Energy provider Centrica has reported an excellent response to its bikes4work scheme launched earlier this year with the support of specialist provider Grass Roots. The Tring based firm is responsible for the design, communication, administration and reporting around the scheme. Centrica employees who take up the tax efficient benefit are able to choose their bikes from independent retailers who are members of the Cyclescheme network, thus ensuring the orders go direct to largely small businesses. So far 349 Centrica employees have exercised this option which is just one component of a wider ‘Being Green’ initiative. This month sees the opening of a further enrolment period when new starters or those that have had a bit more time to think about the scheme, can exercise the option of joining.
“We had an impressive level of interest in the scheme across all of our UK sites and I am reassured by the number of my colleagues that signed up in our first enrolment. Perhaps some of this success can be put down to the triple emphasis of our scheme’s strapline – Be Green, Get Fit and Save Money! I look forward to working with Grass Roots to open our next enrolment in October” , commented Centrica Reward Programme Manager, Craig Truter.
“I took advantage of the bike4work scheme to purchase a great new bike which I now use to cycle to work as often as possible. There are no catches – the taxman subsidises the price of the bike and the rest is spread into easy payments from your pay packet”, commented British Gas New Energy Director, Gearoid Lane.
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“As a company we are delighted with the way in which we are working with Centrica. The bikes scheme is the latest example of how we are continually looking to add value and strengthen their overall employee engagement proposition”, commented Grass Roots’ Head of Benefits, Paul Bartlett.