Member Article

Aberdeen manager gets active thanks to work initiative

An Aberdeen manager is swapping his brains for brawn in when he takes part in his fourth triathlon of the year later this weekend with a little help from his company.

Neil Pirie, a business development manager at Specialist Cars Aberdeen, is not only preparing for the Aviemore Triathlon this Sunday 31 August, but he is also recuperating from the Craggy Island Triathlon in which he took part last weekend.

The 43-year old was bitten by the triathlon bug after completing a 400 meter swim, 12 mile cycle ride and a 3.5km run for the Galashiels triathlon earlier this year and has since signed up to many more.

Neil, who has been working at the Volkswagen retailer for two and half years, said he couldn’t have done it without the support of his colleagues and company.

“Everyone at Specialist Cars Aberdeen is very supportive.

“My bike was actually supplied to me through the cycle to work scheme and since I got it in January, I’ve been cycling the 18 miles to and from work at least once a week and, this really helped in my training for the events.”

The cycle to work scheme, within the Government’s green transport plan, enables employees to get a bike tax-free, on average saving approximately half the cost.

The former Royal Air Force officer said he has always been a lover of an active outdoors lifestyle and was looking forward to the Aviemore Triathlon: “Completing a triathlon was always a personal goal and after completing Galashiels in April I decided to up my training and sign up for the Fox Lake, Craggy Island and Aviemore Triathlons too.

“I’ve been training for these events since May, running 10km a week, swimming 5km a week and cycling at least 200km a week. I definitely think I’m prepared!”

Tom Higgins, Specialist Cars Aberdeen’s general sales manager, said: “We are very happy to have been able to support Neil in his triathlons. The cycle to work scheme is a great initiative and if it encourages more of our employees to conquer their goals then we’re all for it.

For more information about Specialist Cars Aberdeen, call 01224 452762 or visit www.volkswagen.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Amandeep Garcha .