Today, Steve takes over from Chris Last who Chaired the Alliance since 2023. As Chair, Steve will work with all members of the Cycle to Work Alliance – as well as industry partners and Government advocates – to maximize the reach of the Scheme and expand access to cycling to ensure more people can benefit from the proven health, environmental, and economic advantages of commuting by bike. 

The Alliance would like to thank Chris for his determination and hard work during his time as Chair. He led multiple industry and MP roundtables driving forward the active travel agenda, and united members and industry to strengthen the voice of the cycling community. 

The Cycle to Work Scheme has enabled well over 2 million employees to access a bike to date. Successfully, Chris oversaw the Parliamentary launch of the Alliance’s Manifesto for Cycle Commuting, a report that outlined a series of strategic proposals that aim to bridge access for the 80% of UK workers that could still benefit from the Scheme, as found in the Alliance’s recent YouGov poll. 

The Alliance’s commitment to engaging with Government, the Cycling and Walking APPG, and numerous industry groups and bodies, will be continued by Steve who will actively push forward the industry’s priorities for active travel and see that the Scheme remains a vital benefit for all. 

Heading into 2025, the Alliance will focus on: 

1. The economic contribution of the Scheme and its role as a driver of growth in the UK. 

1. The role of both the Scheme and active travel in transport decarbonisation, making commutes more environmentally friendly.  

1. Ensuring the physical and mental health benefits of active travel are recognised. 

1. Support for expanding the Scheme and ensuring more people can participate – building on the Alliance’s efforts to open the Scheme to e-bikes and specially adapted bikes. 

Speaking of his appointment, Steve Edgell said:  

“It’s an honor to take on the role of Chair following such a monumental year for the Scheme and Alliance. Over the past 25 years, the Scheme has empowered millions of people to experience the life-changing benefits of cycling.  

My focus will be to build on this success – working closely with our partners, Government, and the wider cycling community to break down barriers to access, improve safety, and champion cycling as a sustainable, healthy, and cost-effective way to commute.  

On handing the baton to Steve, Chris Last reflected on a successful tenure:  

“It has been a privilege to have served as Chair since 2023. I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made for the industry and I’m confident that under Steve’s leadership, the Alliance will continue to break new ground, make cycling accessible to even more people and drive the active travel agenda forward.” 

Marking the 25th anniversary of the Cycle to Work Scheme, the Cycle to Work Alliance has today published a manifesto outlining a strategic vision for expanding cycling access across the UK. Unveiled at a reception in Parliament, the manifesto presents a comprehensive roadmap aimed at tackling existing barriers to cycle commuting, supported by exclusive polling from YouGov.

Despite the Cycle to Work Scheme enabling over 2 million employees to access a bike to date, exclusive YouGov data shows that 80% of UK workers could still benefit from the cycle to work scheme. The Alliance’s Manifesto sets out a roadmap for the next 25 years of cycle commuting in the UK to ensure access for all.

The manifesto, supported by exclusive data commissioned with YouGov and bringing together views from across industry and politics, sets out bold policy recommendations to expand access to cycling and ensure that more people can benefit from the proven health, environmental, and economic advantages of commuting by bike.

The manifesto outlines a series of strategic proposals, including:  

• Enhanced Safety Measures: Urging the Department for Transport to include the needs of cyclists in its new Road Safety Review.  

• Improved Infrastructure: Advocating for long-term funding to build safe and accessible cycling routes.  

• Expanded Scheme Access: Encouraging policy changes to include low-income earners and the self-employed in the Cycle to Work Scheme.  

• Support for E-bikes: Promoting the use of e-bikes as a key solution for older and long-distance commuters, while countering misconceptions about their safety.  

The recommendations are supported by exclusive YouGov polling, which shows that:   

• Safety and infrastructure concerns continue to prevent people from cycling: 45% of potential cyclists are deterred from commuting by bike due to concerns about safety with twice as many women than men fear cycling to work.  

• There continues to be a cycling gender gap: Almost three times as many men (74%) cycle to work than women (26%).   

• Age: Cycling to work uptake is similar across most age groups, making it a commute for everyone!  

• The number of cycle commuters varies by region: London (27%) and the North of England (20%) are home to the highest number of people who cycle to work. Wales is home to the lowest (0.9%).  

