City centre based Richard Reed has used the trivial benefits allowance to thank its 46 strong team with the Sunderland Gift Card.
The trivial benefits allowance is a government initiative that enables employers to gift their staff a non-cash benefit up to £50, multiple times each year as long as it doesn’t become part of the employee’s regular contract or salary
Led by Sunderland’s BIDs, the Sunderland Gift Card is an initiative to encourage local shopping in the city. Over 200 businesses in the city centre accept the card, which is available as a physical or digital card. The cards are popular as gifts and employee rewards.
Sarah Reid, managing director at Richard Reed said: “With a team of 46 people, we need a reward that works well for employees while also being tax efficient for the business. The Sunderland Gift Card is ideal because it can be used as part of the Trivial Benefits Allowance, allowing employers to give staff a benefit of up to £50, such as a Gift Card, tax free.
“For us, one of the biggest positives of using the Sunderland Gift Card is the local spend element. It means our team receives a gift they can enjoy in a wide range of Sunderland businesses, while also helping to support the local economy and the city centre community we are proud to be part of.
“Sunderland’s hospitality scene has grown significantly over the past few years, and the Gift Card gives our staff the opportunity to enjoy that, whether they are going out for a meal, picking up something from a local café, shopping, visiting a salon, or using one of the city’s many attractions and services.
“Richard Reed Solicitors has always been based in Sunderland, and we are proud to be part of the local community. Using the Sunderland Gift Card allows us to reward our team in a practical and meaningful way, while also investing back into the businesses and city centre we care about. For us, it is an easy decision.
“We have had really positive feedback from our team. Staff enjoy the flexibility of the Sunderland Gift Card, with both well-known brands and independent businesses available through one card.
“They also like being able to support local. Even when used with larger brands, those businesses employ local people and help bring activity into Sunderland city centre.”
Roberta Redecke, Head of Business Services at Sunderland’s BIDs said: “The Sunderland Gift Cards reached a milestone of £500,000 cards sold to date in 2026, thanks to the support of organisations like Richard Reed who choose to show their commitment to the city by using the card for employee rewards. Thanks to the trivial benefits allowance, organisations can gift their team a £50 Sunderland Gift Card throughout the year to not only boost their team, but boost their city too.”
The Sunderland Gift Card is part of the award winning Town & City Gift Card concept from fintech Miconex. Over 27,000 local businesses are part of Miconex’s local Gift Card programs around the world with over £69m spent locally through the cards.
Colin Munro is the CEO of Miconex and said: “The Sunderland Gift Card is the ultimate ‘shop local’ Gift Card, giving organisations a local option for employee rewards and incentives, client and customer thank you gifts, service user support and more. It enables organisations to have a tangible positive impact on the local economy while giving the recipient unbeatable local choice.”
The Sunderland Gift Card can be bought online with a dedicates site for organisations, or at physical sales points including the Museum and Winter Gardens, National Glass Centre and Houghton and Washington libraries.