Giving Back: The Heart of Our Business
At Scottish Express we believe giving back to the community should be an essential part of any business. It creates goodwill and shines a light on the incredible work local organisations are doing. As a small business, we don’t always have the cash flow for big donations—but as owner-operators, we do have something just as valuable: our time.
The 5% Strategy: A Simple, Powerful Idea
With that in mind, we came up with a cool idea that not only supports community organisations but also encourages people to support our business. We call it the 5% Strategy. Here’s how it works: we set aside 5% of our transport income into a special fund, which builds up over time and can be used by community organisations. [Find out more about how it works here.]
Supporting the Nelson Mountain Bike Club
Our first recipient, from 2021 to 2024, was the Nelson Mountain Bike Club. We were already sponsoring the club, but with the addition of the fund, we could do even more. Together, our sponsorship and the fund provided over $3,500 worth of free transport—helping riders get to races and volunteers reach the trails for essential maintenance.
We love supporting the Mountain Bike Club. Any organisation that gets people outdoors and active in nature is a win-win: it’s great for people and raises awareness about the environment we all enjoy. Still, as the economy struggled post-Covid, we saw more people in real need. We wanted our 5% Strategy to support those on the front lines, so we shifted our focus. Today, we continue to donate $2,400 worth of transport annually to the club, but the 5% fund is now directed elsewhere.
Partnering with Bike Hub Nelson
The next question: Who should receive the fund? We’d long admired Matt Lawrey, from his days as a councillor to his time with the Green Party—he always seemed to share our values. When Matt took the helm at Bike Hub Nelson, we took a closer look and loved what we saw. Bike Hub fixes up unwanted bikes that would otherwise go to waste and gets them to people who need them most: refugees, those needing transport for work, kids getting their first bike, to name but a few. It’s a win for the environment and for people’s independence; sometimes we forget what that’s like, but you just have to let your mind drift back to the first time you got a bike… that’s the feeling!!
We approached Matt, and he was all in. So, from March 2024 to March 2025, Bike Hub Nelson became the fund’s recipient.
Building a Community Fundraiser
Over the year, the fund grew to $2,173. We kept in touch with Matt, looking for the best way to maximise its impact. Then came a eureka moment: what if we teamed up with other local businesses to create an all-inclusive Old Ghost Road adventure package? The Old Ghost Road (Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust) provided hut passes, Arran Tandy at Off the Beaten Trail donated a night’s stay at his adventure chalets in Murchison, and Nathan Fa’avae from Real Meals supplied delicious trail food.
Turning Donations into Action
Next hurdle: how to sell the package? Raffles are tricky under New Zealand’s gambling laws, so Bike Hub approached Trade Me to set up an auction. Trade Me kindly waived all success fees.
In May 2025, the auction went live. The winning bid of $2,500 not only scored an amazing Ghost Road package but also sent every cent straight back to Bike Hub to continue their good work. Our first fundraiser was a huge success, and we’ll definitely encourage future recipients to use this model. It’s a great way to spotlight both the beneficiaries and the generous businesses who make it all possible.
Scottish Express…Who’s Next?
Over coffee at Yaza Cafe in Nelson, I caught up with an enthusiastic Scottish Express customer, Shanine Hermsen. Shanine manages the Fifeshire Foundation, which has been helping Nelsonians in hardship and crisis since 1993.
If you’ve met Shanine, you know she embodies enthusiasm and goodwill. We’re thrilled to support any organisation she’s involved with, confident that our fund will go to a truly worthy cause.
Want to get involved or learn more?
Check out Bike Hub Nelson, the Nelson Mountain Bike Club, or the Fifeshire Foundation. And don’t forget to support the local businesses that help make these projects possible!
Its also well worth checking out the newspaper article on the Bike Hub Nelson Auction to get a solid idea of what Scottish Express does and why we do it.
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