• Accessibility: there is room for smaller businesses (10-49 employees) to offer the scheme to employees as 31% said they do not currently have access to the scheme.  

Celebrating 25 Years of Success

Since its launch in 1999, the Cycle to Work Scheme has helped millions of people shift to greener, healthier forms of commuting. The manifesto is a pivotal step in ensuring the scheme continues to grow, adapt, and remove the obstacles that prevent more people from experiencing the benefits of cycling to work.

The Cycle to Work Alliance and the Association of Cycle Traders have identified common areas of interest around Cycle to Work reform. Both parties are committed to working together to drive forward positive change opening up Cycle to Work to more people and to grow the cycle market for all.

The Cycle to Work Alliance and Association of Cycle Traders held positive and productive discussions on the contribution of the scheme, the views of independent bike retailers and the collective support for reform.

Both organisations are united in recognising that the scheme plays an important role in the cycle market which has faced a challenging time following the pandemic. Improving and growing the market to support retailers, scheme providers and prospective cyclists is what collectively drives us and our priorities for reform.

As we look to the next 25 years of the Cycle to Work Scheme, we want to go further to break down barriers to cycle commuting by:

1. Unlocking the scheme for those on low incomes, National Minimum Wage and the self-employed to ensure equitable access to cycling.
2. Working with the government and industry to simplify and minimise administrative barriers, making it easy and attractive for organisations to offer and employees to utilise the scheme.

The Cycle to Work Alliance and its individual members will continue to engage with the Association of Cycle Traders on the experience of independent bike retailers to ensure the scheme works for everyone. The Alliance and Association of Cycle Traders are committed to working together in our shared interests and look forward to ongoing discussions about the scheme, its contribution and how it can be taken forward for all.

Chris Last, Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance

Jonathan Harrison, Director of the Association of Cycle Traders

Following the publication of the Government’s Plan for Drivers this week, the Alliance has responded urging policymakers to lower the barriers to cycling and ensure everyone can choose the best way to travel for them:

“The public should be able to choose the best way to travel around for them, but too often barriers, including safety, security and confidence, prevent many people from considering cycling. Local government should be supported to lower those hurdles to ensure as many people as possible can cycle if they want to.

Cycling is a fantastic method of transport, including for getting to and from work, for millions of people across the country. Not only are increased rates of cycling better for local air quality and an easy way of increasing physical activity for a range of health benefits, but cycling is nearly always far cheaper than the alternatives.

The Cycle to Work Alliance believes that cycling should be for everyone and the support provided to achieve this is essential. Government has a critical role to play and should focus on working with authorities to remove barriers in the way of potential cyclists.”

“As Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance, I am delighted to celebrate the 12th anniversary of ‘Cycle to Work Day’ and reflect on the important role the Cycle to Work Scheme has played in driving positive behaviour change in modal shift.

For nearly 25 years, the Cycle to Work Scheme has been a proven catalyst in encouraging cycling activity among employees, enabling them to save up to 42% on the cost of a new bike and significantly reduce their annual commuting expenses.

Amidst the dual cost-of-living and climate crises,  finding a low-cost,  clean and active commute to work has never been so important, with uptake in the Cycle to Work Scheme surging by over 10% in the first half of 2023 compared to 2022.” – Chris Last, Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance

The Cycle to Work Alliance is thrilled to announce the appointment of Chris Last as its new Chair, marking a momentous occasion as the Cycle to Work Scheme celebrates its 25th year.

Chris, an ardent advocate for greener and healthier commuting options, brings a wealth of experience in the employee benefit industry and a lifelong passion for cycling. Hailing from a mining town in the Swansea Valleys, Chris developed a love for cycling at a young age. In the mid-90s, he championed cycling to work with his daily paper rounds on his trusted Raleigh Activator, equipped with front shock absorbers. His dedication to cycling continued throughout his life and in his current role as Commercial and Strategy Director at wellbeing and employee benefits provider, Vivup.

Chris firmly believes in the power of sustainable and inclusive employee benefits, with a strong emphasis on promoting a Cycle to Work scheme that provides affordable travel alternatives and encourages a healthier lifestyle. His vision aligns perfectly with the Alliance’s mission of fostering a greener and more active workforce while supporting businesses in implementing sustainable commuting solutions.

