Swansea Solicitors Saddle Up!

28|11|07

Leading Swansea-based solicitors John Collins and Partners is encouraging it’s staff to get on their bikes, in a bid to demonstrate commitment to reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

The firm, which is one of the largest independent solicitors in Wales, employing over 140 people in Swansea, has teamed up with Swansea cycle shop Wheelies to launch the ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme this month, and it has been met with considerable interest from employees. The scheme is a new, optional, initiative introduced by the firm, and will save employees around 33 per cent of the total cost of a bicycle and accessories by acquiring them through the company, as, due to the nature of the scheme, they will not have to pay VAT or tax on their purchases.

Paul Newman, Managing Partner at John Collins and Partners, said:

"The Cycle to Work Scheme seemed to be a great way for our staff not only to keep fit, but to contribute towards making Swansea a greener, healthier place to live.

"Many people were getting fed up of the grinding daily commute to work as many roads in Swansea are notorious traffic hot spots, and some staff had already taken to cycling to the office in a bid to beat the traffic. There are also some excellent cycle paths to our offices. When we caught on to this, we realised that this was a simple way, as a company, to help to reduce the traffic congestion, improve the overall health and fitness levels of our employees, and do our bit for the environment.

"I would recommend the scheme to any company in Swansea whose employees are getting fed up with the daily commute – cycling seems to have improved the mood, attitude and energy levels of all staff taking part."

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) lists the benefits of cycling to work as healthy exercise, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution and increased ‘safety in numbers’, and states that few other interventions have such a beneficial effect on health. One rough calculation by BUPA suggests that new cyclists covering short distances can reduce their risk of death (mainly due to the reduction of heart disease) by as much as 22 per cent.

Cycling has been proven to have positive effects on psychological health, reducing levels of depression and stress, improving mood and raising self-esteem, and it burns around 300 calories an hour.

Amy Seppman, Marketing Manager at John Collins and Partners, who has signed up to take part in the scheme, said:

"If I am already getting my recommended dose of daily exercise before arriving home in the evening, that leaves me with more time to spend with my husband and son, or relaxing with friends."  

Wheelies Direct Cycle Solutions are one of the UK’s leading Cycle to Work scheme providers and are able to fully manage the implementation and marketing of the Cycle to Work scheme to employers of all types and sizes. Wheelies Direct Cycle Solutions  can be contacted on 01792 560652.

Pictired from the left; Paul Newman, Sali Jackson-Thomas, Keith Thomas, Matthew Owen