Global financial giant, HSBC, is set to cut parking at its Sheffield and Birmingham offices by 90%. The bank, which sponsors British Cycling, is heading a number of initiatives to encourage people out of cars and onto bikes in order to gain the many benefits that come from having fitter, happier employees. Ian Stuart, HSBC UK’s chief executive, said that at the Birmingham headquarters, “Nobody gets a car parking space unless they have a disability.

He added: “It won’t suit everyone and I understand that. I am not a fanatical cyclist. I don’t own Lycra.”

 

Of course, the bank is not only removing parking spaces but it is also spending £3m on infrastructure to assist its staff who are making the transition. The installation of showers, changing rooms and bike parking will help to overcome some of the main barriers that prevent a wider uptake of the opportunity that cycling to work brings. While many projects already exist to help staff to get on their bikes, such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, many businesses simply do not have the infrastructure to cope with a large number of employees riding to work.

 

As well as the initiative to get its staff out of cars and onto bikes, the firm is also funding a joint academic study being designed by Edinburgh and Glasgow universities. The Cycle Nation Project is seeking 1,280 volunteer employees from the bank in order to study the barriers to cycling, and also assess the wider implications of travel methods on the staff’s motivation and health. The project will help make clearer the barriers to cycling and provide useful data on what businesses can do better if they wish to embrace cycling as a method of commuting for their staff. The wider implications could be profound – as the study could be used as proof that cycling is indeed very beneficial to companies whose employees choose that particular method to get to work.

 

Encouraging Health In The Workplace

 

It is no surprise that businesses like HSBC are looking for ways to improve the health of their staff – while sickness is on a downward trend (a 2017 ONS survey put the figure at 4.1 days per year for the average staff member), there is still clearly more to be done when it comes to health. With obesity rates skyrocketing, the encouragement of employees to get more active is a unique, cost-effective opportunity for businesses to help employees. With schemes like Cycle to Work offering low-cost opportunities for businesses to get involved, it seems like a win-win option for businesses looking to help their staff improve their health and reduce sickness.

 

Of course, the big barriers to large scale cycling are still very real – infrastructure being a big one. Many SMEs simply do not have the budget or space to introduce changing rooms and showers. While there are a few practical alternatives, such as dry shower washes, it is the cost implications that mean that many businesses cannot offer a credible alternative to driving.

 

There is in all of this, however, an opportunity for businesses to find themselves an edge – those businesses that can afford to implement a credible scheme could make themselves the company of choice in their industry. While clearly there are cost implications for installing a scheme and building the right infrastructure, the potential ROI from being the most attractive employer in a specific sector could mean that your business attracts the highest calibre applicants. So, while this idea isn’t ideal for all businesses, the simple idea of creating happier and healthier staff is one that can be expanded to many businesses. By creating a holistic, healthy experience, you could indeed ensure that your staff have fewer sick days and are more productive – a win-win.

 

How We Can Help

 

With over 40 years of experience in developing practical structural solutions for businesses, we can help. Want to empower your employees to choose a healthier lifestyle? Our in-house design team can help you to incorporate healthier themes into your business. Call us today on 0800 085 1022 to speak to us about making health and fitness a cornerstone of your business.