Q. Is there a minimum age for participation?
A. Applicants need to be 18+years on entry.
Q. Is this available for HSBC UK permanent staff only?
A. This event is open to all HSBC UK staff who reside in the UK, including M&S Bank and First Direct, who are employed as of 31 December 2018.
Q. What level of cycling do I need to have?
A. We are inviting all levels of cycling ability to take part. HSBC UK will provide you with training plans to complete and to enable you to ride roughly 100km on consecutive days. The speed of the group will be dictated by the participants of the group.
Q. Does it matter if I don’t own a bicycle?
A. It is recommended that you already own a bicycle and your training and participation in the group ride is on a road bicycle, to help you keep pace with the group. All HSBC UK employees can purchase a discounted road bike through the Cycle to Work scheme.
Q. Do I need to be riding a road bicycle to take part?
A. It is recommended that you ride a road bike, to keep pace with the group. This is a team event, so the groups will be riding to support one another. All HSBC UK employees can purchase a discounted road bike through the Cycle to Work scheme.
Q. What level of training will I be provided pre-event?
A. Through the partnership with British Cycling, HSBC UK will provide you with a weekday team training day on Monday 9th of July which all participants are required to attend. You will also be provided with advice, training and nutrition plans from British Cycling.
Q. How many people will be in each regional team?
A. There will be a maximum of 9 HSBC UK staff team members in each regional team. Each team during the 2-day ride, will be led by 2 experienced ride leaders.
Q. How will the teams be selected?
A. A panel of judges, will select from a shortlist of applicants. Our aspiration is to create a mixed group of cyclists to represent and inspire their region, get active, on their bikes and raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland.
Q. How many consecutive days riding will the Road to Birmingham be?
The ride will be 2 days of cycling, with roughly 100km covered per day. The dates of the ride are Thursday 27th and Friday 28th September 2018.
Q. Will I be given the time off by HSBC?
A. HSBC UK employees will need to take 3 days leave to take part in the ride (at their manager’s discretion). One day will be required to attend the training day on Monday 9th of July. A further two days to take part in the group ride to Birmingham; Thursday 27th and Friday 28th September 2018.
Q. Can I use a volunteer day as part of the 3 days required?
A. You can use your volunteer day, as your Manager’s discretion.
Q. What length of ride will it be each day?
A. The length of the ride will vary between 80km – 140km per day.
Q. What are the start locations for the departure of the ride?
A. A team will set out from one of 4 HSBC UK office locations and will end in Birmingham, the new home of HSBC UK. Start locations include: London, Sheffield, Cardiff and Cambridge.
Q. What level of support will I receive during the supported ride?
A. Each team will be supported by experienced ride leaders and support vehicles, to help with any mechanicals, keep you fuelled for the days ride, carry your luggage… and give you a lift if you need a little time out. The Thursday [27th September] overnight stay will be at a hotel close to the route and you’ll be provided with all meals during the ride on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th September.
Q. Will I be provided with any cycling kit?
A. You will be provided with one set of team kit (jersey and bib shorts). There will also be the opportunity to purchase a second pair of kit at your own cost.
Q. Do I need to pay any of the food, accommodation, travel and bicycle support costs associated with the ride?
A. As part of the 2-day ride, you will be provided with the following:
Thursday 27th September – breakfast, lunch, dinner, hotel accommodation
Friday 28th September – breakfast, lunch, welcome food in Birmingham
Any costs associated with the cycling support team will be covered by HSBC UK.
Please note, you will be responsible for arranging your travel for you and your bike to the start line and also from the finish line. Any additional travel and accommodation costs will be covered at your manager’s discretion. Hotel accommodation will not be provided the night before the ride [Wednesday 26th] or the night you arrive in Birmingham [Friday 28th September].
Q. Do I need to pay any of the food, accommodation or travel associated with attending the training day?
A. The training day will be hosted at the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre in Manchester on Monday 9th of July. During the day, you will be provided with training from British Cycling coaches, an opportunity to ride the velodrome (or other) track, lunch and snacks during the day.
Please note, you will be responsible for arranging your travel and any associated accommodation to and from the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre in Manchester. Any additional travel and accommodation costs will be covered at your manager’s discretion.
Q. How much money do I have to pledge to raise for the Alzheimer’s society
A. Each member of the group ride, will be asked to raise a minimum of £1,000 (excluding your pound for pound allocation) for the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland. Please remember you can claim up to £1,000 per year for pound for pound matching. Support will be provided to you by the People Experience Team to help you reach your target.
Q. Will there be any other commitments, to representing my region in the ride?
A. HSBC UK will be championing the participants in the group rides, to inspire HSBC employees across the UK to get active, get on their bike and raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Scotland.
HSBC would use your name and image, to champion you in internal communications. HSBC UK would also ask you to document your journey through video content, to be used in internal communications. You will be asked to provide a blog update on your training both individually and as a team. HSBC UK will provide you with the tools and the knowledge to enable this.
Q. If I don’t want to take part in the cycle ride, are there other ways in which I can support my regional team?
A. Yes, each team will be competing to raise the most for the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Scotland. Fundraising within the regions will be valuable support for your team. There will also be a range of cycling activities for HSBC UK staff in the month of September. Keep an eye out here for further information.
Q. When will I know if I’ve been successful?
A. Any successful applicants, will be notified wk. 16th April and asked to confirm their place in their regional cycle team that week.
Q. When will I know if I’ve been unsuccessful?
A. Any unsuccessful applicant will be notified wk. 14th May.
Q. If I took part in the Road to Birmingham 2017, can I enter for 2018?
A. We will not be accepting applications from anyone who has already taken part in the 2017 2 or 3-day ride.
