Planning 2026 workplace benefits? See why Cyclescheme is the cost-neutral, wellbeing and ESG-friendly benefit your people will actually use.

You’re probably already mapping out 2026. New budget. New headcount plan. New pressures. Here’s the thing: the noise around employee benefits isn’t going away. Employees want more support with rising costs. Leaders want wellbeing that actually moves the dial. Sustainability teams want visibly greener choices. Finance wants…well, something that doesn’t cost another chunk of the P&L.

That’s why Cyclescheme should be on your list.

It’s one of those rare benefits that’s free to run, makes people healthier, helps you tick ESG boxes and looks good in your EVP. And because commuting, staff wellbeing and cost-of-living will still be live issues in 2026, a cycle to work scheme is an easy win. Let’s walk it through.

Why workplace benefits will look different in 2026

The data is loud right now.

• HR teams are having to do more with less and are prioritising cost-effective, easy-to-access support

• UK commuting cycling miles per person were up again in 2024, and investment in active travel continues

• The Cycle to Work Scheme delivers £573m a year in benefits to the UK economy through productivity, healthier employees and spending in local bike shops 

So what does that mean for you? Employees want a benefits package that offers practical support. Not just yoga on a Thursday. They want to spend less getting to work and feel better when they get there.

You need benefits that do more than one job. Employee wellbeing + sustainability + financial wellbeing. Budgets will be scrutinised. So cost-neutral and cost-positive benefits will be the easiest to approve. That’s exactly where Cyclescheme sits.

Workplace benefits that do more: where Cyclescheme fits

Let’s spell this out. In 2026, you don’t just need a benefit. You need a benefit with a story.

Cyclescheme gives you that story.

1. It’s proven and trusted

Cyclescheme has been running for 20 years, is used by 50,000+ UK employers and more than a million riders, and sits right inside HMRC/Department for Transport guidance. That gives your finance and compliance teams confidence. You’re not trialling a start-up. You’re plugging into the UK’s original, best-known cycle to work scheme.

2. It directly supports wellbeing

Cycling is still one of the simplest ways to improve mental health support, employee engagement, and productivity. In earlier Cyclescheme research, 82% of participants said they felt less stressed after cycling to work, and stress and mental ill health are still the top drivers of absence in UK workplaces. Pair that with the 2025 wellbeing trend reports and you’ve got a clear link between active commuting and healthier staff.

3. It actively helps your ESG/CSR agenda

Every employee who swaps the car or train for a bike reduces emissions, congestion and the Monday-morning moans. You can report on it. You can shout about it internally. You can align with government active travel goals. It’s a neat, visible sustainability win.

 4. It’s free to set up and can save you money

This is the point your finance director will love. Cyclescheme is free to join. You recover the bike cost via salary sacrifice. And on top of that you save up to around 13.8-15% in Employer National Insurance Contributions for every employee who uses the scheme. More bikes = more saving. Cost-positive workplace benefits in 2026? Yes please.

What employees actually get (and why they’ll care)

Here’s why uptake is good with Cyclescheme: it helps with real life.

Up to 47% off cycling gear

Because the salary sacrifice happens before tax and NI, employees can save up to 47% on a bike, e-bike or accessories. That’s a big, feelable saving in a cost-of-living world.

Spread the cost

Most employees don’t want to drop £1,500 in one go. With Cyclescheme, they spread it interest-free over 12 months (or longer, depending on how you set it up). No credit check.

 2,600+ retailers

This matters. Choice = inclusion. Staff can go to their local independent, a big-name retailer, or shop online. That’s more than any other provider, and it’s one of Cyclescheme’s clearest USPs.

 E-bikes = inclusive commuting

Longer commute? Hilly city? Returning to work after illness? E-bikes make cycling possible for more people. Cyclescheme is pushing to make e-bike commuting mainstream, which helps you make your benefit more inclusive.

 Extras employees love

14 days’ free insurance, access to cycling content, and the BHN Extras platform for more deals. It feels like a package, not just a one-off purchase.

The business case for HR, Reward and Finance

Let’s make this practical. You need to justify every benefit you add to your 2026 plan.

