SUPERMARKET giant Somerfield has opened up access to its personal contract purchase scheme to all of its 71,000 employees. The company has developed the new staff benefits package with BCH Vehicle Management, who already supplies Somerfield's core company car fleet. Russell Dodds, Somerfield's head of compensation and benefits, said the group wanted a car scheme that would benefit all employees, and offer an alternative for company car drivers looking to take a cash option in lieu of their car.

'BCH's flexible PCP scheme, Autochoice, can offer all of our employees many of the benefits often only associated with driving a company car,' he said. 'They can fund new and used vehicles via PCP, hire purchase or outright purchase on contracts of between one and four years, with no deposit necessary.'