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Business rides out for legendary cycling event

14 April, 2008

Hartnell Taylor Cook LLP and GWE Business West are challenging businesses to get employees out on their bikes for the 15th annual Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride (22 June 2008).

However big or small, all businesses with a base in the West of England Partnership Area are invited to join over 4000+riders in one of the UK’s biggest free, non-competitive cycling events. Each year the number of people riding to work is growing. The Business Challenge helps to promote cycling as a practical way of making short journeys in the city.

The challenge is simply to have the highest number of employees taking part for each of the three business size categories,

· Small (0 - 49 employees)

· Medium (50 - 249 employees)

· and Large (250+ employees).

Businesses sign up to take part in the Business Challenge by visiting www.bristol.gov.uk/biggestbikeride, and ALL employees can then help their organisation win, including full-time, part-time, job share, temporary or casual employees. All riders must be registered.

Business riders can ride with colleagues, or with their family and friends, for fun or for charity. There are five routes ranging from 9 to 38 miles. After the ride, employees go to the certificates stand at the end of ride event to have their attendance recorded.

The Business Challenge is supported by Hartnell Taylor Cook LLP in association with GWE Business West.

Nigel Hutchings, GWE Business West Regional Affairs Director, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Business Challenge again this year and have invite all our members to get involved and to encourage their staff to get on their bikes and take up the challenge!

“Cycling is a great way for employees to keep fit and a healthy workforce can help improve performance at work and benefit businesses enormously.

“Transport is a key issue for GWE Business West and we lobby vigorously for improvements to road, rail and public transport provision. Initiatives like the Business Challenge go a long way to help raise awareness of alternative, sustainable means of travel.”

Simon Harvey, Partner in Charge of Hartnell Taylor Cook LLP’s Bristol office, said: "Last year was the first year we were involved with the bike ride through our sponsorship of the Family Fiesta and we enjoyed the day so much that we agreed to sponsor the Business Challenge as well as the Family Fiesta route this year! We all had a great day with many of our staff and their families joining in on the fun, including one member of staff turning up with his 2 year old daughter in a pull-along chariot!

“This year, in association with Business West, we are keen to encourage more businesses, especially our clients and competitors, to take up the challenge and join the ride. It’s a free event, its open to all ages and you don’t need to be a fitness fanatic to take part because it’s not a race! It is also an excellent opportunity for all companies taking part to raise money for either their chosen charity or for the Lord Mayor’s Children Appeal.”

Businesses signed up to the challenge are encouraged to support charity. In addition to the Business Challenge winners, the business that raises the most money for charity will be awarded a trophy by GWE Business West to recognise their contribution. Please contact Wendy Best w.best@bepp.co.uk to support the Lord Mayor’s Appeal for Children or contact your chosen charity directly to let them know you wish to raise money for them.