Willmott Dixon, Kier Construction Western and Wales, Andrew Evans Painting Contractors Ltd, the Cuddy Group, Icon Creative Design Ltd, CriticalArc and Natural Resources Wales have all followed the example set by the City & County of Swansea and pledged funding to the Swansea University #bikes4Swansea scheme.

Swansea University has been shortlisted in the Santander bikesharing competition which will see two UK universities winning £100k worth of capital funding to launch the scheme. Swansea University must raise a minimum of £53,178 through crowdfunding donations between 6^th November and 8^th December. 

Speaking about their donations the companies said:

Neal Stephens, MD Willmott Dixon

“Willmott Dixon are proud to support Bikes4Swansea. Our construction team at Computational Foundry are keen cyclists and understand the health and sustainability benefits of being on two wheels! Swansea University’s winning bid will develop and encourage a cycling community that will enjoy the city’s fantastic coastal location whilst reducing carbon emissions for people and the community”.

Jason Taylor, Operations Director, Kier Construction Western and Wales

“We are thrilled to have become an Associate Organisation for the Santander Bike Scheme, which will provide a fantastic sustainable travel system for Swansea.

“We think it’s vital that such a forward-thinking initiative is being supported and recognised through business and community crowdfunding.

“At Kier we pride ourselves on our commitment to health and safety, and this scheme puts not only health and wellbeing at the forefront, but also promotes safety to our daily travel. It’s for this reason, amongst many others, that we feel so passionate and encouraging of the scheme and are delighted to be able to contribute and help – which will in turn help the future of our local communities.”

Andrew Evans, Andrew Evans Painting Contractors Ltd

“The team at Andrew Evans Painting Contractors Ltd is delighted to support the University’s campaign to bring a bike share scheme to Swansea. We are a local business with links across the city and feel that this city wide bike scheme would be a fantastic development for the whole community, bringing with it all kinds of benefits for local people, businesses like ours and visitors to the city. We would urge other local businesses to get involved with this and pledge their support now before it’s too late!”

Darren Chalmers-Stevens, Managing Director, CriticalArc

“CriticalArc is keen to invest in good causes that support local communities and the environment. Many of the CriticalArc team are keen cyclists, and when we heard of Swansea University’s desire to become the first university in Wales to have a shared cycle scheme we jumped at the chance to support the initiative.”

Andrea Lewis Swansea Council Cabinet member for housing, energy and building services

“The council is fully supportive of this venture and the university in its efforts to bring this sustainable transport scheme to the city.”

Mike O Carroll, Business Development &Marketing Manager, Swansea University said:

“We are delighted with the support that we have received from these important businesses who recognise the benefits that the bikeshare scheme will bring not only for their staff but also the wider community.

“We urge everyone to contribute to the crowdfunding campaign. The more people who invest in the bike scheme the more benefits they will get back.

“If anyone donates they will get something back. A £5 donation mean you can use the bike for a day and £10 will mean you can use it for a week and £25 gives a year’s membership which you can use in 14 countries throughout the world where Nextbike operates.

“We are currently at the top of the leader board with 75% of our target raised. But we must not be complacent as we only have two weeks to go.

“So we urge everyone to  PLEDGE IT, WIN IT, USE IT! “

Keep a track on our progress here;  http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/santander-cycles and encourage everyone to get us to the top of the table.

For further information about the crowdfunding campaign and how to pledge go to  http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bikes4swansea

Picture: Andrew Evans (centre holding the ‘I’ve pledged board’) and a team of site representatives from Kier Construction.