Few companies exhibit the environmental awareness, contemporary chic and phenomenal growth of the up-and-coming Cyclepods Ltd. The award-winning SME’s innovative ‘Cyclepod’ bicycle storage solution encourages cycling for both a more eco-friendly and fitter society. In the true spirit of their rise to success, Shell Step student Patrick Hazard surpassed all expectations through his design of the Minipod, a Cyclepod for children’s bicycles, securing a staggering salvo of deals valued in excess of £450,000.

 

The Cyclepod is a modern bicycle-storage solution that maximizes space by allowing up to eight bikes to be stored within a two meter diameter. The futuristic and completely unique product not only looks attractive whilst saving space but is highly secure in its sturdy construction, designed interestingly from almost 100% recyclable materials.

 

For Cyclepods, the results produced by taking on a Shell Step project have been nothing short of incredible. Patrick Hazard’s Minipod design has attracted a turnover of £345,000, and his additional design of a Wallpod has forecasted an expected turnover of £125,000 for the next financial year.

 

“Patrick’s imagination and creativity has completely taken Cyclepods to the next level,” says Natalie Connell, Sales and Marketing Director at Cyclepods.

 

“He has been a tremendous asset and has solved many problems. Throughout the placement, Patrick has been able to turn his hand to anything and as well as showing fantastic design and engineering skills and talent, he has also shown excellent customer service skills. He worked well in a team and always bought his ideas to the table, not being afraid to speak up at board meetings.

 

“He has been a fantastic Shell Step student, an extremely talented designer who definitely has the Cyclepods way of thinking. Patrick quickly saw and recognised the company’s ethos and was quick to think up new concepts and ideas to further the Cyclepod range. We are now months ahead of where we would have been without him and will be happy to offer him a place once he has graduated. He was clear on what was needed to be done and immediately took responsibility and showed initiative; always quick to complete any brief set for him and always exceeded our expectations.”

 

“The talented young man achieved in eight weeks what took me my whole final year at university,” praises James Steward, Creative Director at Cyclepods. “From the 3-D visualisations Patrick produced of Cyclepods in-situ, we have confirmed orders for IKEA, Woolworths and many others. It’s not just corporate giants; one of his visualizations for Sussex Hospital has almost secured a deal worth £65,000.”

 

“Patrick has been and will continue to be a great representative of Cyclepods. We will most definitely consider taking students on placement in the future and think the Shell Step project is an excellent programme for both company and student.”