Save between 28 - 47% on a Forest bike subscription.
In a partnership between Green Commute Initiative and Forest, you can
now pay for a Forest bike subscription using the Cycle to Work Scheme and make
significant savings.
Forest is London’s most affordable and sustainable shared ebike service. With a fleet of over 15,000
ebikes covering over 100 square miles of the capital, and they are committed to getting as many
Londoners travelling from A to B, efficiently and affordably. You can now get Forest’s cost-effective,
Annual Cycle to Work Subscription through GCI, which provides users with 1,800 minutes a month,
and removes all unlocking and daily service fees!
Here's how it works:
Your employer will pay for the bike subscription upfront and then you will repay them via a
salary sacrifice agreement. As the payments come out of your gross salary, you will save
tax and National Insurance on the value of the subscription. Depending on your tax rate, you will
either save 28%, 42% or 47%.
Once approved and paid by your employer, your subscription will be activated based on the email
used in your application. This should match the email used to set up your Forest account.
Apply for a Forest Cycle to Work scheme via Green Commute Initiative. Forest offers a 12-month
Forest ebike subscription for £540.
Example Savings
12-month Forest ebike subscription (£540)
Tax Rate
You Pay
You Save
Effective Monthly Cost
Basic (28%)
£388.80
£151.20
£32.40
Higher (42%)
£313.20
£226.80
£26.10
Additional (47%)
£286.20
£253.80
£23.85
With a Forest ebike annual Cycle to Work subscription, you get the following:
Annual Cycle to Work Subscription
1,800 minutes a month
Removal of all unlocking and daily service fees
Option to set a future start date*
* If you are applying during a scheme window or about to go on holiday, you may wish to set up a
future start date for your subscription. Please note: Your employer will likely start your salary
sacrifice straight away even if you choose a future start date for the subscription.
Simple to take part
Check the available locations (14 boroughs across London)
Download the Forest app and register with Forest to accept their T&Cs
Use the same email to apply for your voucher on GCI’s website
Application approved by your employer
Sign the Salary Sacrifice Agreement
GCI emails confirmation to employee and Forest
Forest activate your subscription based on the email supplied to GCI
Important information
To fulfil the Forest subscription, you will need to download the Forest app, create an account, accept
the terms and conditions and add a credit card to cover any additional fees and charges.
For full terms and conditions on proper use of Forest vehicles please visit https://www.humanforest.co.uk/terms-of-service.
It is the user’s responsibility to read these in full however we draw attention to the following information:
Forest is responsible for the fulfilment of your order once the order has been processed by
GCI. Forest will send a fulfilment email when this is complete. This email is sent within five
working days of receiving the fulfilment email from GCI. The subscription period starts on
the start date entered on application or, if left blank, when you receive your confirmation
email from Forest, even if you have not yet downloaded the app or taken a journey.
If you leave your employer during the period of your subscription you remain liable for the
full amount agreed in your salary sacrifice and the subscription remains in place.
Apply Now
Employers registered with Green Commute Initiative will be given a unique employer code which should be entered below.
By submitting this application you are agreeing to download the Forest app, create an account,
accept their terms and conditions and add a credit card to cover any additional fees and
charges.
For full terms and conditions on proper use of forest vehicles please visit https://www.humanforest.co.uk/terms-of-service.
It is the user’s responsibility to read these in full however we draw attention to the following
information:
Forest is responsible for the fulfilment of your order once the order has been
processed by GCI. Forest will send a fulfilment email when this is complete. This email is
sent within 48 working hours of receiving your fulfilment email from GCI. The
subscription period starts when you receive your confirmation email from Forest even
if you have not yet downloaded the app or taken a journey.
Your employer will likely start your salary sacrifice straight away even if you choose a future start date.
If you leave your employer during the period of your subscription you remain liable for
the full amount agreed in your salary sacrifice and the subscription remains in place.
This application is for a 12-month subscription only.
Your application will be sent to your employer for their approval.
GCI will email you once your application is complete. We send your details to Forest who will
arrange activation of your subscription.
Thank you for submitting your Green Commute Initiative application.
Your application has been sent to your employer for their approval.
What happens next?
You will receive an automatic email once your application is approved.
We aim to send the salary sacrifice agreement within a working day of receiving approval.
The salary sacrifice agreement must be electronically signed. Once the document is signed, we will send confirmation to you and Forest to arrange activation of your bike subscription. We aim to process this within the same working day.
On receiving confirmation your order has been processed, Forest will then be in touch with you in the next 5 working days to arrange activation of your bike subscription
You should receive an email from us within the next few moments. If this hasn't arrived, please check your junk/spam folders.
Thank you for submitting your Green Commute Initiative application.
On receiving confirmation your order has been processed, will then be in touch with you in the next 5 working days to arrange activation of your bike subscription
You should receive an email from us within the next few moments. If this hasn't arrived, please check your junk/spam folders.
Thank you for submitting your Green Commute Initiative application.
Your application has been sent to your employer for their approval.
What happens next?
