Buying and Selling of Annual Leave Scheme

With the buying and selling of annual leave scheme, you can purchase up to one contractual week of additional annual leave via salary sacrifice and pay directly through your salary over a 12 month period. Alternatively, you can sell up to a contractual weeks holiday in exchange for extra income.

How to save the Staff Benefits and Wellbeing section to your home screen

iPad or iPhone

Launch “Safari” app.
Enter into the address field the URL of the website you want to create a shortcut to. Tap “Go.”
Tap the icon featuring a right-pointing arrow coming out of a box along the top of the Safari window to open a drop-down menu.
Tap “Add to Home Screen.” The Add to Home dialog box will appear, with the icon that will be used for this website on the left side of the dialog box.
Enter the name for the shortcut using the on-screen keyboard and tap “Add.” Safari will close automatically and you will be taken to where the icon is located on your iPad’s desktop.

Android

Launch “Chrome” app.
Open this link.
Tap the menu icon (3 dots in upper right-hand corner) and tap Add to homescreen.
You’ll be able to enter a name for the shortcut and then Chrome will add it to your home screen.

Applying for the scheme

When to apply?

At the beginning of each year, staff have the opportunity to apply for buying or selling of annual leave for the following financial year. Applications can only be accepted during this time, see table below for scheme opening dates:

Leave Year	When to apply
April 2025 -March 2026	1st -31st January 2025
April 2026 -March 2027	1st -31st January 2026
April 2027 -March 2028	1st -31st January 2027

Can anyone apply?

No, eligibility to access the scheme depends on contract, income and other variables, for more details click here to download the Salary Sacrifice Guidance and FAQ's, please read this document before applying for the scheme.

How to apply:

Firstly, have a discussion with your line manager prior to applying where possible. Planning ahead gives your line manager plenty of time to consider your application.
Read the Buying/ Selling Annual Leave Guidance relevant to the year your applying too (guidance will be available below nearer the time).
When the application period is open, complete the form (form will be available below when scheme is open) and hand over to your line manager before the deadline.
It is your responsibility to check with your line manager that your form has been forwarded to the allocated person for your area during the allocated timeframe.

Buying and Selling of Annual Leave Scheme 2026 -2027

The Buying and Selling of Annual Leave Scheme 2026 -2027 will be open to applications between 1st -31st January 2026. Deadline for applications was 31st January 2026.

Click here to download the 2026 -2027 guidance - all applicants and line managers must read this document in full before applying

Applicants

Click here to download the application form

Important information for applicants

You must return the fully completed form to your line manager by 31st January 2026.
Your request is not guaranteed.
All applications will be subject to National Living Wage checks, if deductions for your requested hours rake you below the NLW limit you will be offered lesser hours or have your application declined.
It is your responsibility to ensure your line manager has forwarded your application to the allocated person for your area by 13th February 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

Line Managers

Click here to download the line managers guidance

Important information for line managers:

You must reach out to all your employees about the scheme, including those on annual leave, maternity and sickness etc.
You must complete section 3 of your employees form and send a copy of the completed form to the allocated person for your area by 13th February 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Your employees request is not guaranteed and is subject to National Living Wage checks. Click here to read our salary sacrifice guidance for more information on National Living Wage.
If you have any queries, please email Staff Benefits on yhs-tr.staffbenefits@nhs.net

Guidance for all 2025 -2026 applicants

If you applied for Buying/ Selling Annual Leave 2025 -2026 and would like a copy of the 2024 -2025 guidance, please email yhs-tr.staffbenefits@nhs.net

What is Salary Sacrifice?

Salary sacrifice schemes provide staff with an excellent opportunity to gain a benefit (benefit in kind) whilst making substantial savings by agreeing to 'sacrifice' (or give up) a portion of their salary in exchange for a benefit. Click here to download the Salary Sacrifice Information and FAQ's document

We recommend reading the above document in full before applying to any salary sacrifice scheme.