Wheels 2 Work project

BLD PROVIDES BIKES FOR LOCAL ‘WHEELS TO WORK’ JOB SCHEME

BLD Group, Hampshire’s specialist motorcycle company, are delighted to be able to work with Community First New Forest and their Wheels to Work scheme. BLD will be assisting in supplying mopeds, breakdown cover, crash repairs, riding kit and mechanical services for the initiative which endeavours to ensure that young people between age 16 and 25 have a greater ability to get to work.

Wheels to Work will fund their Compulsory Basic Training and will then be able to provide a first class scooter and kit package for the young person. With 16 mopeds ready to go now and more on standby we are looking forward to a great start to our new relationship.

Community First New Forest’s Wheels to Work is helping young, unemployed and disadvantaged people get into work, but mainstream support is vital to keep these schemes, up and down the country, on the road, according to the Countryside Agency. The approach, pioneered by the Agency with local business partners and now adopted by more than fifty independent schemes around England, works to break a vicious circle that many young people in rural areas can face: without their own transport they can’t get to a job or training; without a job, or the skills to secure a job in future, they can’t afford the means to get around.

Wheels to Work provides subsidised transport to help individuals access training and employment appointments. Once a person has been earning for a few months and their employment is secured, they are encouraged to move on towards addressing their own travel arrangements.

The Hants Moped Loan schemes are currently operated by Community First New Forest across the New Forest and Test Valley having recently expanded into Winchester City Council and East Hampshire. They have been running since the year 2000 and have assisted many young adults with transport.

Stuart Dobson, Operations Director of BLD commented,

“BLD is delighted to be involved with Wheels to Work and to be assisting young people in the local community in the start of their careers. Many of us take getting to work for granted but perhaps have forgotten that when we first started work finding a job which we could get to in a reasonable amount of time and at a cost that made sense limited our options.

By being given the opportunity to work with the “wheels to work” scheme that barrier to employment will no longer exist. It’s a great idea and we look forward to seeing the fruits of our involvement as young people’s careers flourish.”

Graham Hartless, Transport Manager Community First New Forest, added,

“It’s great news that BLD have agreed to supply us with mopeds, and we too look forward to seeing the benefits of giving these young people an initial boost in their ability to find work.”

For more information contact the Transport Officer on 01425 482773 or
email transport@cfnf.org.uk or mopedadmin@cfnf.org.uk for the New Forest and Test Valley
or mopedloan@cfnf.org.uk for Winchester and East Hampshire.
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/passengertransport/communitytransport/wheels-to-work.htm



For further information please contact:

BLD Group Tel: 0845 4020645
Jemma van Overbeek, Marketing Assistant

Lothbury Financial Tel: 020 7011 9411
Simon Astley

Notes to Editors

Background to BLD Group

BLD group was established in 2000 and specialises in motorcycle claims and accident management services with the largest fleet of bikes in the UK today. In 2007 BLD broadened its services by investing in two state of the art motorcycle repair centres providing full UK nationwide coverage to the major insurance brokers.

BLD provides its services primarily to motorcycle insurance brokers and also to insurers, ULR/LEI providers, solicitors, dealers, bodyshops, CHOs and individuals. BLD also provides claims reception facilities, salvage services, replacement bikes and bike transportation services through its UK infrastructure.

BLD is the only company in these sectors to focus solely on the motorcycle market and is therefore the only true specialist in this sector.

www.bldgroup.co.uk