News

Bike Station announces new Chief Executive Officer

Press release:

New CEO Sasha Taylor to lead the Bike Station in seeking new challenges and opportunities to break down barriers to cycling across Scotland.

The Bike Station is delighted to announce the appointment of our new CEO, Sasha Taylor who took up post on 16 October 2018.

Most recently with Starcatchers, Scotland’s National Arts and Early Years Charity, Sasha has a track record of innovation, creativity and successful business development. Prior to this role Sasha had worked with a range of third sector organisations focused on challenging inequality and improving lives and so brings to the role of Bike Station CEO a broad and deep experience of working with diverse communities. We are excited and delighted to welcome her on board and look forward to to working with her to to deliver our mission in removing the barriers that stand between people and cycling in Scotland.

Sasha Taylor said, “I am thrilled to take up role at Chief Executive for The Bike Station. Scotland has an opportunity to lead the way in sustainable and affordable active travel; benefiting individuals, communities and protecting our environment. The Bike Station has a respected place within our communities, as the place to go for affordable bikes, built and serviced by our passionate, experienced and talented mechanics. With continued support and donations from the public and with the enthusiasm and expertise of our team The Bike Station is well placed to ensure the benefits and joys of riding a bike for both adventure and travel are available to all.”

Chair of the Bike Station Alan Brown said, “This is both a challenging and exciting time for the Bike Station and we are incredibly lucky to have secured Sasha’s expertise. She’s bringing us not just drive, energy and in-depth knowledge of the third sector but also a great deal of bike and cycling knowledge. I know that the whole board is looking forward to working with Sasha to secure our future and spread cycling far and wide into Scottish society.”

About The Bike Station

The Bike Station is a social enterprise dedicated to helping people to overcome barriers to cycling in Scotland, with sites in Edinburgh and Perth (Dundee opening soon). We recycle donated bikes, sell them at affordable prices and use the proceeds to help people across Scotland get cycling for better mental and physical health, and for the health of the environment. We help people learn to ride their bicycles safely and to repair them themselves. As a charitable company we also support our activities through grant funding Beginning as an informal primary school bike swap nearly 20 years ago, we have since grown to become a Scotland-wide professional bicycle recycling business. We work for a future where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy cycling and its benefits, and can access the support, advice and skills they need to keep their bike safely on the road.

Job: Chief Executive Officer, The Bike Station (Recycle to Cycle Ltd)

Post title: Chief Executive Officer

Please note this post has been filled.

Starting Salary: £40,000 pro rata

Status: Part-time: 3 days / 22 hours per week. Following a successful six month probationary period the post will become permanent.
Relationships & accountability: The CEO is accountable to the Chair and Board and will line manage The Bike Station senior management team, with responsibility for the overall leadership and management of the organisation.

Location: The post will divide time between The Bike Station Edinburgh on Causewayside and The Bike Station Perth. The exact split will be determined by operational needs, but a regular presence in both locations is expected. Travel to other locations in Scotland will sometimes be required.

Organisation profile:
We are a social enterprise and charitable company. Now the largest recycler of bikes in the UK with 25 employees and a turnover of £750,000 our aim is a future where everyone has the opportunity to cycling and its benefits, and access to the support, advice and skills they need to keep their bike safely on the road. We refurbish donated bikes, sell them at affordable prices and use the proceeds to overcome barriers to cycling in Scotland.

The post:
We are seeking someone confident, enthusiastic and able to achieve great things with limited resources to build upon past successes and identify and engage with new opportunities for growth. Our CEO will be a great communicator, well versed in financial planning and reporting and committed to our aims. Responsible for the overall leadership and management of the organisation, including its financial viability and sustainability, they will seek out, initiate and develop new opportunities and relationships for The Bike Station across Scotland.

