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Cycle Friendly Campus Internship Programme
Cycle Friendly Campus Internship Programme
We have been working with Cycling Scotland for 5 years now, and our EPPs have been helping them to create and deliver opportunities to ensure anyone, anywhere in Scotland can cycle easily and safely.
Cycling Scotland is the nation’s cycling organisation: working in partnership with other organisations and with funding from Transport Scotland. They are a registered Scottish charity with a vision of a sustainable, inclusive, and healthy Scotland where anyone can enjoy all the benefits of cycling.
At Bright Green Business we have partnered up with Cycling Scotland to help deliver and provide support to encourage active travel in institutions across Scotland.
In 2021, Cycling Scotland funded 5 Interns to deliver campus cycling initiatives in their institutions for 34 weeks.
Read on to find out some of their achievements.
Alex Irvine (City of Glasgow College & Glasgow Kelvin College):
- Hosting several cycling events to engage with both staff and students.
- Securing funding for a new cycle shelter at Glasgow Kelvin East End Campus.
- Achieved the Campus Friendly Award at Distinction Level
“This programme has benefited me tremendously as it has allowed me to gain an understanding of the work environment and what employers expect of their workers. This opportunity has increased my self-confidence and ability to self-manage my workload.”
Maisie McDavid (University of St Andrews):
- Secured over £76,000 worth of funding.
- Purchased 3 e-cargo bikes and 2 adapted cycles.
- Run a week of “Ride to Net Zero” events to launch cycling activities in St Andrews and the Eden Campus.
“This placement has taken my experience beyond academic work, student societies, customer service, and voluntary roles into working within a large institution. In future, I can show this work to potential employers as an experience that required gaining a well-rounded set of skills that can generate behavioural change within and out of a workplace.”
Ross Forbes (Edinburgh Napier University):
- Used professional relationships to save £1741 in costs for Edinburgh Napier University.
- Secured permission for the procurement of a fleet of bicycles for student hire.
- Overseen three successful events helping over 40 people have their bicycles repaired free of charge.
“This placement has taught me a lot about working inside a large organisation and self-directed learning. It has made me more confident in making new connections with members of my organisation and utilising them to help me achieve my aims. I gained lots of insight into quotes and tender procurement inside the public sector.”
Bonnie Zhu (University of Highlands and Islands)
- Facilitated two Dr Bike sessions with a local bike shop.
- Collaborated with twelve external organisations to bring a Sustainable Travel Day where they showcased a "Smoothie Bike".
- Obtained 3 e-bikes through Cycling Scotland's grants.
"Bright Green Business has presented incredible support during my placement by offering opportunities/training to develop myself not only within the remit of my work but also in personal growth. The programme highlights the importance of networking with different sectors and offers social gatherings with recent graduates opening space for discussion."
Host Comments: 
“Glasgow Kelvin and City of Glasgow College have benefited tremendously in having Alex as a Campus Cycling Officer. This was our fourth year having a cycling officer. The Campus Cycling Officer was able to focus on the objectives set in the Cycle Friendly Campus booklet produced by Cycling Scotland and work to implement these at both Colleges.”
“Maise was an excellent addition to the team and worked hard to promote cycling throughout her time here. She rapidly got the hang of the systems and projects already in place within the estates department associated with her role and contacted colleagues who were able to support her in developing funding bids and work programmes. Whilst some of her work had timescales out with her time here, she was able to get the ball moving on a number of infrastructure and projects that will be important to the overall cycle-friendly campus.”
"Ross has excelled within the role. He immediately settled within the University team and very quickly instigated and supported a wide array of activity, initiatives and projects. Ross, as per all other previous Edinburgh Napier CCOs, leaves a very strong legacy of work for future CCOs and future colleagues to develop and work from."
"Having a Campus Cycling Officer has been incredibly helpful for HISA this year. It has allowed us to make active travel a priority, and ensure that students, staff and the wider Highlands and Islands community are provided with advice, events and opportunities to travel in a more sustainable way."
University of Highlands and Islands
