UK Recruitment Glossary
BIK (Benefit in Kind)
In recruiter context
Common UK benefits and approximate tax cost: private medical insurance (taxed at full premium value, often £1,000-£3,000/year added to taxable income), company car (taxed based on CO2 and list price, often £4,000-£15,000/year added), beneficial loans over £10,000 (taxed at HMRC official rate of interest). Some BIKs are tax-exempt: pension contributions, childcare vouchers (closed scheme), bicycles via cycle-to-work. Salary sacrifice for BIK saves both income tax and NI. Worth doing the maths: a £1,500/year private medical premium costs roughly £600 in tax for a higher-rate taxpayer.
Related terms
National Living Wage
The UK statutory minimum hourly rate for workers aged 21 and over, set by the government and reviewe…
Soft Skills
Behavioural and interpersonal skills — communication, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability, tea…
Disciplinary Procedure
The formal process UK employers follow to address employee conduct or performance concerns — typical…
Cold Application
Applying to a job without any prior contact, referral, or recruiter conversation.