Zenith has launched a new Salary Sacrifice scheme with NATS, the air navigation services provider, to enable employees to save money on environmentally efficient cars.

NATS has an established ‘Acting Responsibly’ brand value that puts the environment at the heart of their operation, alongside safety and efficiency. This scheme is part of a wider programme to support NATS staff in making low emission travel choices.

NATS’ Low Emission Car Scheme is the first Salary Sacrifice vehicle benefit NATS has offered its employees. NATS awarded the contract to Zenith, in order to enhance the reward package for NATS employees based across the UK and support their low carbon aspirations. The package includes maintenance, insurance, road tax and roadside assistance. NATS employees also have the option to order a secondary car for a spouse or partner.

The key objectives for NATS were to encourage its employees to select low emission cars, so emissions on the scheme are capped at 120g/km. As well as reducing the company’s carbon footprint, this will increase the savings available to employees because the lower the CO2 emissions produced by a Salary Sacrifice car, the lower the Benefit in Kind tax payable.

The scheme was launched on 1st March 2012 and Zenith has taken more than 100 orders for new vehicles within the first month following the launch. The average CO2 emissions for all the cars on order are 107g/km and more than a third have emissions of under 100g/km.

The most popular models on order are the BMW 1 Series and 3 Series, followed by the new 5 door Honda Civic.

Ian Jopson, head of environment for NATS comments: “With our cycle to work, shuttle bus and car-share schemes we work hard in NATS to support sustainable travel options. This is a great scheme because it gives us another way to reduce environmental impacts and it can save money too. It's a win-win.”