Energy supplier SSE has launched a salary sacrifice scheme with the support of Lex Autolease.

The FTSE-listed business, which supplies renewable energy and gas to more than nine million homes and businesses throughout the UK, has received over 3,000 requests for vehicles from an eligible workforce of 20,000 staff since the beginning of May. Five hundred vehicles have already been ordered, including Audi, Ford, Toyota and Mercedes.

Salary sacrifice schemes provide employees with a fully managed car for a monthly fee, which includes insurance, service, maintenance and repair costs that are deducted from their salary before tax.

The partnership with Lex Autolease complements Perth-based SSE’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint with all vehicles selected under the scheme emitting less than 120g/km, and many under 99g/km.

Kevin O’Neil, development manager at SSE, said: “The salary sacrifice scheme is a great way to recognise the commitment and hard work of our staff, as part of our wider benefits package, but also support our core philosophy of sustainability and in reducing SSE’s carbon footprint.”

Mike Lauriello, senior corporate relationship manager at Lex Autolease, said: “The SSE scheme has been extremely well-received by staff in the first few weeks of its implementation and we expect to see further growth in participation figures.

“For many employees, it has provided the perfect opportunity to buy their first car, while also enabling them to take full advantage of the tax benefits that salary sacrifice presents.”

In August 2012, Lex Autolease supported the roll-out of SSE’s electric vehicle fleet of Vauxhall Amperas, the first of its kind in the country. The vehicles are used as pool vehicles to be used by staff between SSE’s UK sites and as ‘full time’ company cars for senior executives. The company has a combined fleet of over 7,500 vehicles.