Cycle To Work Scheme - other options than through company?

[Hackney]

Just before Christmas I signed up to do the London to Paris 24 hours ride for Scope.
I've started training but really need a new, road-focused bike.

Obviously cycle to work scheme is a great option but my company only allows you start it in September.
It's part of the benefits scheme which you start / amend in Seltember only.

As the ride is in July I obviously need a bike before then and certainly before Sept. And given that I'd effectively pay 40% less using the scheme it seems like throwing money away to pay full price.

Is there a way to run the CTW scheme outside of my employer?

Edited by Hackney on Sunday 22 January 18:54

[anonymous-user]

Unfortunately not...

[Engineer1]

Speak to your local cycle shops, if you can ride in their colours etc then they may be able to sponsor your equipment. Otherwise you may as well go on the 0% finance.

[Magic919]

I paid money for the bike and they refunded the grand when I got the voucher a couple of months later.

[clonmult]

Only allowing it to start in september is a little, er, restrictive of them, isn't it?

Apparently we can apply pretty much any time of year, I'm awaiting the voucher to come through for mine (the approval took less than 24 hours, I was gobsmacked it could be so quick), and hopefully within a week or two I should have a rather good looking Specialized ready for attacking the journey to work.

[Rolls]

swerni said:

The last company I worked for was the same.
It made up part of the benefits package and you got to pick once a year.

Same here

[clonmult]

Rolls said:

swerni said:

The last company I worked for was the same.
It made up part of the benefits package and you got to pick once a year.

Same here

We've got a fairly comprehensive benefits package, but the ride 2 work scheme is outside of that.

Makes me feel pretty good about our places policies; know a few guys who are intending to get their second bike on the scheme, already got their road bike, all now going for a mountain bike.

[The Walrus]

Swerni were you standing over said intern looking slightly menacing whilst this was pushed through ??

[clonmult]

swerni said:

clonmult said:

Rolls said:

swerni said:

The last company I worked for was the same.
It made up part of the benefits package and you got to pick once a year.

Same here

We've got a fairly comprehensive benefits package, but the ride 2 work scheme is outside of that.

Makes me feel pretty good about our places policies; know a few guys who are intending to get their second bike on the scheme, already got their road bike, all now going for a mountain bike.

Current firm are the same.
As we are with Evans it's all online now

Took 2 hours from submitting the form to getting the vouchers.
Having said that I did ask the intern in HR very nicely to rush it through

I guess is depends on size of company, the bigger you are the more rigid you have to be, else it's a nightmare for them to manage.

We're probably a medium sized company, surprisingly good with some HR practices.

However the actual vouchers are submitted on a two-weekly basis, so I could have up to a couple of weeks wait. No fair, don't want to wait, want my new bike NOW!