5 Reasons Why Our Cycle to Work Scheme Beats A Gym Membership

We all know that exercise is good for us, but you may find yourself wondering if there's another way to stay healthy without spending time at your local gym. With COVID-19 restrictions coming back into place, spaces at your local gym may be few and far between, with some closed altogether.

The simple answer to this is yes, there is. Our HMRC-backed, Cycle to Work scheme is an extremely simple way to get in your daily exercise without having to deal with the frustrating gym tendencies that act as part of your monthly membership bill.

The scheme is a salary sacrifice service, which helps employees afford the cost of a brand-new bike and cycling accessories. It helps employers save on National Insurance contributions and achieve CSR objectives, whilst employees save up to 42% on the cost of a new bike.

Here are five reasons why the Cycle to Work scheme is an excellent alternative to the gym:

Control Your Own Fitness Plan

With our cycle to work scheme, not only do you save yourself the interruptive sales pitch from a personal trainer, you are also able to manage your exercise at your own speed. Perhaps, you want to take the longer route to work today, this is now easily done as you are the only person in charge of your new fitness regime.

Of course, if you can take on the gym as well as cycling to work, this is now completely your decision. There's no need to feel guilty for missing a session if your new commute to work helps you achieve the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week.

Save A Considerable Amount Of Money

If you chose to cycle to work as your sole exercise routine, not only would you save yourself the gym membership fees, but you'd also save on travel costs to work. Fuel receipts, public transport tickets and taxis can all be a thing of the past with your new bike, enabling you to push your salary even further.

Fit Into Your Daily Routine

Well, put it this way you're going to have to make the journey to work anyway, so why not better yourself and the environment at the same time? By doing this, you are buying yourself more time to spend with friends and family outside of work while remaining healthy simultaneously.

Career Development

Statistics prove that healthier employees are 3 times more productive than employees in poor health. Employees that exercise daily are more alert during work hours and less likely to get tired during the workday. So that promotion you've been working for might just get that little bit closer!

Feel Happier

It's no secret that exercise makes us happier, but when you combine this with the sun's Vitamin D levels – you have the perfect potion for personal wellbeing.

There are many great reasons why you might consider a healthier lifestyle, commented John Woodward, Founder of Bravo Benefits. The gym does work for some people, but for those that struggle to fit it in their schedule or can't justify the price of membership, Cycle to Work is perfect.

Depending on your weight and exertion level per journey, cycling to work could burn between 75 and 670 calories. Even after you have finished your journey, you will continue to burn calories for a few hours whilst your muscles recover.

If the average employee, working 5 days a week, spent at least 30 minutes a day cycling to work, they'd achieve the recommended amount of physical activity easily.

The cycle to work scheme suits both employers and employees alike, he concluded.

Are you fully invested in your employees' wellbeing? 

Beyond offering Cycle to Work Scheme membership, there's much more to consider in nurturing your team's health. Recognising that wellbeing extends beyond physical health is key, as employees' wellness can be influenced by a variety of factors, from financial worries to mental health concerns.

To provide a well-rounded support system, it's important to cover all areas of your team's health. Building such a comprehensive support package may seem challenging, but we're here to help with a specially designed wellbeing toolkit. This toolkit equips you with:

• A method to review your current wellbeing efforts.
• A step-by-step guide for developing a thorough workplace wellness strategy.
• Understanding of the critical role workplace wellness plays in the success of your organisation.

We present to you our Workplace Wellness Step-by-Step Guide. Download your copy here today and take a holistic approach to your team's wellbeing.