Fourth Cytech training facility opens in London

Posted on 15 Mar 2013

The Kings Cross training facility formally opened last week, giving Cytech their first presence in the Capital.

Cycling in London is experiencing an unprecedented growth with over 600,000 bike journeys every day. In response to the growing number of cyclists, GetMoreBikes, a new social enterprise in King's Cross, is offering Londoners a range of services to help boost cycling in the city.

The kick-start for the social enterprise is the new Cytech workshop and training centre in partnership with ATG Training, which launched last week. The centre is based in one of London's poorest communities, Bemerton Estate, located between Caledonian Road and the new £15 billion St Pancras development.

With three other training centres in the UK located in Aylesbury, Stafford and Milton Keynes, Cytech has long been looking to expand into London.

Cytech is the recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle mechanics and retail staff, delivering training and promotion of technical and retail skills to the cycle and outdoor trade as well as enthusiasts throughout the UK.

Cytech is now recognised nationally as a benchmark brand, which accredits and promotes the skills of cycle mechanics and retail staff.

There are currently over 500 Cytech accredited cycle shops in the UK and thousands of Cytech qualified mechanics.

The expansion into London will allow for more cycle mechanics to become qualified in London and the surrounding area, boosting the profile of cycle maintenance and the Cytech qualification even further.

This in turn will help to boost the number of Cytech accredited bike shops, giving consumers peace of mind that their bike is in safe hands.

The public can find their local Cytech accredited shop via the shop finder on Cytech.uk.com.

ATG Training not only offer technical training to bike mechanics but have also introduced a retail apprenticeship, designed especially for the cycles and outdoor trade.

Cytech Technical Training and Apprenticeship enrolment can be booked now at www.cycletraining.co or by calling 0845 873 8440

Steve Connelly co-founder of GetMoreBikes, said of the development: "It is a win all round. We are creating local employment opportunities and training young people to fulfil a growing need in their community. More frequent and safer cycling in London benefits the health and well-being of the community, reduces pressure on the overloaded transport system, and is better for the environment. Longer term our apprentices will be supported in starting their own business replicating those benefits to a wider community. It's about sustainable employment, sustainable business and sustainable community - everybody wins"