Colleague financial services
In 2023, we introduced a range of services and support to promote greater financial inclusion, including free shares, financial education sessions, and tools to help individuals plan and budget more effectively.
Financial inclusion and wellbeing
We introduced a new Save As You Earn Scheme in 2023 alongside the Free Shares program, which we have continued in 2025. This program ensures that all our colleagues receive £500 worth of free shares, providing a tangible benefit to their financial security and future.
In 2023, we introduced Stream, a platform to improve workers’ financial wellbeing by giving them access to fair financial services based on flexible pay. This platform enables people to track their earnings in real-time, allowing them to understand how much they will be paid and plan and budget more effectively. 33% of colleagues have now enrolled in Stream, with a significant number also setting up savings pots.
In Spain, our Northgate Savings Club offers colleagues a wellness platform featuring discounts, personalised offers, and exclusive promotions with top brands. Uptake has been strong, with 57% of colleagues registered and 40% making purchases.
Providing our colleagues with financial tools, support, and education has been at the heart of our wellbeing strategy. As the rise of basic living costs has continued, inevitably, this has the potential to create financial distress and, in turn, can greatly impact an individual’s mental health. Additionally, ethnic minority workers, in particular, feel excluded from tools and credit systems that could strengthen personal finances.
By providing tools such as Stream, we aim to help colleagues enhance their financial resilience by encouraging them to save more and educating them on effective money management.
Joanne Foster
Head of Rewards and Wellbeing