Delivering responsive and stress-free cycle storage for Stevenage Borough Council

What’s the most important thing to you as a customer when choosing cycle storage? Maybe it's the price. Maybe it’s the quality. Maybe it’s even as simple as the branding. But for Darren Nottingham from Stevenage Borough Council, it was all about responsiveness. 

The approach the council needed

Across the borough, cycle hangars have become an important part of the council’s wider push towards greener, more sustainable transport by encouraging more people to cycle and help residents adopt an active travel lifestyle. 

As the person helping drive the project forward across different departments, Darren needed more than a product that looked the part. He needed a supplier who understood how important both good communication and support are when residents rely on cycle hangars for work and everyday journeys. That’s where Jonny Morris, our regional operations and product manager came in. 

Following an initial discussion our team got to work to install VeloBoxes in residential developments and in the town centre. Activating the initial project quickly and efficiently scored points with Darren and led to a pipeline of future work being agreed. 

“I like to have a good relationship with suppliers, where we can talk any time,” he shared, “and if there’s a problem, we solve it together. 

“In my role, when a unit isn’t working as it should, that becomes my problem. Working with Grease Monkey gets the task off my list and I can just trust that the team will get the job done. Communication is always huge for me, and Jonny kept me updated and gave me a full overview of where projects are at. 

“With Grease Monkey, the whole operation was just been so smooth and they’ve been so easy to deal with. It was just a really easy process.”

Of course, a smooth supplier relationship is only part of the story. For Darren, the product itself also had to be simple, safe and practical for everyday use. At Ansell Court, one resident with limited upper-body mobility found the gas-assisted door easy to open, while the increased lid height helped to create a more comfortable experience for all users.

That attention to practical design is what turns a cycle hangar from a storage unit into something residents can rely on. From easy-opening doors to privacy side panels that help keep high-value bikes out of sight, the details work seamlessly together to make everyday use feel safe and straightforward. 

As Darren puts it: “It doesn’t matter whether you’re 90 or you’re 9, you should be able to open that lid and I didn’t have that problem with Grease Monkey.”

An overall smooth process

Where our products give residents confidence, our service gives Darren confidence too. For a busy council team juggling various suppliers, departments and locations, the value of a smooth process cannot be underestimated. From quick communication and responsive support to practical problem-solving, we’ve perfected each stage of our service to be as straightforward as possible for our customers.

That support is already proving valuable as Stevenage Borough Council looks ahead to more complex installations. 

“We have some projects coming up in the pipeline that aren’t as simple as filling car parking spaces like our initial project. Our future sites are a bit more problematic with installations needed in harder to access areas - the team already have solutions in place and I have full confidence that installation will once again be slick.

“I have a good relationship with Jonny where I can just call him to ask any questions and I can trust that he’ll work with the Grease Monkey team to find workable solutions that fit what I need.”

Support beyond installation

We’re big believers in keeping the door open long after the sale has closed. For Darren, having us nearby in Hatfield has added another layer of confidence, giving Darren the reassurance that support is close by if he ever needs it. 

“Having the team based nearby means that repairs can be seen to promptly. 

“I’m all about stress-free, and with Grease Monkey, it’s got to the point where I get the glory of speaking to the team, getting the products installed and seeing them look great.”