Case Study: Easibathe invests in staff wellbeing with tax-efficient Death in Service scheme
Easibathe is a specialist provider of bathroom adaptations in North East England, which prides itself on excellent customer service and product quality. Its access division, Easiaccess, installs and supplies its products nationwide and has established itself as a leading provider of access solutions across a variety of sectors.
The business was founded in 1993 by owners Denise and Martin Cook, before registering as a limited company in 1999, and has since gone from strength to strength over the last 25+ years, with current revenue of £12.5m.
Whilst still very much a family business and staying true to the principle of seeking to make a positive difference to people’s lives from the products and services on offer, Easibathe and Easiaccess continue to strengthen, with an eye on further product developments and exploring related market sectors.
Last year, Easibathe was looking for a new auditor, and, having assessed the market, moved to Armstrong Watson, which now looks after the business's tax and payroll too.
With a growing number of staff, Easibathe recognises the importance of its employees’ wellbeing and protection, and as a result, chose to engage with Armstrong Watson to explore additional employee benefits.
With guidance from Financial Planning Consultant Hayley Towlson, Managing Director Paul Pattinson decided to implement a Death in Service scheme, which provides the business’s 67 employees with a benefits package that goes beyond salary, annual leave and pension contributions. Strengthening its overall offering not only supports staff wellbeing but also positions the business to attract and retain top talent.
The Death in Service (Group Life) scheme will provide a lump sum to an employee’s next of kin if they pass away during employment. It is also a tax-efficient benefit: it is an allowable business expense, attracts no employer National Insurance Contributions, and is not a Benefit in Kind for employees.
The scheme is not just limited to adding benefit to Easibathe’s employees in the event of death; it also includes additional perks such as well-being services, health and financial support, and even lifestyle benefits like shopping discounts.
Hayley said: “Paul was very receptive to exploring options that could enhance the employee remuneration package and ensure staff have access to benefits that provide ongoing value—not just support when things go wrong.
“Rising business costs, particularly with the recent increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC), can make this a real challenge. It was therefore rewarding to help Paul by offering a solution that benefits employees whilst also being tax-efficient for the business and without adding to the NIC burden.
“A death in service scheme provides an individual's loved ones/next of kin with a financial safety net should the worst happen, providing financial security during what is likely to be a very difficult time. Having this peace of mind and access to wider health and wellbeing benefits shows the investment the business has in its people.”
Managing Director Paul Pattinson has been pleased with the service he and Easibathe have received in their first few months with Armstrong Watson.
“We have always truly valued the contribution our staff make to the success of our business, and in recent years have made some tangible changes to reflect this, such as increasing our standard and loyalty-based holiday entitlement, but we knew there were other things we could consider.
“Working with Hayley, it was good to consider things from the ground up, appraising what was available and the pros and cons of each. Our approach is about building our employee offering over time, and we know Hayley and the team at Armstrong Watson will be on hand in the years to come, to support us as we do this.”
Michael Morris, Audit & Assurance Partner, added: “We’re delighted to have Easibathe on board as a client and look forward to our relationship developing further and helping them with their aspirations. They are a very successful business with wonderful people and a great range of products. Having grown for several years now, they have some great ideas to push the business to the next level in the coming years.”
