To assist businesses and organisations within the city to achieve their environmental ambitions and support their staff to make more active and sustainable journeys, Hull City Council is encouraging employers to join Modeshift STARS, the national travel plan accreditation scheme.
Fully funded by the council, the scheme is FREE to join and recognises workplaces that go above and beyond in developing, implementing and monitoring an effective travel plan to bring about a change in travel behaviour and reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys to, from and between sites.
Caitlynne Picot, travel plan officer (business) at Hull City Council, said: “Developing a workplace travel plan can help businesses and organisations to decarbonize employee commuter emissions and reduce car travel in favour of more active and sustainable modes of transport, benefitting the health and wellbeing of the workforce and contributing to environmental improvements.”
Sites are awarded Approved, Good, Very Good, Excellent and Outstanding accreditation.
The benefits and advantages of a workplace travel plan, include:
- reductions of single occupancy car journeys, which helps alleviate pressure and congestion across site car parks
- identifying availability and accessibility of viable transport options, based on staff locations
- potential to improve and develop site connectivity links through sustainable and active travel
- improving staff wellbeing, with physical and mental health benefits.
“It is great to see, and support, through provision of the Modeshift STARS Business Travel Plan accreditation scheme, the success Hull City Council has had in engaging workplaces within Travel Plan activity,” said Tom Murray, Modeshift STARS programme manager.
“Holding a clear and strategic travel plan can support workplace employees to access a range of realistic travel options and better inform the decisions they make when taking every-day journeys.
“The work of Hull City Council will empower organisations to lower their environmental impact, manage travel demand and help provide a healthy future for more employees.
“As the UK’s largest sustainable travel organisation, we are looking forward to continuing to work with Hull City Council in furthering developing active and sustainable travel plans across the area.”
Several of the city’s most notable names are already taking part, including Siemens, Arco, Rix, KCOM, Sewell Group, Willerby Ltd, The Deep, Doubletree by Hilton Hull, Holiday Inn Hull Marina and the University of Hull.
Samantha Dunion, general manager at Doubletree by Hilton Hull, said: “At DoubleTree by Hilton Hull, we are passionate about our sustainability commitments. Our travel plan is designed to decrease the reliance on conventional vehicle transportation and promote sustainable and active travel alternatives. This involves encouraging staff to make eco-friendly travel choices, promoting road safety through various cycling programmes, advocating for public transport utilisation among both our team members and guests and endorsing carpooling as an alternative to solo car journeys.”
- If you are a large business or organisation and would like to take part in the Modeshift STARS programme, contact Caitlynne Picot, travel plan officer (business) at Hull City Council, at: caitlynne.picot@hullcc.gov.uk
PICTURED: Andrew Craggs, operations manager, and Samantha Dunion, general manager, from Doubletree by Hilton Hull with Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways, and Caitlynne Picot, travel plan officer (business), from Hull City Council
