đź’ˇ A new era of financial education đź’ˇ Discover the latest release of our Workplace Finance platform
Learn more
đź’ˇ A new era of financial education đź’ˇ Discover the latest release of our Workplace Finance platform
Local authorities are under pressure, with resources not keeping pace with rising demand for essential services. But when it comes to supporting your workforce's financial health, we provide one of the most impactful things you can offer to make a real difference.
The pressure on local government employees is real
83%
of workers have taken time off due to financial stress
47%
of workers would leave for better financial benefits
8.8 days
are lost to sickness per local government employee each year
78%
of councils struggle to recruit and retain
Councils employ some of the most essential workers in the country. From housing officers and social workers to planning teams and environmental health officers, your workforce keeps communities running. Many of these essential roles are among the most financially squeezed in the public sector, and sustained rise in the cost of living has deepend the pressure.
Financial stress is not just a personal matter. It drives up sickness absence, makes it harder to concentrate on demanding casework, and contributes to attrition at a time when 78% of councils are already reporting recruitment and retention difficulties. For organisations operating on stretched budgets, these are costs that compound quickly.
A housing officer struggling to afford their own rent, having to choose between paying the bills on time or buying food and household essentials.
A refuse collector taking out a payday loan to cover an unexpected bill, only to end up paying back significantly more than they originally borrowed.
A social worker who can’t afford to fuel the car at the end of the month so they can continue to do their job, waiting to be paid for last months expenses.
A newly qualified planning officer, months away from homelessness after a relationship breakdown, with no short-term financial safety net.
A housing officer struggling to afford their own rent, having to choose between paying the bills on time or buying food and household essentials.
A refuse collector taking out a payday loan to cover an unexpected bill, only to end up paying back significantly more than they originally borrowed.
A social worker who can’t afford to fuel the car at the end of the month so they can continue to do their job, waiting to be paid for last months expenses.
A newly qualified planning officer, months away from homelessness after a relationship breakdown, with no short-term financial safety net.
They are the reality for a significant number of the people who keep your council running. A staff helpline number is not enough. Colleagues need practical tools they can use every day, before a problem becomes a crisis.
Explore the impact of Stream Workplace Savings across every UK local authority through our nation of savers.
When your people feel more informed, secure and confident with money, they stress less, work better, and the whole organisation benefits. Here is what that looks like in practice across our client base:
86%
of colleagues feel less stressed about money after joining Stream
27%
faster time to recruit reported by Stream employers
12%
more shifts filled
Local authorities that have partnered with Stream report measurable improvements in retention, attendance, and agency spend. And with 47% of workers saying they would consider leaving their current role for one offering better financial benefits, the right financial wellbeing platform is not just a welfare initiative. It is a retention tool.
Stream is a workplace finance platform, built to sit alongside your existing Payroll and HR system, adding a layer of financial support for your workforce without disrupting your current infrastructure.
We integrate with the leading payroll and HR platforms used across local government; so implementation is straightforward and your HR team's workload stays manageable.
What colleagues in local government actually need is the ability to access their pay when they need it, build savings and financial resilience, and get support when money gets tight. Understanding a payslip is a start. Stream goes much further.
Spending helps colleagues see exactly where their money is going, making it easier to spend less and save more. Workplace Savings lets them set money aside automatically from every pay cycle, building a buffer without any extra effort. Rewards puts discounts on hundreds of everyday brands directly in the app, so wages stretch further from day one. And Education gives access to a personalised money coach, interactive courses and practical tools - all in one app, available from the moment they join.
Stream already works with 150 employers across the public sector, supporting a million key workers, including frontline emergency service staff and the support teams behind them. Across all sectors, we work with over 2500 brands and 4 million employees. Why lose staff to another public sector employer that uses Stream already to help their employees build financial resilience and improve their wellbeing?
Brings shifts, pay and budgeting together, helping members make more confident financial decisions.
Helps employees set a plan, stick to it and spend confidently.
