Introduction to the employers toolkit
Business is Better by Bike Awards
Cycle Exeter is pleased to launch this new awards scheme, in association with the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, to find the most cycle-friendly employers in Exeter.
Cycling is great for business – employees are healthier, not held up in traffic when commuting and there are cost benefits for everyone too. Being a cycle-friendly employer can also bring the following benefits:
- Healthy staff who arrive on time and take less sick leave
- A contribution towards your company’s green credentials and Corporate Social Responsibility targets
- Reduced car parking pressure
The purpose of this scheme will be to reward organisations that actively promote cycling and to encourage them to maintain this support over a sustained period. Workplaces will be invited to complete a ‘Cycle Friendly Checklist’, and as a result, will be awarded either the Bronze, Silver or Gold award. Marks will be awarded in several areas: cycle facilities, incentives, promotion and events. Successful workplaces will then receive a Business is Better by Bike logo (in Bronze, Silver or Gold) to be used on their websites and letterheads.
The top scoring company in each of the three categories (Bronze, Silver and Gold) will receive a Cycling Celebration Day at their workplace, to include impressive bike demonstrations and free cycling goodies. The overall winner will be named “Exeter’s most cycle friendly business!” and will receive VIP passes to the hospitality area of the forthcoming Tour Series city centre cycle race!
To encourage companies to enter within the first month of the scheme, a competition was held to find Exeter’s most cycle-friendly employers. The top scoring companies in each of the three categories (Bronze, Silver and Gold) were to receive a Cycling Celebration Day at their workplace, to include impressive bike demonstrations and free cycling goodies. The overall winner would be named “Exeter’s most cycle friendly business!” and receive VIP passes to the hospitality area of the Tour Series city centre cycle race!
The Met Office was named the overall winner, and were presented with a trophy on the podium at the Tour Series, naming them Exeter’s most cycle friendly employer! The other winning companies were the Environment Agency for the highest scoring silver and joint highest scorers in the Bronze Award category were Atkins and NHS Devon.
