M&C Saatchi gives staff 'Maurice Bikes'

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The advertising agency M&C Saatchi, which has been working for the Olympic Delivery Authority and the Government’s award-winning Change 4Life campaign, is now encouraging its own employees to ‘get ahead of the games’ by using bicycles as the best transport option for London and is also challenging them to take more exercise.

While the Olympic and Paralympic Games are on, M&C Saatchi has taken a leaf out of the Barclays-sponsored ‘Boris Bikes’ scheme and is providing free bikes for employees, named ‘Maurice Bikes’ after agency co-founder Lord Maurice Saatchi.

The agency is also encouraging its employees to walk and cycle to work while the games are on, as part of the Change4Life ‘Big Commute’ initiative.

M&C Saatchi has created a new Olympic themed app called ‘The Big Commute’ for its staff, which will collect data on how much energy individual employees burn walking or using Maurice Bikes.

Results will be instantly uploaded to a score board in the reception of the M&C Saatchi office at 36 Golden Square. The individuals and the agency floor which burns the most extra energy each week will be in with a chance of winning a range of prizes from a trip to Paris through to an extra three free days’ holiday.

The agency floor that comes last over the six week period will be summoned to Boot Camp in Golden Square, delivered by a trainer from The Third Space Gym.

To encourage participation, posters designed by M&C Saatchi’s creatives have been placed around the agency.

One can but hope that the bikes will remain available for M&C Saatchi staff even after the Games and that it will bring forth many new cycling commuters amongst the agency's staff.

© 2012