How a Series B SaaS team built a group scheme around a young hybrid workforce — mental health as standard, virtual GP, and the trade-offs behind it.
How a 24-person tech scale-up launched a comprehensive group scheme in three weeks
Vitality Business group cover with mental health as standard, virtual GP, Apple Watch benefit and structured wellness — designed around a young hybrid-working team.
Client profile
London-based Series B SaaS company. 24 employees at scheme launch (18 aged under 40). Founder-led decision to introduce PMI as part of a competitive benefits package.
The problem
- The company had scaled from 8 to 24 employees in 12 months. Talent competition meant PMI was becoming table stakes for senior hires.
- Founders wanted mental health cover as a core benefit, not an add-on — reflecting the team's demographics and the startup wellbeing conversation.
- Budget was £52 per employee per month maximum. Setup needed to be fast (before Q4 hiring push) and admin-light.
What PremierPMI did
- PremierPMI corporate adviser led a 30-minute discovery call to profile the workforce and confirm benefit priorities.
- Benchmarked Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and WPA group schemes across identical benefit levels.
- Recommended Vitality Business group scheme: mental health included as standard, unlimited outpatient, Apple Watch benefit and structured wellness (Vitality Programme) matching the team's demographic.
- Set up automatic monthly HR sync so joiners/leavers flowed to Vitality without manual admin.
How the case unfolded
| Point in time | What happened |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Discovery call with founder and HR lead |
| Day 3 | PremierPMI benchmark report circulated (5 insurers, identical cover) |
| Day 6 | Vitality Business shortlisted and quote confirmed |
| Day 10 | Contract signed; census and payroll linkage confirmed |
| Day 15 | Scheme go-live; welcome comms rolled out to team |
| Day 21 | First member enrolled, Apple Watch benefit issued |
| Month 6 | Renewal review; scheme now 31 employees, mental health utilisation 12% |
Outcome
- Vitality Business group scheme live in 21 days, £48.90 per employee per month at launch — under budget.
- First-year claims performance: 41% of employees used mental health benefit (CBT or coaching); 62% used virtual GP; 84% enrolled in Vitality Programme.
- Employer NPS on benefits improved from +12 to +47 at 12-month engagement survey.
Outcome in numbers
- Team size at launch: 24 employees
- Time from brief to go-live: 21 days
- Per-employee monthly cost: £48.90
- Mental health benefit utilisation (year 1): 41%
- Virtual GP utilisation (year 1): 62%
- Employer NPS uplift on benefits: +35 points
In the client's words
“We wanted PMI to feel like a real benefit, not a tick-box. PremierPMI understood our team demographic and put Vitality in front of us with the mental health tier and wellness engagement baked in. Setup took three weeks. Six months later half the team have used it. Best benefits decision we have made.” — Founder, anonymised SaaS company — Vitality Business group scheme
Policy cost at the time of placement: £48.90. Illustrative — premiums are individually underwritten.
PremierPMI is a UK private medical insurance broker specialising in whole-of-market placement across 10+ leading UK health insurers including Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Freedom Health, The Exeter, General & Medical and National Friendly. FCA regulated (Tesha Family Ltd, FRN 1029667). Speak to a broker on 020 4525 0884, WhatsApp 020 8064 2273, or email contact@premierpmi.co.uk.
Questions on this? A broker can talk it through
PremierPMI's brokers are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm. Call 020 4525 0884, message us on WhatsApp 020 8064 2273, or email contact@premierpmi.co.uk. You can also request a callback or meet our team.