Nine providers team up to launch UK Employee Benefits Alliance

The organisation has been formed in a bid to give the sector a collective voice and aims to make the case for workplace benefits as an important part of the UK's economic growth and workforce infrastructure.

UKEBA's founding members include Blackhawk Network (BHN), Electric Car Scheme (ECS), Tusker, Reward Gateway Edenred, Each Person, Isio, Widerplan, Pluxee, and Zest – firms that collectively provide workplace benefits to more than 20 million employees and support around 100,000 UK employers.

The alliance said its immediate priorities will be calling on the government to expand the remit of the minister for the future of work to include workplace benefits, reward and wellbeing.

It said wider priorities will be working with government to protect established workplace benefit arrangements and identify new ways workplace support can help deliver wider economic and social priorities.

With the Autumn Budget approaching, the alliance has also called for a stable tax and policy environment, with any future reforms informed by evidence and meaningful engagement with employers, providers and employees.

UKEBA chair and Blackhawk Network Europe head of partnerships Terry O'Reardon said: "Employee benefits positively impact the lives of millions of working people, but their contribution is much bigger than is often recognised. They help households manage their finances, stay healthy and in work, and help businesses recruit and retain the people they need.

"At a time when the country needs to improve living standards and productivity, we should be making it easier for employers to invest in their people, not harder.

"That is why we have created UKEBA. We want to bring the sector's experience and evidence to the table, working constructively with policymakers and employers, to ensure workplace benefits can play their full part in supporting working people, creating stronger businesses and driving economic growth."