Overview of benefits available for colleagues based in the UK:
Pi Day
Global annual company holiday on March 14th
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)We offer a free EAP to help with personal and professional issues affecting work performance, productivity, health, and well-being. Receive professional advice on family matters, substance abuse, relationship challenges, grief, stress, or financial concerns. Speak with experts by phone or in person.
To access the program, we recommend downloading the Unum app for direct service access.
By phone: 0808 3043 698
Wellbeing App
Help@Hand is a wellbeing app from Unum, our life insurance provider, offering a confidential digital health service that includes:
Remote GPs: Up to 20-minute video consultations with UK doctors, available anytime.
Mental health support: Unlimited therapist access, booked as needed.
Physiotherapy: Treatment plans from physiotherapists, usually via video.
Medical second opinions: Consultations with UK private specialists after a diagnosis.
Life, money, and wellbeing support: Guidance on life and work issues, including financial, legal, and family matters, plus a 24/7 confidential helpline.
For a login invitation, contact Nathan Dinsley in the People Team.
HealthVitality Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
UK colleagues are eligible for PMI, from day 1 of employment. Digital Science will pay for your membership, however it is considered a taxable benefit-in-kind, so you will need to pay tax on the benefit cost.
All eligible colleagues will receive a welcome email from Vitality, which will include your membership number and invite you to log in to ‘MemberZone’, where all of your details, cover and Vitality Programme information is housed.
Life Insurance 4x base salary
As a UK Digital Science colleague, you are covered by a Life Assurance policy (Death in Service) from Unum. More details are available at https://www.unum.co.uk/employee-benefits.
This policy provides a tax-free lump sum of four times your annual basic salary to a nominated beneficiary upon your death. The scheme is registered, and permanent or fixed-term employees are insured at no cost from their first day of employment.
You can nominate beneficiaries using the Expression of Wish Form for Life Assurance, which you completed upon joining and is stored in HiBob. To update this, contact us via People Team Support ticket.
Here is the entity name & policy number: DSRSL - 110111441
Group Income Protection
If you’re a permanent colleague who has successfully completed your probation period and you’re not within 13 weeks of your state pension age we’ll automatically insure you for illness or injury which would prevent you from working. Our scheme is provided by Unum and aims to give you an income of up to 75% of your salary before you became ill or were injured, however we refer all requests to our insurers for assessment. Their decision is final. Payments under the scheme begin after 13 weeks’ sickness and can continue for 5 years, unless you recover or reach state pension age.
Eye care contributions
Employees using computers should have annual eyesight tests.
Digital Science covers one sight test (up to £25) and contributes £55 for glasses or contact lenses, limited to one test and contribution per 12-month period.
To claim, schedule a test at your optician, pay, and keep the receipt(s). Complete the Sight Test Form.docx and send it via People Team Support ticket.
We will reimburse the test cost (up to £25) and the £55 contribution for glasses or lenses via payroll. The test reimbursement will be NI-free, while the glasses or lenses contribution will be taxed unless you provide a signed note from your optician stating they are solely for VDU use.
Flu Vaccinations
Digital Science will offer free seasonal flu vaccination vouchers, which can be redeemed by booking an appointment at Boots pharmacies across the country.
The People Team will send an email directly and you will be required to sign up for this annual benefit. The flu vaccination vouchers will be emailed directly to you once the flu vaccines arrive in the stores.
Discounts & Schemes75% Discount on books via Pan MacMillan
All UK colleagues have a discount of 75% off, you can find the books available on these links:
Pan Macmillan and Priddy books
Call 01256 302692, select option 1 and option 1 again for Non-Trade
Quote Account No: 001142607
Pay over the phone
Deliveries will be made to the London Office once a week or you can pay extra over the phone for postage to your address: please ask Non-Trade any further questions on postage and delivery
Home/Tech Scheme with Currys and IKEA
Our scheme offers discounts of up to 12% on home and tech products via National Insurance, with payments spread into monthly instalments deducted from wages.
Choose from thousands of IKEA products, including:
Furniture, Kitchenware, Tableware, Lighting, Bathroom products, Outdoor living
Select from a wide range at Currys, including:
Phones, Smart health devices, White goods, Gaming equipment, Photography gear
For details, click here.
To enrol, visit the Home & Tech scheme website and follow the instructions: https://www.techscheme.co.uk/51cb50
Please provide your payroll number using your Employee ID from your HiBob profile.
You must have completed your probation period to participate.
Payroll Giving
Starting 1st May 2025, we launched a payroll giving scheme for UK colleagues with StC Payroll Giving, allowing tax-efficient donations directly from salaries to chosen charities.
The scheme supports regular donations to any UK-registered charity, enhancing contributions with tax relief. UK colleagues can join from their first day, even during probation. We encourage you to support your favourite charities!
The monthly donation deadline is around the 15th.
To get started, click here to visit the donation platform.
Alternatively, scan the barcode below using your smartphone to access the platform directly:
Bike Scheme
Our cycle-to-work scheme lets you buy a bike and accessories tax-free, up to £2,500, with payments spread over 12 months deducted from your wages.
More details can be found here.
To enroll, visit the Digital Science Cycle scheme website using the link below and follow the instructions:
http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/51cb50
You'll need your payroll number; use your Employee ID from your HiBob profile.
You must have completed your probation period to participate. If the bike isn't primarily for commuting, a taxable benefit applies. After submitting your request, fill in the form below and email it to Nathan Dinsley - Senior Reward Analyst.
Form - Cycle to work - Qualifying journey condition.docx
Season Ticket Loan
Digital Science offers an interest-free loan (up to a maximum limit of £9000) to cover the cost of an annual season ticket/travel card.