Commenting on his new role, Chris said, “My objectives in this role are simple. I want every business in the UK to offer a Cycle to Work Scheme, increase participation, and I want to remove the barriers stopping people from cycling to work regularly, which include secure storage in towns and cities and improved infrastructure that enables safer cycling between destinations.”

As we celebrate a landmark 25 years of the Cycle to Work Scheme, the Alliance has made significant headway in recent years, advocating for the benefits of cycle commuting and helping over 2 million people access affordable, green, and active travel.

In the year ahead, the Alliance wants to continue building on recent successes by widening access to the scheme and growing its relevance and impact among policymakers. This will include forging new partnerships across the sustainable travel industry and positioning cycle commuting as one of the best methods for employees getting to and from work.

The Cycle to Work Alliance expresses its gratitude to outgoing Chair, Adrian Warren, Blackhawk Network, and extends its warmest welcome to Chris Last, confident that under his leadership, the Alliance will continue to advance its mission and positively impact the lives of employees, businesses and the planet.

Business groups and cycling advocates have joined forces to call for an expansion to the popular Cycle to Work scheme, which would unlock access for workers earning at or near national minimum wage (NMW) and the self-employed. The call, which has been sent to the Chancellor, has been backed by groups including the Co-Op, Federation of Small Businesses and British Cycling.

The Cycle to Work scheme is already a hugely popular and highly effective initiative, and millions of people have participated to benefit from substantial savings on the cost of a new bike and cycling equipment, as well as the ability to pay the cost off over a longer period. However, the scheme guidance in place and rules around NMW currently prevent the self-employed and those on low incomes from participating. This locks out millions of potential users, including many who would have among the most to gain from joining.

A survey undertaken by the Cycle to Work Alliance in 2021 found that a third of employees who had not previously participated in the scheme said this was because their income was too low, which prevented them from participating. A further 1 in 10 of these said it was because they were self-employed, meaning they could not access the scheme.

Paul Caudwell, Health Wellbeing Manager at the Co-operative Group, said:

The changes have also received backing from Labour’s shadow ministerial team. Gill Furniss MP, Shadow Roads Minister, has voiced her and the Labour Party’s support for the changes to the Cycle to Work scheme. She writes:

During the pandemic, the scheme played a particularly important role in getting more people cycling to work.

• Between March and September 2020, Alliance members saw an increase of nearly 60% in new scheme joiners compared to the same period in 2019.
• The scheme has been played a key role for key workers in particular throughout the pandemic. In the capital alone, London Ambulance Service saw a 111% increase in new scheme participants in 2020 from the previous year. New scheme joiners were also up 67% in the Metropolitan Police, and 47% among Transport for London’s (TfL) workforce.

The Alliance – formed of the five largest providers of the Cycle to Work Scheme (Cyclescheme, Cycle Solutions, Evans Cycles, Halfords and Vivup) – published its policy report in 2021, which highlighted why changes to the scheme were needed to open it up to lower earners and the self-employed.

As part of steps to protect workers who opt to take their pay below NMW by joining the scheme, Alliance members will introduce a series of ‘safeguarding mechanisms’ to ensure the process remains clear and transparent. Safeguards include integrating cost calculators within the application process and a verification step to the application process, requiring applicants to confirm they have used the cost calculator and are aware that salary sacrifice payments could bring them below NMW.

The letter, coordinated by the Cycle to Work Scheme Alliance, has been sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, with Trudy Harrison MP, Cycling Minister at the DfT, Paul Scully MP, Minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Lucy Frazer MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in copy. The full list of signatories includes: British Cycling, Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, Co-operative Group, Cycling UK, Federation of Small Businesses, Forum of Private Business, The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, and the Cycle to Work Scheme Alliance.

For information please contact: Kathryn Evans ([email protected] or 07715 644547).

Notes:

1. The Cycle to Work Alliance is a policy-focused coalition of the five largest providers of the Cycle to Work scheme: Cyclescheme, Cycle Solutions, Evans Cycles, Halfords and Vivup. Together, we represent around 80% of the Cycle to Work scheme market and since 2010, we have worked hard collaboratively to highlight the benefits of regularly cycling to work.
2. The data referenced was collected in a survey conducted by the Cycle to Work Alliance in May 2021, using a representative sample of 1,033 UK adults who are in employment.

