The focus on sustainability and the uniqueness of the business could help us to win, says the operations manager
This year’s Cardiff Business Awards are being hosted on Friday 26 November at City Hall and the Cardiff Cycle Workshop is on the shortlist for two awards.
It is nominated for the Green Business of the Year and the Third Sector Business of the Year awards because of its work as a self-funded, not-for-profit business that offers bike repairs, recycles donated bikes, and runs training courses in the workshop.
The business started 14 years ago from a small workshop in Ely. Today the company runs from Gabalfa and has recently rebranded from Cycle Training Wales to Cardiff Cycle Workshop. It changed focus to repairs because the Covid-19 pandemic halted training sessions.
The bikes that are repaired and sold at the workshop are mainly from donations by the public. They are repaired by the team of volunteers and staff, safety checked and then sold in a weekly sale at the workshop, thereby reducing waste and making cycling accessible to more people.
According to the operations manager of the Cardiff Cycle Workshop Andrew Burns, the team at the workshop has recycled nearly 5,000 bicycles in 14 years, which is approximately 600 per year.
Andrew said he was very proud of the business, especially since they do not receive any funding. “We are quite unique like that in the third sector, not to rely on funding from charitable bodies,” he explained.
The company also takes part in outreach projects. Through its mobile mechanic service Dr Bike the team visit offices, colleges and universities, and community groups offering bike health checks and repairs.
Referring to the business awards Andrew said, “everyday you’re just busy busy busy and something like an award ceremony gives a chance to step back. If you win or are in the final, someone’s looking at what we do and thinking that’s quite good.”