To apply for this loan please complete a Season Ticket Loan Application Form and send it to us via People Team Support ticket. Repayments will be deducted in 12 monthly instalments directly from your salary (post-tax deductions).
To be eligible to for a season ticket loan you must have passed your probation period.
Pension PlanScottish Widows Pension Plan
We offer a Group Personal Pension Plan (GPPP) to all UK employees, managed by Scottish Widows.
UK colleagues aged 22 to State Pension age (check your state pension age) earning over £10,000 will be automatically enrolled in the salary sacrifice pension scheme three months after their start date (the "postponement period"). You can opt-in during this period.
After enrolment, you have one month from receiving a letter from Scottish Widows to opt out and receive a full refund of contributions.
Pension contributions are as follows:
Service Duration |
Employee Contribution |
Employer Contribution |
|---|---|---|
Auto-enrolled after 3 months |
3.5% of basic salary |
5.5% of basic salary |
Under 10 years' service |
3.5% of basic salary |
5.5% of basic salary |
10 - 19 years' service |
3.5% of basic salary |
8.5% of basic salary |
Your monthly contribution will be automatically deducted from your salary based on your basic pay.
For full plan details and opt-out information, visit the Scottish Widows employee portal. You will receive login details upon enrolment.
If you have other pension pots from previous employment and are considering consolidation, please review this guide.
For questions about your pension scheme or to change your contribution level, contact Haris Imran, who administers our pension scheme through our payroll company:
Haris Imran; [email protected]
**From 1st September 2023, we changed the administration of the UK pension scheme provided by Scottish Widows by introducing salary sacrifice on contributions. Further information and FAQs can be found here.**
Useful Links
Scottish Widows - Salary sacrifice savings calculator
Scottish Widows - Portal log in
Video - What is a salary sacrifice pension?
Pension FAQs
What is salary sacrifice pension?
Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where the employee agrees to reduce their earnings by an amount equal to their pension contributions. The employer then agrees to pay the total pension contributions. So, any contributions paid to Scottish Widows will be treated as an employer only payment. Using salary sacrifice means that the employee pension contributions are exempt from National Insurance (NI). This will increase the take home pay and you can find more information here.
What are the advantages of salary sacrifice pension?
It reduces the level of National Insurance paid
Increases net take home pay for the same pension contributions
If you are a higher rate tax payer, by giving up salary and allowing your employer to make the pension contribution on your behalf, it is made gross and has the effect of receiving higher rate tax relief immediately or may result in your reduction into a lower tax bracket
Are there any disadvantages of salary sacrifice pension?
Whilst unlikely, some lenders, including mortgage providers, may use the reduced salary amount to calculate your affordability when considering lending. However you may be required to provide your payslips which detail any pension contribution irrespective of how it has been deducted.
By reducing your salary, it may reduce your entitlement to earnings related benefits such as statutory maternity pay and statutory sick pay
What are the pension contribution amounts at Digital Science?
The employee contributions are 3.5% and the employer contributions at Digital Science are 5.5%. Employer contribution will increase to 8.5% after 10 years service. You may choose to increase the amount you contribute. To do so, please contact Jeffrey Henrys.
What salary is used to calculate the contributions?
Your salary is your contractual gross salary before deductions. It is this amount that is used in the calculation of all salary-related pay and benefits including pension contributions, any annual bonus and benefits including income protection and life insurance.
Variable pay components such as annual bonus or commissions are not considered for these calculations.
Is Digital Science reinvesting the employer NI savings into employee’s pensions?
There is no simple mechanism to directly reinvest the savings into each individual’s pension and so Digital Science will be reinvesting the National Insurance savings it may save into our UK benefits offering which will be communicated in coming months.
How will this change show on my payslip?
Your pension contribution will show as a deduction from your gross pay before the tax and national insurance are calculated. Previously it was deducted after tax and national insurance with a basic rate tax credit applied.
You can find an example of how these changes will look on a payslip here.
Do I need to inform HMRC about this change?
There is no requirement to inform HMRC as the pension contributions and tax and national insurance deductions are reported by Digital Science through payroll.
Does this mean that I need to file a tax return?
The change will not affect whether you are required to file a self-assessment tax return. If you do not file a tax return now there will be no change to this. If you are unsure you can contact HMRC on 0300 200 3300.
If you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer you may wish to file a return to claim the additional tax relief as it is only possible to apply basic rate (20%) tax relief through payroll without salary sacrifice. You can make amendments to your tax return up to four years after the end of the tax year in question.
Who do I contact to discuss changing my investment funds?
Please log into your Scottish Widows account. If you need further guidance or support please reach out to Jeffreys Henry: [email protected] / [email protected]
How do I increase my personal pension % contribution?
Please reach out to Yasmin Chowdhury in HR and she will be happy to arrange for your personal % contribution change through payroll and advise Jeffreys Henry who will let Scottish Widows know. If you would like further advise on your personal pension contribution please reach out to Haris at Jeffreys Henry; [email protected]
How do I get access to the Scottish Widows portal?
You should have received a welcome pack from Scottish Widows, inviting you to sign up to the portal and providing you with your policy number. You can access the portal to view your Scottish Widows pension here. Please contact Scottish Widows if you need support with signing up to the portal.
How do I calculate my individual monthly/annual savings using the salary sacrifice?
You can access a salary sacrifice calculator on the Scottish Widows website here (please enter 0 when asked for the % of Employer NI saving to pension and you can find the pension contributions above)
Can’t find what you are looking for? Contact us via People Team Support ticket.