A new report published today by the Cycle to Work Alliance, made up of the five largest providers of the Cycle to Work Scheme, is calling on the government to widen access to the scheme.

The Cycle to Work scheme has encouraged hundreds of thousands more people to cycle to work every day, with significant benefits for the environment, wellbeing, road congestion, and workplace productivity.

Over the course of the pandemic, the scheme has played a critical role in helping key workers to safely commute to work.

As employees across the country return to the office, cycling will be a healthier, safer, and more cost-effective option for many. The Alliance wants to ensure as much of the UK workforce can benefit from cycling to work and a regular active commute.

The new report urges the government to widen access to the scheme to ensure it is accessible for as many people as possible.

• Lower earners are among the hardest impacted by constant increases in public transport fares and so have most to gain from the scheme. Yet National Minimum Wage rules mean that employers cannot enter workers into salary sacrifice arrangements that bring their pay below NMW.
• Another key group currently unable to benefit is the self-employed, who make up a significant part of the country’s workforce. Often, they are doing many of the same jobs as PAYE employees and still need to travel to a place of work.
• SMEs, whilst currently able to participate, have historically been put off by a perceived burden associated with running the scheme. This outdated myth all too often prevents small businesses and their staff from reaping the full rewards of active commuting through the Cycle to Work scheme.

The report lays out three recommendations for the government to broaden access to these three key groups of the UK workforce.

1. HMRC should include the cost of a bike as an allowable expense on self-employed workers’ self-assessment, to ensure all workers can participate regardless of their employment status.
2. Government should introduce a specific exemption for the Cycle to Work scheme, allowing employers to enter staff into a salary sacrifice arrangement for the specific purpose of obtaining a bike and safety accessories through the scheme, even if it brings their take-home pay below NMW.
3. All stakeholders with an interest in the scheme, including government, the small business community, and the Alliance, should work together to understand the barriers to participation for small businesses, and the practical steps that can be taken to increase participation.

Adrian Warren, Chair, Cycle to Work Alliance says:

Notes to editors:

1. The Cycle to Work Alliance is a policy-focused coalition of the five largest providers of the Cycle to Work scheme: Cyclescheme, Cycle Solutions, Evans Cycles, Halfords, and Vivup. Together, we represent around 80% of the Cycle to Work scheme market and since 2010, we have worked hard collaboratively to highlight the many benefits of regularly cycling to work.

The Cycle to Work Alliance is delighted to welcome its newest member Vivup, who will be joining forces with Cyclescheme, Halfords, Evans and Cycle Solutions – the other leading providers of the UK’s Cycle to Work Scheme. The Cycle to Work Alliance is a coalition of these market leaders representing approximately 80 per cent of the market.

The Alliance works hard to promote the narrative around Cycle to Work and has continued to focus on the health, environmental and productivity benefits of this widely used scheme, enabling cost effective access to employees across the UK – over 1 million employees have participated to date.

Adrian Warren, Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance shared: “We are delighted to welcome Vivup as members of the Cycle to Work Alliance. This strengthens the voice of the Alliance, and boosts our efforts to ensure the Cycle to Work Scheme remains at the heart of the government’s approach to commuting.

“As employees consider how to return to the office at the appropriate time, the scheme will have an even more critical role to play. Having Vivup on board will help highlight even further the benefits the scheme delivers for employers, employees and the government particularly in terms of health, productivity, clean air and reducing emissions.”

Simon Moyle, Vivup’s Commercial & Strategy Director commented: “Our Cycle to Work scheme is one of the most popular employee benefits we offer and employers truly value it for their people. The Cycle to Work Alliance is committed to safeguarding the future of Cycle to Work and we are excited to be joining this coalition to help shape and influence government policy in this area moving forwards. Together we can ensure that the value of the scheme remains firmly on our government’s radar for employees, employers and the wider economy, enabling even more people to access it.”

About Vivup

Founded in 2005, Vivup is a UK leading employee benefits provider specialising in physical, financial and mental health wellbeing. Vivup provides a flexible, innovative and customisable platform and a wide selection of in-house benefits including a Cycle to Work scheme, specifically designed to improve employee engagement and loyalty.

www.vivup.co.uk