Cost-neutral (and often cost-positive)

You pay the supplier. The employee repays you through gross salary deductions. You save Employer NIC. So, after cashflow timing, there’s no net cost. For 2026, when reward budgets will be competing with AI, L&D and talent attraction, that’s powerful.

Low admin

Cyclescheme doesn’t dump a load of process on you. We manage the ownership/end-of-hire part, which is where lots of HR teams get nervous. You get ready-made comms, guidance and a platform that your employees can self-serve from. You just approve. That’s it.

Supports EVP and recruitment

‘Cycle to Work Scheme (e-bikes included)’ looks good on a careers page. It says you care about wellbeing, money and the planet, all the things younger workers and high performers are asking about in interviews. With burnout, sickness absence and commuting stress all up in 2025, this kind of visible wellbeing support really matters.

Easy ESG reporting

Want to show “X employees supported into active travel in 2026”? Cyclescheme helps you tell that story.

How to add Cyclescheme to your 2026 workplace benefits plan

This isn’t a six-month project. It’s a few simple steps.

• Register your organisation. It’s free and quick.

• Set a scheme limit. You decide how much staff can request.

• Plug into BHN Extras. So employees get single sign-on and more benefits.

• Launch with comms. Cyclescheme gives you promotional materials, including Cycle to Work Day ideas.

• Approve requests and reclaim. You approve, payroll applies the salary sacrifice, job done.

• Run it alongside your existing perks e.g. healthcare, EV schemes, gym discounts. You suddenly look like an employer that truly supports better commuting.

What to measure in 2026

You’ll want to prove it’s working, so we recommend you track:

• Uptake: how many employees requested a Certificate

• Employer NIC savings: show Finance the money

• Engagement/wellbeing scores: link cycling to lower stress

• CO2/active travel metrics: good for ESG and annual reports

• Retention sentiment: collecting a few quotes goes a long way

Cyclescheme: put it on the radar now

2026 will reward employers who pick benefits that work hard. Cyclescheme helps your people save money, get healthier and feel good about the way they commute. It helps you hit ESG targets. And it’s free to join, with employer savings built in. So if you’re shortlisting your workplace benefits package right now, add Cyclescheme to the ‘yes’ pile. It’s one of the easiest wins you’ll have next year.

FAQs: workplace benefits planning for 2026

Can I run Cyclescheme even if most of my staff are hybrid or remote?

Yes. As long as the bike is used for work-related journeys some of the time (commuting to the office, between sites, to meetings), employees can still join.

Can I cap how much employees spend through the scheme?

Yes. When you set up Cyclescheme you choose the limit that works for your business model, risk appetite and typical salary bands.

We already run several workplace benefits. Will this create admin overload?

No. Cyclescheme is designed to be low-touch. You approve requests and payroll applies the deductions. Cyclescheme handles the complex ownership bit. So, it will sit comfortably alongside other popular employee benefits such as flexible working policies, remote working, employee discounts, a four-day working week, company cars, private medical insurance, and workplace pension schemes.

What if an employee wants just accessories, not a bike?

That’s fine. Employees can get helmets, locks, lights, panniers and other safety kit through Cyclescheme, which is great for encouraging safer commuting.

Can we promote it more than once a year?

You should. Uptake is higher when you re-promote around Cycle to Work Day, spring commuting, fuel price rises or wellbeing weeks.

Does Cyclescheme work with bikes over £1,000?

Yes. The old cap is no longer a blocker. You can support higher-value bikes, including e-bikes, as long as you set the right limit for your business.

Can charities, schools and public sector employers use Cyclescheme?

Yes. Cyclescheme already works with thousands of public sector and education employers, and because it’s cost-neutral, it fits tight budgets.

How fast can employees get their bikes once we approve them?

In many cases, employees can collect their bike the same week the Certificate is issued, sometimes even the same day, depending on the retailer.

Can we report on usage and savings for our board/ESG report?

Yes. You’ll have access to employer-level insight so you can show participation, savings and the impact on your workforce offer.

Is Cyclescheme the same as other cycle to work providers?

The concept is the same, but Cyclescheme has the widest retailer network, 20 years of expertise, handles the end-of-hire process for you, and actively supports e-bikes, which is why many employers prefer it.