UK electricity distributor UK Power Networks has partnered with Equipsme to provide GP access, physiotherapy and private diagnosis and treatment for more than 5,000 frontline employees.
UK Power Networks was introduced to Equipsme by broker Mercer Marsh Benefits as a hybrid option sitting between private medical insurance and cash plans. The Equipsme scheme provides 24/7 GP access through Health Hero, alongside diagnosis, treatment and physiotherapy delivered by AXA Health.
HR Services and Employee Relations head of reward Steve Remnant says: “All our feedback was telling us health benefits were something people were very interested in. They were struggling to get in to see anyone at their GP or local hospital, and we felt we needed to step in to help with that.
“Everyone at UK Power Networks has access to a cash plan, an EAP, and even occupational health services. We’ve also got a traditional PMI plan, but as with most organisations it only covers those in the most senior roles. So there was this clear gap in terms of practical, physical diagnostic and treatment services for the wider population.
“The equitable thing for us to do was to modernise and equalise our health support – and that’s where Equipsme has come in. It was the nearest fit to getting full-blown PMI for every single person in our organisation, without breaking the budget.”
Remnant added: “We wanted something that would give people a fast-track to a GP or a consultant, get them an early diagnosis and swift intervention. With Equipsme our people are now more likely to be seen for diagnostic testing and medical or therapeutic treatment for things like MSK conditions in days or weeks rather than months.
“Cleary that’s going to impact our sickness absence rates – which is great – but not why we’ve made this investment. For us, it’s really about making sure we’re the sort of employer that people want to work for, and an attractive proposition in the modern market. We think these are the things businesses absolutely should be doing to support people, attract the best candidates, and retain them.”
Equipsme chief executive Matthew Reed says: “We work with forward-thinking, people-first businesses to make sure health insurance works for more of the workforce – not just those in leadership.
“Equipsme plans are designed to be cost-effective and practical for whole teams, and respond to the everyday health issues that are having the biggest impact on employees -and on their ability to do their jobs. We’ve been delighted to be able to roll that out for so many employees at UK Power Networks.”