.webp%3F2026-08-17T14%3A44%3A37.545Z&w=3840&q=85)
Members can take up to 50% of their earnings before payday rolls around, proven to increase shift uptake.
Discounts and cashback to make members’ money go further.
Recognise great work with peer shout-outs, milestone awards and company programmes, rewarded with cash employees can actually use.
Helps members to find and claim any government benefits they’re entitled to.
.webp%3F2026-08-17T14%3A45%3A39.329Z&w=3840&q=85)
Members can auto-save from their wages and earn 3.80% interest, with no minimum deposit and no fees.
Help to fund life’s bigger purchases with favourable rates and no hidden fees. Repaid directly from members’ salaries.
Tracks down members’ pensions, and brings them together into a single pot, giving them greater choice and control over their retirement.
Covers the essential financial topics employees need to understand, from everyday money management to long-term financial planning.
Financial coaching and reward recommendations – all based on members’ activity.
Short, practical lessons and tools that help employees build financial knowledge around real-life goals.
Brings shifts, pay and budgeting together, helping members make more confident financial decisions.
Helps employees set a plan, stick to it and spend confidently.
Members can take up to 50% of their earnings before payday rolls around, proven to increase shift uptake.
Discounts and cashback to make members’ money go further.
Recognise great work with peer shout-outs, milestone awards and company programmes, rewarded with cash employees can actually use.
Helps members to find and claim any government benefits they’re entitled to.
Members can auto-save from their wages and earn 3.80% interest, with no minimum deposit and no fees.
Help to fund life’s bigger purchases with favourable rates and no hidden fees. Repaid directly from members’ salaries.
Tracks down members’ pensions, and brings them together into a single pot, giving them greater choice and control over their retirement.
Covers the essential financial topics employees need to understand, from everyday money management to long-term financial planning.
Financial coaching and reward recommendations – all based on members’ activity.
Short, practical lessons and tools that help employees build financial knowledge around real-life goals.
“Love Stream! It's a great way to manage my money better and also be more in control of my finances overall!”
Stream was founded on a Social Charter to improve workers’ financial wellbeing. We are a certified B Corp - meaning our commitment to social impact is independently verified, not self-declared. That mission was embedded into our Articles of Association, and everything we do supports it – from the financial benefit products we create to our policy decisions. We’re accountable to (and guided by) our Impact Advisory Board, which is made up of experts from think tanks, academia and social impact investors. We conduct impact research and analyse data from our extensive member base. We also partner with industry leaders and academics on joint studies. And we co-create our products and tools with employers and members to make sure they’re accessible and give people the support they need.
.webp%3F2026-04-24T09%3A08%3A07.818Z&w=3840&q=85)
The Employer Dashboard lets you track the impact of your Stream benefits, with anonymised usage data and trends. See what products are being used and how they’re improving your colleagues’ financial health.
Break the information down by division to get a real-time picture of employees’ financial needs – so you can enhance and improve your financial wellbeing strategy.
.webp%3F2026-04-24T09%3A08%3A30.414Z&w=3840&q=85)
Stream is an ISO 27001 certified platform that connects to more than 100 payroll, HR and time and attendance systems.
We work with your teams to handle all the set up, including validation and compliance. That means you can launch your employees’ financial wellbeing benefits quickly and easily.
Once you’re up and running, we handle all technical support through the admin portal and member questions in the mobile app or via desktop– responding to 95% of queries within 30 minutes.
Stream is an ISO 27001 certified platform that connects to more than 100 payroll, HR and time and attendance systems.
We work with your teams to handle all the set up, including validation and compliance. That means you can launch your employees’ financial wellbeing benefits quickly and easily.
Once you’re up and running, we handle all technical support through the admin portal and member questions in the mobile app or via desktop– responding to 95% of queries within 30 minutes.
Talk to us about the positive impact we can have on your teams and your business.
Does Stream work with local government payroll systems?
What financial benefits can councils offer employees?
How does earned wage access work for council employees?
How does Stream help councils with staff retention?
Is Stream suitable for shift-based council workers?
