Gloucester-based international web hosting firm, Fasthosts, is championing local retailers over mainstream giants, by switching to a local gift card for its monthly staff rewards in support of city businesses.
The company, which is based at Gloucester's flagship mixed-use development The Forum, has moved from using Amazon vouchers for its 'Star of the Month' staff rewards to the Gloucester Gift Card, which can be spent in more than 180 shops, restaurants, salons, attractions and services across the city.
The gift card is part of the Town & City Gift Card programme from international firm Miconex, which seeks to provide communities in the UK and Ireland with a tangible means to retain spend in their local area, by diverting it back into local businesses. It was introduced to the city by Gloucester BID in 2019.
As one of the largest employers in Gloucester with 250 staff across Fasthosts and its parent company IONOS, the firm describes the gift card switch as the biggest action it has taken for the city this year.
And Miconex are encouraging more local business which offer similar staff rewards to follow Fasthosts' example, as part of its national ‘Choose local. Make the switch’ campaign.
Rupert Bedell, managing director of Fasthosts, said: 'We have a monthly town hall meeting where people can nominate their colleagues for particularly outstanding performance. Historically we had an Amazon voucher as the reward.
'The Gloucester Gift Card came to my attention and it was the perfect incentive to switch to. We’re always encouraging our staff to spend within the city, and we can now do that easily with our local Town & City Gift Card.
'When I announced at the town hall that we were moving from Amazon vouchers to the Gloucester Gift Card, and explained the rationale, our staff were really pleased. They are aware that it’s important that we as a business support the city.
'The fact that the Gloucester Gift Card covers over 180 local businesses in the city hopefully means staff will be eating more regularly in Gloucester, taking their family out, and shopping in the city. The city really needs that investment. Choosing the Gloucester Gift Card is the biggest action we’ve taken for our city this year to help it to thrive.'
For more information about the Gloucester Gift Card, including where they can be spent, visit the Town & City Gift Card website.
