Herefordshire-based payment solution provider allpay has officially added a new local gift card to its range on its reward and recognition platform, following a successful pilot.
After positive employee feedback, allpay has introduced a local gift card for Hereford as a permanent employee reward option. HR leaders at the firm say the card has been hugely popular, with staff from across the business issuing the local gift card as a reward.
The 300-strong allpay team can now choose the Hereford Gift Card as a reward in exchange for points within the company’s reward and recognition platform, and will be available for staff year-round.
Managers at allpay are given a virtual reward pot of money based on the number of people in their team. Employees earn points for exceptional performance, demonstrating allpay values of agility, collaboration, and integrity, with each point representing £1 in value.
Nicola Everett, head of people at allpay, said: “Our main objective is offering employees choice and flexibility in their benefits package. With a diverse workforce, we have found that different people want different things at different points in their lives, so it’s vital that we provide a range of options for staff in their rewards and incentives.
“Around two years ago, we added the Hereford Gift Card, which is part of the town and city gift card concept, to the platform because we wanted to add local options to sit alongside the national gift cards already available. allpay’s founder, Tony Killeen, is passionate about supporting the local community.
“As a major employer in the area, supporting local through initiatives like the Hereford Gift Card provides a tangible investment to the local economy, because the cards have to be spent in Hereford, and this, in turn, contributes to local employment opportunities and community vibrancy. Supporting the Hereford Gift Card gives us the opportunity to support our community, investing back into the city where we operate.”
Supporting local
Mike Truelove, chief executive of Hereford BID, said: “In Hereford, the Hereford Gift Card can be spent with around 125 local businesses, including the big brands people know like Cosy Club, M&S, New Look, Odeon and Wagamama, and the independent businesses they love like The Beefy Boys, Hereford Beer House, The Green Dragon Hotel and more. We’re proud that allpay sees the value of adding our local gift card as a choice for staff on a permanent basis.”
“The fact that the card is supporting a wide variety of businesses from different sectors, including retail, hospitality, health & beauty, leisure and attractions, is great because it gives employees our choice of all those different sectors too,” Everett added.
The allpay Hereford Gift Card is part of the award-winning Town & City Gift Card concept from Miconex. Colin Munro, managing director of Miconex, explained: “It’s fantastic to see a large organisation like allpay successfully trialling their local Town & City Gift Card for their rewards and incentives, and it being so positively received by employees.
“In our 2023 research, over 98 per cent of people said they’re keen to support local and 94 per cent of organisations said supporting local was important when planning rewards/incentives. Adding a local gift card option to your reward and recognition platform is a way for organisations to make a tangible, positive impact on the local economy, by making it easy for staff to shop local.”
