ID006 Green Salary Sacrifice Scheme

The Idea

Keele University has a significant opportunity to strengthen its sustainability leadership by expanding staff access to environmentally beneficial technologies through enhanced salary sacrifice schemes. As a major employer with strong commitments to environmental responsibility and Net Zero, Keele is well placed to leverage its scale to negotiate favourable partnerships that enable staff to purchase or lease electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels for their homes and domestic battery storage solutions.

These technologies not only help individuals reduce their environmental footprint but also support wider regional and institutional carbon reduction goals. Many universities and public sector organisations already operate EV leasing schemes, but Keele could go further by providing a more comprehensive package that includes home energy technologies.

By supporting staff in transitioning to clean transport and energy-efficient homes, the University would directly influence emissions associated with commuting, a key challenge in achieving Net Zero. Offering these opportunities via salary sacrifice schemes would make them more financially accessible by spreading costs and providing tax efficiencies. Staff would benefit from reduced energy bills, improved home sustainability and cleaner transport options.

This approach aligns strongly with Keele’s values, reinforces its position as a sector leader in sustainability and provides tangible benefits to staff and the environment.

By drawing on models already used across higher education, the public sector and the private sector, Keele can adopt a scheme with proven viability while tailoring it to local sustainability priorities. Consultation with other organisations offering similar schemes should be undertaken.

Although future Treasury policy may reduce the tax advantages of salary sacrifice arrangements, the long-term environmental and staff-benefit case remains strong. As the scheme grows, the University could also explore emerging innovations such as vehicle-to-grid energy storage, where staff EVs help support campus energy resilience in return for lower-cost charging. Together, these opportunities demonstrate the potential for a comprehensive, future-focused sustainability benefits package.

Regardless of whether Keele offers a scheme to support EV uptake, demand for EV charging infrastructure is likely to increase significantly over the next five to ten years from staff, students, residents and tenants. Planning for this growth should form part of the University’s wider sustainability strategy.

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

Keele has a strong reputation for sustainability, and enabling staff to adopt EVs and home energy technologies would meaningfully advance its Net Zero ambitions. Commuting emissions and home energy use indirectly contribute to the University’s environmental impact, so supporting staff in reducing their carbon footprint directly complements institutional goals.

As a large employer, Keele can negotiate favourable terms unavailable to individuals, offering staff access to cleaner, more affordable technologies. This initiative demonstrates leadership, enhances Keele’s appeal as an employer and translates sustainability values into practical action. It is a strategic opportunity to align staff benefits with environmental commitments.

This initiative directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), by enabling staff to adopt cleaner commuting and home energy technologies. The scheme would allow Keele to quantify progress through measurable reductions in commuting emissions and estimated household energy savings, strengthening its position as a sustainability leader and providing clear evidence for external reporting and recognition.

How We Would Implement This Idea

Keele could begin by partnering with reputable EV leasing providers, renewable energy companies and home battery suppliers to create a unified sustainability benefits package. Keele already works with a number of leading industrial partners and could potentially use the initiative to broaden its partnership portfolio.

Through salary sacrifice mechanisms, staff could lease EVs or purchase solar panels and batteries with tax advantages and lower upfront costs. A phased rollout could start with EV leasing, building on established models, and expand to home energy solutions once partnerships and procurement processes are finalised.

Clear guidance, supplier showcases and advice sessions would help colleagues make informed decisions.

A short staff survey, supported by indicative costings, would help shape the scheme by identifying genuine demand for EVs, solar panels and home battery solutions. Implementation would also require clear guidance on agreement terms, including what happens if a staff member leaves during a contract, to ensure transparency and confidence.

For EV adoption to grow, Keele will need to expand and improve the reliability of its charging infrastructure, supported by fair and consistent usage policies. Partnerships should be selected transparently, prioritising organisations with strong environmental and ethical credentials and, where possible, engaging local or regional suppliers.

A phased rollout beginning with EV leasing would allow the University to build operational experience before extending the scheme to more complex home energy technologies.

What Success Would Look Like

Success would mean a significant increase in staff adoption of EVs and home renewable technologies, resulting in measurable reductions in commuting-related and household carbon emissions.

Staff would report high satisfaction with the affordability and ease of access provided by the scheme, and participation rates would grow steadily over time. Keele’s progress towards Net Zero would accelerate, supported by transparent data on emissions reductions linked to the initiative.

The University would strengthen its reputation as a sustainability leader and responsible employer, demonstrating that institutional values translate into meaningful, practical support for staff and the environment.

Success would be evidenced by measurable reductions in commuting emissions, increased staff uptake of EVs and home renewable technologies and strong satisfaction with the affordability and reliability of the scheme. Reliable, well-maintained charging infrastructure and fair pricing policies would be essential to sustaining high levels of participation.

Over time, the University would be able to produce aggregated emissions-reduction data and uptake figures that strengthen sustainability reporting and demonstrate that Keele’s environmental commitments translate into meaningful, practical impact.