Huntswood implement flexible benefits to aid recruitment in conjunction with thomsons online benefits

Huntswood is a leading professional services firm, specialising in compliance, training and competence, customer services and consulting. The company is headquartered in Reading with other offices in Glasgow, Manchester and London. Their clients include most of the UK’s top financial services institutions.

The company has experienced strong growth since its inception in 2000 and is currently expanding rapidly. In fact they plan to increase their current workforce of 370 employees to over 500 by the end of 2005.

Albert Keeshan, Head of Human Capital at Huntswood explains: “As a fast growing organisation we faced the constant challenge of how to attract new recruits. Due to the nature of our business we recruit mainly from mature financial services organisations where employees typically receive a generous reward package. Up until now we have relied largely on using competitive upfront salaries to attract and retain employees, however we were in danger of losing good candidates.”

“On joining Huntswood last year, I was asked by my Chief Executive what we could do to change this situation. I proposed the idea of introducing flexible benefits as a potential solution. I felt that this would meet all our needs – it would give us an attractive reward package that would help us attract and retain the diverse workforce that is so critical to our continued growth and success”.

Following board approval for the proposal, Huntswood appointed thomsons online benefits to help them launch and communicate their flexible benefits scheme. In June the scheme branded “My Benefits” went live following a communication plan that included a poster campaign and benefit open days. Employees were able to enrol and select their benefits using the self-service solution "Perquisite™" implemented by thomsons online benefits.

Employees were given the opportunity to flex holiday, pension, death in service, permanent health insurance, tax free bicycles and childcare vouchers.

Albert Keeshan comments “We are delighted with the feedback and also the take up rate. So far everything indicates that we have made the correct decision in implementing flexible benefits, and that it will have an extremely positive impact on our business. We are now planning to extend the scheme by also introducing the home computer initiative in time for Christmas”.

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