Application is by CV and letter of interest, stating why you would like the role and outlining how you fit the person specification, to: chair@thebikestation.org.uk We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Deadline for applications: 12 noon Monday 9th July 2018

Interviews: will be held week beginning July 16th 2018

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Alan Brown at chair@thebikestation.org.uk

Personal Specification

Main duties and responsibilities:

  • Ensuring robust management of the senior team through outstanding leadership.
  • Working with the Board to implement the organisational strategy, policy and efficient procedures to ensure the organisation delivers its obligations to its volunteers and community.
  • Development and delivery of business plans and fundraising activity to ensure income is continually secured to deliver the organisation objectives.
  • Provision of a sound governance, risk management and financial management framework

The successful applicant will:

  • Identify ambitious growth plans for The Bike Station and clearly communicate how they will be achieved
  • Prepare and present budgets and forecasts and work with the Board to ensure a sustainable future for the organisation
  • Provide the Board with timely and accurate management information to enable it to make informed strategic decisions
  • Think strategically and plan workflow accordingly with limited resources
  • Find and secure new opportunities for funding and partnerships
  • Act as spokesperson for The Bike Station for the press and media and at events as necessary, alongside the project managers
  • Direct the effective marketing and sale of refurbished bicycles and accessories
  • Deliver robust and supportive management to build an effective and committed team of staff and volunteers
  • Set a positive, honest and enthusiastic tone and working environment
  • Uphold a commitment to high quality across all our products and services

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

  • Experience of managing an organisation or department with similar turnover and of similar scale
  • Experience writing and developing business plans and budgets
  • Experience of managing funding applications to trusts and tendering for statutory funding
  • Strategic thinking and leadership skills
  • Creative problem-solving with the ability to work with sometimes constrained resources
  • A dynamic and positive attitude capable of motivating and persuading others
  • Creative problem-solving and the ability to work with sometimes constrained resources

The ability to demonstrate any of the following would be desirable but not essential:

  • Retail industry experience
  • Experience of successful high value fundraising
  • Knowledge of HR policies and procedures
  • Experience of driving organisational change
  • Experience of the bike trade

Additional information:

The post holder may from time-to-time be required to work outside the normal working hours – either as flexible hours or Time off in Lieu (TOIL).
The particular duties and responsibilities attached to this post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility, with any changes being undertaken in agreement with the post holder.

The Bike Station, 250 Causewayside, Newington, Edinburgh EH9 1UU. Registered as Recycle-to-Cycle Ltd, a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered in Edinburgh under company numbers SC237798 and SC237799. Scottish charity number SC033703.

Brake The Cycle

We were really happy to offer over refurbished kids bikes to the Brake the Cycle project today. The bikes had been donated to us by the public and then refurbished through our prisons projects before being handed over to the team at Brake the Cycle.

Brake the Cycle is an Edinburgh City Council lead recycling project which takes old and unwanted bikes and renovates them. The bikes are then given away for free to community groups, and youth groups, or to individual people and the project offers those a bike who, under their normal circumstance, may not be able to afford one.

If you would like to find out more, or even apply for a bike yourself or for someone you know, please follow the link below:

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20135/cycling_projects/671/apply_for_a_bike_from_brake_the_cycle

From Monday 26th of February we will be opening earlier and closing later throughout the working week. This is so that you can fit all your cycling needs around your busy work lives.
Feel free to take advantage of our new opening hours by booking in repairs, coming in for advice, or taking your time over your new bike purchase.
New opening hours as of Monday the 19th of February:
 
MONDAY              Closed*
TUESDAY             8am – 7pm
WEDNESDAY      8am – 8pm
THURSDAY          8am – 7pm
FRIDAY                 8am – 7pm
SATURDAY          10am – 5pm
SUNDAY               Closed
 
*Repair drop off and donations only on a Monday.

Cycle Friendly Employer Plus Award for RBS Gogarburn

RBS cycle friendly employer award

The Edinburgh Bike Station is proud to have supported the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Gogarburn HQ, who have been presented with the first-ever Cycle Friendly Employer Plus Award in Scotland.

Keith Irving, CEO of Cycling Scotland, and Wendy Graham from the Edinburgh Bike Station presented the award to Ross McEwan, CEO of RBS and David Monaghan, chief cycle champion at RBS.

This award is in recognition of the sterling efforts of RBS Gogarburn to support and encourage more staff to cycle. Efforts have included the introduction of a business mileage rate, the introduction of a pool bike scheme for staff, an exemplary bicycle user groups, support from senior management, and excellent changing and parking facilities.

