Broadstone Launches Elements+ to Simplify Employee Benefits for UK SMEs

Broadstone has launched Elements+, a flexible employee benefits suite specifically tailored for businesses with fewer than 50 staff. By bundling pension, health, and protection products into a single proposition, the consultancy aims to help startups and SMEs compete for talent against larger corporations without the traditional administrative overhead associated with managing multiple benefit providers.

What was announced

Broadstone’s new Elements+ proposition is designed to bridge the gap between the comprehensive benefits packages offered by large enterprises and the limited resources of smaller firms. The service targets businesses with up to 50 employees, providing a curated selection of pension, health, and protection benefits from various market providers. Companies can opt for the full suite or select specific benefits based on their workforce's requirements.

The launch addresses a specific pain point for growing businesses: the time-intensive nature of navigating the insurance and pension markets without a dedicated HR function. To mitigate this, Broadstone provides a specialist to support each business through the setup and launch phase, ensuring that chosen benefits are correctly implemented to maximise return on investment.

Additionally, the package can be integrated with Flexcel Elements, Broadstone’s proprietary employee benefits platform. This digital interface centralises benefit information and employee communications in one place, aiming to reduce the volume of internal queries and improve staff engagement with the available perks. The move comes amid heightened demand for employer-funded healthcare, as NHS waiting lists and primary care pressures make private health cover a priority for UK workers in a competitive labour market.

"Smaller businesses face many of the same challenges as larger employers when it comes to attracting and retaining staff, but often lack the time and resources to put comprehensive benefits packages in place."

Brett Hill, Head of Health & Protection in Broadstone’s Employee Benefits Consulting division.

The companies involved

Broadstone is an independent UK-based financial services consultancy that provides expert advice to a broad spectrum of clients, including employers, insurers, lenders, and pension scheme trustees. The firm operates in a competitive landscape, positioning itself as a specialist advisor that can navigate complex regulatory and financial environments. With a significant footprint in the UK market, Broadstone has established itself as a key player in employee benefits and actuarial consulting.

The company focuses on delivering tailored solutions that address the specific needs of different business sizes, from large-scale pension schemes to the SME sector targeted by the new Elements+ launch. Its independence is a core part of its market identity, allowing it to select products from across the provider landscape rather than being tied to a single parent company’s offerings. This flexibility is central to its value proposition for businesses looking to outsource the complexity of benefit selection and management. Broadstone has maintained a consistent presence in the fintech and insurance sectors, frequently providing commentary on market shifts and regulatory changes.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has followed Broadstone’s commentary on a variety of regulatory and economic shifts impacting the UK financial sector. Recently, the consultancy has provided insights into the Broadstone Urges Data Residency Focus for UK Chancellor’s New Sovereign AI Unit, highlighting the importance of data security in government tech initiatives. The firm has also been active in analyzing broader market pressures, such as the UK Budget: How Potential Bank Tax Hikes and New Mortgage Rules Will Impact Lending. Other coverage includes reporting on the FCA Issues Guidance on Motor Finance Settlements: Will Lenders Break Cover? and environmental risks in the FCA Analysis Reveals 1 in 7 English Mortgages at Risk from Flooding.

What this means

This move signals a shift in the employee benefits market, where the "SME gap" is becoming a primary battleground for consultancies. As the UK labour market remains tight, the ability for small firms to offer "big company" perks is no longer a luxury but a recruitment necessity. By productising what was once a bespoke consulting service, Broadstone is putting pressure on traditional insurers who often struggle to serve the sub-50 employee segment efficiently. The integration of a digital platform like Flexcel Elements also highlights the ongoing digitisation of the benefits space, where user experience and accessibility are becoming as important as the underlying insurance product itself.