Cycle to work with the Green Commute Initiative!
You’ll have your own reasons for wanting to cycle to work, but there are probably more benefits than you realise. Here are just some of them:
✓ A healthier you – both in mind and body
✓ Reaching your fitness goals more quickly
✓ A happier you as you become healthier and fitter
✓ Enjoying your commute to work so you arrive on time and feeling energised
✓ Becoming more effective in your work
✓ Saving money on fuel and car parking costs
As well as personally benefitting from cycling from work, there are environmental benefits including less congestion and less pollution through lower emissions and reduced noise.
Here at Urban eBikes we favour the UK's industry-leading scheme - The Green Commute Initiative, which works with all our brands of eBikes such as - Stromer, Qwic, Raleigh, Coboc, Lapierre, Haibike and more
How the scheme works
- The first step is to choose your new eBike and any accessories you might need. We refer to this as the ‘bike package’. The package will obviously contain a bike but you can also include safety equipment, clothing, tools and spares. HMRC rules mean you are not allowed to include GPS or bike computers.
- The next step is to submit an application. If your organisation is registered with us, you’ll need your GCI (Green Commute Initiative) Employer Code and submit via the Corporate application page on the Green Commute website - here.
- When submitting an Instant GCI application, a pro-forma invoice will be emailed to you. This is for a GCI voucher to cover the cost of the package. Please take the pro-forma invoice to your HR department so payment can be made. Without payment, your application will not be processed.
- When submitting a Corporate GCI application, your request will be sent to your HR department for approval and they will arrange payment for a GCI voucher to cover the cost of the package.
- When your application is approved and payment received, GCI will process your application and confirm the order with us. GCI will email you two documents for electronic signature; the Hire Agreement (3 months) and the Salary Sacrifice agreement. Please sign both of them. Until we receive the signed documents, nothing further will happen with your application.
- Since your employer has paid GCI for the voucher, you’ll need to reimburse them. This done via a salary sacrifice arrangement. Your employer will reduce your gross (before tax) pay by the value of the voucher. This means you won’t pay tax or National Insurance on the amount of salary you sacrifice. Depending on your tax rate, you’ll save either 32%*, 42%* or 47%* on the cost of the package. We recommend you insure the bike package as even in the event of theft, your salary sacrifice will continue.
- The salary sacrifice period will vary and you should ask your employer what repayment period is acceptable to them. Common periods are 12 – 24 months but can be as much as 60 months. Remember, the Salary Sacrifice Agreement is between you and your employer and is entirely separate from the Hire Agreement with GCI.
- When the 3-month Hire Agreement with GCI expires, we will contact you with ownership options. We will recommend that you take the Extended Loan option (5 years and 9 months) to take the bike to 6 years old. At this point, there will be no Benefit-in-Kind tax payable to HMRC. If you want to take ownership before the bike is 6- years old, we will advise your payroll department of the tax payable for your P11D.
- If you opt for the Extended Loan Agreement, when the bike is 6 years old, we will contact you to arrange the transfer of ownership. This will be a separate agreement and subject to a £1 processing fee. The £1 simply acts as a marker to protect you from any future claim that HMRC may make.
For more info and to start the process call us now or view our eBike range here.