You will receive an automatic email once your application is approved.
We aim to send the salary sacrifice agreement within a working day of receiving approval.
The salary sacrifice agreement must be electronically signed. Once the document is signed, we will send the invoice for your application to your employer. As soon as we receive payment we will then send confirmation to you and to arrange activation of your bike subscription. We aim to process this within the same working day.
On receiving confirmation your order has been processed, will then be in touch with you in the next 5 working days to arrange activation of your bike subscription.
You should receive an email from us within the next few moments. If this hasn't arrived, please check your junk/spam folders.
Thank you for submitting your Green Commute Initiative application.
Your application has been sent to your employer for their approval.
What happens next?
You will receive an automatic email once your application is approved.
We will send the invoice for your application to your employer once they have approved your application. As soon as we receive payment we will then send confirmation to you and to arrange activation of your bike subscription. We aim to process this within the same working day.
On receiving confirmation your order has been processed, will then be in touch with you in the next 5 working days to arrange activation of your bike subscription.
You should receive an email from us within the next few moments. If this hasn't arrived, please check your junk/spam folders.
Thank you for submitting your Green Commute Initiative application.
Your application has been sent to your employer for their approval.
What happens next?
You will receive an automatic email once your application is approved.
Once your subscription application is processed, we will send confirmation to you and to arrange activation of your bike subscription. We aim to process this within the same working day.
On receiving confirmation your order has been processed, will then be in touch with you in the next 5 working days to arrange activation of your bike subscription.
You should receive an email from us within the next few moments. If this hasn't arrived, please check your junk/spam folders.
Start Date If you are applying during a scheme window or about to go on holiday you may wish to setup a future start date for your subscription. Please enter this in the format DD/MM/YYYY. If the format is invalid or the field is left blank, your subscription will start once Forest email you confirmation. This is usually within 48 hours of receiving confirmation from GCI that your application has been processed.
Your employer will likely start your salary sacrifice straight away even if you choose a future start date.
What equipment can be included in a GCI Cycle to Work Application?
A bicycle, tricycle or e-bike. E-bikes need to be electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs), must have a maximum power output of 250 watts and should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph.
Accessories including helmets, bells, lights, panniers and luggage carriers, child safety seats, locks and chains.
Reflective clothing and reflective cycle equipment.
Pumps, puncture repair kits, tools and replacement parts to keep a cycle roadworthy.
Not included:
Bike computers with or without GPS.
Cameras.
Any clothing (including waterproof clothing) that is not reflective.
What is Instant GCI?
Applications to GCI’s Cycle to Work Scheme can be made through either the Corporate or Instant platforms. Corporate GCI is ideal for large organisations who anticipate a large volume of applications. Instant GCI is our pay-as-you-go scheme which is perfect for smaller organisations with ad-hoc applications.
To use the Corporate GCI platform, you must have an employer code. If you do not have a code, this may mean your employer is not registered with GCI. Please check with your HR team. If you are unsure, please call GCI on 020 3740 1836.
You do not require a code to use the Instant GCI platform. Please note, you should not attempt to make a Corporate GCI application on the Instant platform. This will delay your application.
Ordering a YT bike? If you are ordering a bike from YT Industries, you will need to order your bike on the YT website before submitting your GCI application. Select the Prepayment/Payment in Advance option and complete the order. You will then be emailed an order number which you need to provide to GCI.
Ordering a Batribike? If you are ordering from Batribike, you will need to order your bike on the Batribike website before submitting your GCI application. On the payment page, select that you will be using Green Commute Initiative and complete the order. You will then be emailed an order number which you need to provide to GCI.
Third party finance The finance is a normal commercial loan to the employer provided by our finance partner, Akira Financial Ltd. The employer takes a loan for a 12-month period and repays it by monthly direct debit. The employer’s loan is always for 12 months, regardless of the salary sacrifice term. If, for instance, the salary sacrifice was over 24 months, the employer would be bridging the 12-month gap.
There is an interest charge of around 8.5% but this is more than covered by the employer’s 13.8%* National Insurance saving which means the employer is still saving nearly 5%.
Please note the minimum order value for finance is £1,000. This can be one or multiple orders but they all need to take place at the same time in one tranche.
If your organisation requires a finance company to finance the purchase of the voucher, please select yes to ‘Is employer finance required?’. You will then receive an email relating to finance when you submit your order.
* The Government announced on the 23rd September 2022 that from 6th November 2022, the temporary increase in National Insurance rates will be reversed for the rest of the financial year. Additionally, Employer’s National Insurance Contributions will reduce from 15.05% to 13.8%.
During the salary sacrifice period, employers will actually save money as the employer’s National Insurance Contribution will be reduced. This is because employers only pay NIC on the cash element of the salary, not the value of the Cycle to Work benefit. This means employers save 13.8%* on the value of the voucher.
View the following blog post for more information :
* The Government announced on the 23rd September 2022 that from 6th November 2022, the temporary increase in National Insurance rates will be reversed for the rest of the financial year. Additionally, Employer’s National Insurance Contributions will reduce from 15.05% to 13.8%.
