A young London entrepreneur is being hailed as one of the UK's best bosses after spending a staggering £100,000 on Christmas gifts and celebrations for his workforce. The lavish haul included a brand new Range Rover Evoque worth £44,000 and a holiday to Barcelona.
The Santa Leslie Incentive Scheme
Benjy Leslie, a 26-year-old from Willesden, London, runs what he calls the 'Santa Leslie incentive'. Every day, his company, Connect Management, awards two titles: 'employee of the day' and 'salesperson of the day'. The winners then get to choose a present from an array of extravagant gifts.
"It's completely crazy," Benjy remarked. "It's not even about how long you've been here or how senior you are. It's about turning up to work every day and giving it your all." This philosophy was proven when the Range Rover was claimed by a staff member who had only been with the company for four months.
Lavish Prizes and Charitable Spirit
The selection of gifts under the scheme was exceptionally generous. Alongside the luxury car and the Spanish getaway, employees could win the latest iPhones, iPads, and Ninja kitchen equipment. One colleague secured the trip to Barcelona by spinning a wheel featuring global destinations.
"I was hoping it was going to be something big," Benjy said. "It landed on Barcelona, so we said while you're out there we'll pay for excursions and all your bits and bobs." The festive period also included a two-day Christmas retreat at a country house for the entire team, complete with sports and a prize-giving ceremony.
In a charitable twist, the company organised a 90-second supermarket dash at Aldi, where staff grabbed as many items as they could. All the collected goods were donated to a local food bank. Benjy commented, "That was one of my favourite parts. Giving back is what this is all about."
Generosity as a Business Strategy
While the total cost of the celebrations reached approximately £100,000, Benjy views the expenditure as an investment. He dedicates roughly 10% of the company's profit margin to employee welfare, believing it is essential for success, particularly with a younger team.
"We want people to work hard, but creating the right environment helps people thrive," he explained. "The happier the staff are, the better the workflow and work ethic is." This approach has also delivered significant marketing benefits; footage of the giveaways has been shared over 50,000 times on social media, attracting new clients and positive engagement.
Benjy did highlight a regulatory hurdle, noting that UK tax rules only allow £350 to be spent on an employee tax-free, with anything above taxed at 40%. Despite this and the high cost, he has no plans to stop and hopes other businesses will follow his lead, citing the example of philanthropist MrBeast.
"I'd love to see more people do this," he expressed. "If you treat people well, they'll work harder for you, and everyone benefits."
