV salary sacrifice is completely free to set up and is designed to be as hands-off as possible for you and your team.
For busy Greater Manchester Chamber members, the "heavy lifting" is handled by Octopus EV. From paperwork to portal management, the process is designed to be hands-off for HR teams, allowing leaders to focus on growth while the scheme runs in the background.
5. A Tangible Path to 2038
As if the cost savings weren’t enough, getting more of your people behind the wheel of electric cars can make a real dent in your organisation’s carbon footprint. Take Huel, for example: 70 of their employees have signed up to our scheme so far, saving them 261 tonnes of CO2. That’s like planting around 131,000 trees!
Sustainability is no longer a "nice-to-have" for North West firms; it is increasingly a requirement for procurement and tenders. Moving your team into EVs provides the hard data needed for ESG reporting.
The transition to electric isn't just a policy goal; it’s a competitive advantage for the region's employers. As we look toward a carbon-neutral future, the question for Chamber members isn't if they should offer EV salary sacrifice, but how quickly they can empower their teams to lead the charge.
Get started by checking out Octopus EV salary sacrifice today