What if my preferred bike shop isn’t listed? Most resellers (bike shops) are delighted to work with GCI because it’s a much better deal for them (and therefore you). Ask them to get in touch to become a registered reseller.
At this time, we do not deal with Halfords, Cycle Republic or Wheelies because they only accept vouchers from the Halfords scheme.
Transfer of ownership cost
Unless you wish to take immediate ownership of the bike, there are no fees to pay once the three month hire period has ended. If you choose to enter into the free of charge extended loan period, once this has expired after five years and nine months, we make a nominal charge of £1 to transfer the ownership title to you. This protects you from any HMRC tax charges. If you choose to take ownership before the bike has reached six years old, you will need to pay HMRC a benefit-in-kind tax based on their Fair Market Values table.
How will the salary sacrifice impact my take home pay?
Your monthly take home pay is also known as your net pay, which is the amount you receive after tax, national insurance and other commitments are deducted from your gross pay. The salary sacrifice amounts are also deducted from your gross pay so you don’t pay tax or NI on the amount.
How long can I have salary sacrifice agreement for?
The salary sacrifice agreement is between the employer and employee and covers the repayment of the voucher cost. This can be for any period longer than three months that both parties are happy with. Common terms are 12, 18, 24 months but it could be for as long as 60 months.
Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme is free for employees and their employers. However, there is a cost to administer the scheme and all scheme providers charge the bike retailers a commission. The amount of commission paid varies greatly between providers. GCI is proud to charge the lowest commission rate in the industry; just 5%. Most retailers will absorb this cost however, some may choose to pass it on to the customer. In this case, the retailer must advise the customer upfront so that it may be added to the cost of the bike package. It may not be charged at the point of collection.
Savings
The amount you save is based upon how much Income Tax and National Insurance payments you make. Tax and National Insurance rates vary from time to time and are different in Scotland. Please contact your payroll department for more information or visit https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-rates.
Covid-19 – Green Commute Initiative remains open.
Dear friends,
Just like all businesses across the UK, indeed the world, we are being affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. Whilst many bike shops will remain open, many have decided to close until the situation improves. Undoubtedly, this will affect the supply of bikes into the UK market and it will also affect the ability of consumers to purchase bikes. The team at GCI will continue to process orders but we have put into place extra checks to ensure that the bike shop is able to fulfil your order. This will increase the order processing time which will result in a slight delay to your voucher being issued. We simply ask that you bear with us during these difficult and strange times. We will only pay the bike shops if we are confident that you will get your bike.
As a not-for-profit social enterprise, we are the only cycle to work provider who can guarantee the safe keeping of your bikes. GCI’s constitution prevents it from taking on debt therefore it can never have creditors and cannot become insolvent. This means the bikes are safe and will always end up with the employee. GCI is the only cycle-to-work provider to offer this. In today’s retail environment this is a vital safeguard.
Keep safe The GCI Team
GCI’s constitution is unique from all other providers and as such it manages the relationship between employers and GCI so that employers don’t need a separate FCA authorisation for Credit Brokering. Its as simple as that.
Unlike others, we don’t have to scaremonger to protect an outdated business. We’re offering a genuine, innovative way for forward-looking organisations to move away from the poor value cycle to work schemes of the past, enabling them to offer their employees a better cycle to work solution. This helps more people to reduce the damage we’re all doing to the environment.
Another unique aspect to GCI is bike safekeeping. This is very important because in all plus £1,000 schemes (the model which GCI pioneered) the provider is the hirer and owner of the bikes. If the hirer were to go bust then any liquidator would be forced to maximise the hirer’s assets for the benefit of creditors and that could jeopardise the bikes your employees are paying for. With many of the High Street names struggling, this should be a real concern.
GCI is the only C2W provider who is specifically set up to ensure your employees will get the bikes they sacrificed their salary for. GCI is a not for profit social enterprise. Its constitution prevents it from taking on debt so it can’t have creditors and can’t go bust. It’s a very similar mechanism to the way a trust fund works. It means you and your employees have peace of mind whatever happens with no unpleasant surprises.
What type of bicycle can I get through the scheme? You can choose from E-bikes, road or off-road bikes, folders or cargo bikes. If it’s a bicycle under the Road Traffic Act, it qualifiers.
30-day payment terms We offer 30-day payment terms to public bodies. After your employee has signed their hire and salary sacrifice agreements we will pay the reseller and send your employee their collection voucher. At this point you will receive a VAT invoice and the salary sacrifice agreement.
Where third party finance has been used, the employer will make the finance repayments once the salary sacrifice has started.
Third party finance If your organisation requires a finance company to finance the purchase of the voucher, please tick the relevant box on the online form and GCI will start the process by contacting your employer and the finance company. Please note that this will slightly delay the purchase of the voucher.
If using third party finance, the finance provider will send GCI payment and will also send employer an invoice paid document and instructions on handling the VAT element.
