Staff at GL Garrad Hassan inside the brand new bike shed in St Philips
Renewable energy consultancy GL Garrad Hassan has opened Bristol’s biggest bike shed at its headquarters in St Philips.
Almost half of the organisation’s Bristol-based staff cycle to work regularly, compared with a Bristol average of 14%. In order to accommodate the ever-increasing flow of two-wheeled traffic into the office, GL Garrad Hassan’s President, Dr Andrew Garrad, opened the shed, which accommodates 200 bicycles, yesterday.
The building was partly funded through a central government and local council initiative, which provides funding to support employers who actively encourage cycling. The organisation’s commitment has also been recently acknowledged with nominations in the ‘Better by Bike Business Awards’ from Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council.
As well as providing secure accommodation for bicycles, showers and clothes drying facilities are provided, and regular bike maintenance workshops run by Bristol’s Cycling City and the charity Lifecycle UK.
“I am proud to say that everybody at GL Garrad Hassan has a shared ethos,” said Dr Garrad. “Striving for a cleaner planet is not something which ends when our offices close in the evening. Our people are actively involved in green issues outside work too off their own backs and it is only right that we support them in any way we can.”
Cllr Jon Rogers, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Care and Health, including Cycling City, said: “Renewable energy and green technology are big business in Bristol. And when you work with wind power, then pedal power is the obvious choice of transport.
“Encouraged by Cycling City, many businesses in Bristol seem keen to develop their green travel credentials. We can all benefit from GL Garrad Hassan’s excellent example. When you provide the right facilities and enough of them, you can get your staff taking the healthy and sustainable approach to commuting very rapidly. Healthy and sustainable – a winning combination!”
