businesses like you

A large site: Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside

The developers of Britain’s largest business park, Cobalt, in North Tyneside, recognised from the outset that accessibility would be a key factor in attracting investment. This view led to the creation of an on-site travel centre with its own dedicated Travel Team.

The travel team have been particularly successful in stimulating the development of a comprehensive public transport network, including the flagship ‘Cobalt Clipper’; a bus service linking the park to central Newcastle and South-East Northumberland every 15 minutes throughout the day.

Other initiatives include a dedicated car-share network, staff cycle pool, reduced price public transport tickets and personalised travel advice. As well as promoting travel initiatives, the Cobalt team have been particularly successful in engaging staff in the ‘Cobalt Community’. Social events such as lunchtime health walks, as well as loyalty cards and promotions for local businesses have helped to engage staff that would not otherwise have contemplated getting in touch with the team.

A medium site: EDF Energy, Sunderland

EDF Energy is a major employer on Doxford International Business Park in Sunderland. As the company established itself as a leading national utility company, the Doxford site experienced massive growth and the increase in staff numbers provided the impetus for implementing a travel plan.
 

Against the background of global warming, EDF Energy believes it has a duty to lead the way in the reduction of CO2 emissions. Already a market leader in sustainable energy solutions, it was only natural that sustainable travel would be a major feature of the Travel Plan

The objectives of the plan were therefore agreed as below:
• To reduce the number of cars on the roads
• To allow cars that do need to be driven to site to be parked in a safe environment so as to satisfy all aspects of our Zero Harm Policy
• To improve staff satisfaction
• To improve bus links to Doxford
• To encourage staff to consider other travel options such as cycling or walking

As Doxford International was already served by an efficient public transport network, actions in the travel plan were focussed on car-sharing and car-park management. A dedicated car-share network was set up so that staff who found it difficult to access the public transport network would still be able to make a smarter travel choice. This was backed up by Post Code Parties (where staff could meet colleagues who lived near them) and a Shift Alignment initiative; where the company agreed to align shifts to support car share partnerships.

Once this alternative was in place the company could then begin its strategy of car-park management. This strategy saw the replacement of the old system, where parking was allocated on the basis of length of service, with a new points system that was generally based on Work Life Balance but heavily favoured car sharers. The Travel Plan also covers visitors, who are actively discouraged from driving to the site and are required to reserve parking bays in advance.

The system is administered by two ‘Green Receptionists’, who also offer public-transport tickets at discounted rates through the corporate travel scheme. The outcome at EDF Energy has been fantastic, with 70% of bays now allocated to car-sharers and many of the remaining staff using public transport, walking or cycling. Travel planning has allowed EDF Energy to grow and expand without the need to add a single extra bay!
 

A small site: Optima Legal, Newcastle

Optima Legal (previously Mckeags law Firm) provide an excellent example of a smaller organisation recently embarking on the process of travel planning. The firm committed to implement a Workplace Travel Plan as a condition of them gaining planning permission for their new offices in Newcastle City Centre.

The office’s position means that it is already well-served by an extensive and efficient public transport network so much of the firm’s early effort has been focussed on promoting this option to their staff. Part of this promotion has been the implementation of tools such as a loan scheme for Metro tickets. This scheme involves the company purchasing an annual Metro ticket on an employee’s behalf, who then pays the cost back through monthly contributions straight from their wages.

Optima hope to roll-out this facility to other transport operators over the coming months to increase the number of staff using public transport even further from the current level of 69%. However, recognising that public transport will not be a feasible option in all circumstances, the company is also promoting car sharing as a more efficient option for motorists that currently drive alone. That said, this figure is already fairly low, with a significant number of commuters arriving on foot or by bike!