And, thanks to a new digital innovation, getting the cards to colleagues has never been easier.
Businesses and other organisations can now send digital e-cards to multiple employees at the click of a button, either immediately or at a future date of their choice.
For teams based in locations across the country, one order for Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards can now be placed for multiple local areas to suit where people are based.
The digital development of the gift card programme has been carried out by Perth-based fintech Miconex. It delivers the gift card in partnership with Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the organisation behind the wider Scotland Loves Local drive, which urges people to build a better future for the places they call home by choosing local.
The initiative – with support from the Scottish Government – champions the critical need for people to get behind the businesses in their community to protect jobs and unlock investment, enhancing economic and environmental sustainability.
STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: “Just as we ask people as individuals to get behind the businesses in their community at Christmas – and all year-round – it’s vital the businesses support other enterprises in their community too.
“Using a Scotland Loves Local Gift Card as a thank-you to colleagues for their hard work is not only a welcome reward for the team, but an investment in the community of which they are part.
“That’s because the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card can only be spent in the region for which it is branded, meaning that money is locked into that area’s economy. It’s a gift for everyone.”
Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards are available in each of the country’s 32 local authority regions.
Gift cards can be tax-free
HM Revenue and Customs’ Trivial Tax Benefit means that gift cards can be used to reward employees tax-free, up to the value of £50.
That same amount in cash – given through any employer’s regular payroll – would be taxed.
A UK-wide survey by Miconex, involving employees, businesses and other organisations, found that 83% of those questioned preferred to receive a £50 gift card than cash through payroll.
Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards are already used by a string of major employers across the country as rewards and incentives for staff at all times of the year, but especially Christmas.
Support for choosing local across Scotland
That same research by Miconex found that more than half of respondents (56%) said an unexpected reward from their workplace would motivate them – with 69% revealing they thought that their employer could improve their reward and incentive offering.
And it confirmed that support for local areas can also help boost motivation.
More than nine-in-ten (94%) said that they feel it important for the organisation they work for to support local businesses.
A staggering 97%, meanwhile, said they would feel more engaged and motivated if their company showed care by thinking local first and supporting the community.
Colin Munro, managing director of Miconex, said: “Support for local is at an all time high with employees and organisations. We’re seeing an increasing trend for organisations to choose the Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards for employee rewards because of the multitude of benefits they provide, from unbeatable local choice for employees to tangible support for local.
“Corporate social responsibility is a particular focus for organisations with 84% of organisations in our recent research saying CSR has become more important to their organisation over the past 12 months.
“Our investment in digital technology is key to our mission to make support for local easy so that even more Scottish firms can make the switch to their regional Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, powering our Scottish communities.”
Colin Munro MD of fintech Miconex
Scotland Loves Local at Christmas
With festivals, markets and shopping events taking place in communities across the country during the countdown to Christmas, the Scotland Loves Local team is encouraging people to spend with local shops, makers and venues before turning to national suppliers – whether in person or online.
Kimberley said: “I spent decades working in retail and know from personal experience the critical difference that a strong Christmas makes to businesses of all kinds.
“Every time we choose local and support an enterprise in our communities, we are directly supporting not only the jobs of our friends, family and neighbours. Not only that, but we are making an investment in the places we call home.
“Stronger businesses will attract other investment which will revitalise our town centres in all sorts of ways – making them even better places not only to work, but to live and visit too.
“The opportunity that each and every one of us has to make a difference – either individually or corporately – cannot be underestimated.”
Not only does the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card make supporting local simple, but it also gives recipients unbeatable local choice.
They can choose from a broad suite of places in which they can spend them – from shops and restaurants to salons and local attractions.