The award is delivered with funding from Transport Scotland and supported by Healthy Working Lives.

The Edinburgh Bike Station is an accredited Cycling Scotland service centre, delivering local support for employers registered for the award.

The Cycle Friendly Employer Award is open to all Scottish employers. Interested employers can register online by completing a short questionnaire at www.cycling.scot.  Alternatively any Edinburgh and Lothians workplaces can contact Wendy at the Bike Station on wendy[at]thebikestation.org.uk for further details. There is also more information here.

Ninewells Dr Bike and Sales

On Wednesday 15th November, 2017 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, our mechanics are at the leaf community garden today in Ninewells Hospital Dundee. To help Staff, patients and Visitors at the hospital why not pop along to say hello or to break up those long appointments.

For more information call us on 01382 250 960.

Thank you

Dr Bike Event – Broughty Ferry

Sunday 19th November 2017 will be our final day at the Broughty Ferry Cycle Path. Please pop over to say your goodbyes to our mechanics who have worked hard oon everyone’s bikes over the last few months. See you on Sunday 19th November from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Hoping to be back helping the local biking community at Broughty Ferry in the near future. For more information call us on 01382 250 960 or check out our social media pages.

Thank you!

The Bike Station Perth

Dr Bike Event Broughty Ferry

New Maintenance Class Dates for 2018

New Maintenance Class Dates for 2018

New dates for our popular Maintenance Classes are below. Remember to book asap as there are limited spaces on the courses and we tend to book up quickly.

Please book by calling 0131 668 1996 emailing info@thebikestation.org.uk

 

*Session 1* (£35) Dates:

Tuesday 4th September  7:30pm – 9:30pm

Tuesday 2nd October  7:30pm – 9:30pm

Tuesday  6th November  7:30pm – 9:30pm

Tuesday 4th December  7:30pm – 9:30pm

 

*Session 2* (£35) Dates:

Tuesday 11th September  7:30pm – 9:30pm

Tuesday 9th October  7:30pm – 9:30pm

Tuesday 13th November  7:30pm – 9:30pm

Tuesday 11th December  7:30pm – 9:30pm

 

Note: Once a booking has been made and payment received, a cancellation policy of 7 days notice will apply. If a cancellation is made within 7 days of the class starting, we will only be able to make a refund if we are able to fill the place. We reserve the right to cancel a course if we do not receive a minimum number of bookings – you will receive a full refund in this instance.

The Bike Station moves to Perth city centre premises

The Bike Station Perth opened its doors on a new base, the former Peddie’s warehouse at 284 High Street, marking a huge expansion for the Bike Station Perth which has operated from a Mid Friarton Industrial Estate site since 2010 – and giving the large empty city centre property a brand new lease of life.

This new 5,500 square foot space puts our services into a central location with easy access to public transport hubs and adjacent parking.

The Bike Station Perth’s team of six staff and local community volunteers will be able to collect, refurbish and sell (at reasonable prices) many more bikes for all ages, as well as offering an expanded repair and servicing facility.

The Bike Station team collects bikes taken to recycling centres in Perth and Kinross and, along with those donated directly to their shop, carefully services them before selling them on, complete with a three-month warranty, for many more years of use.

Since it opened in 2010, over 22,000 bikes have been collected from throughout Perth and Kinross, with 333 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill. Many of the bikes have only slight faults like punctures – some have been outgrown by their former young owners, and others are just unwanted and unused.

Bike Station board member and environment vice-convener, Councillor Mike Williamson, said: “The opportunity to reuse and recycle bikes in Perth and Kinross has just become even easier. The Bike Station Perth is now in the city centre, which can only be a positive thing for residents, the environment and the charity.”

Mark Sinclair, manager of The Bike Station Perth, added: “Our team is dedicated to cycling, checking, sorting, cleaning bikes, and we want to help encourage you to get on your bike with us and enjoy getting a little fitter in body and mind.

“We have worked really hard as a team to move as fast as possible into this really exciting new building, and once complete we will be able to offer our customers an amazing experience, with more bikes and accessories on display in our showroom. Our repair and servicing facility will also be improved to offer a more customer friendly experience.”

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