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Travel Planning for Business

What is a Travel Plan?

A travel plan is a package of measures produced by employers to encourage staff to use alternatives to single-occupancy car-use. Such a plan could include: car sharing schemes; a commitment to improve cycling facilities; a dedicated bus service or restricted car parking allocations. It might also promote flexible-working practices such as remote access and video conferencing.

Travel plans can offer real benefits not only to the organisation and its employees, but also the community that surrounds it. It may help to relieve local parking or congestion problems or improve public transport connections across the area. It may also relieve stress on cover image for Aberdeenshire Council's Travel Planemployees through reducing delays or providing the opportunity to cut their travel commitments by working from home on occasion.

What are the benefits of a Travel Plan to my business?

An increasing number of businesses are adversely affected by rising levels of traffic, congestion and on site parking problems. In Aberdeenshire total cars are expected to rise by 17% from 2005 levels by 2031 (Source: TEMPRO) and there are economic, social and environmental costs involved with this trend. Travel plans help by:

  • Providing a means of doing a ‘stock take’ of the current situation, problems and opportunities to enable changes to take place
  • Reducing fleet management costs and travel expenses
  • Improving site access
  • Assisting with recruitment and retention by providing a rangeHuntly Learning Centre of means of accessing employment
  • Reducing car park maintenance costs
  • Improving company image
  • Contributes to environmental management systems
  • Improving staff well-being
  • Influencing key decision makers and building better relationships with the local community, public transport operators and local authorities

The development of a travel plan can also assist in meeting wider business objectives, including: air quality initiatives, achieving ISO14001 accreditation , energy efficiency and waste minimisation.

 

A Travel Plan is something many companies now include as part of their approach to operational management. It can show that they are a responsible and caring employer by taking into consideration how their employees get to and from work.

 

What help is available?

There is a great deal of literature available on Travel Planning.

You can also contact Aberdeenshire Council's Travel Planning Officer on 01224 664773.

 

Financial Grants

Any organisation based in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire can apply to NESTRANS (North East of Scotland Transport Partnership)for funding towards measures aimed at supporting the development of more integrated and more sustainable transport. Applications can be made on behalf of:

  • Any business or other organisation, including charities, not for profit and public sector agencies, based in or operating in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire; 
  • A specific workplace or section within such a business or other organisation;
  • Commercial or public service premises (not a private residence) currently attracting visitors or customers by car.

Traffic delays are understood to cost the UK economy around £15 billion a year. (Business Gateway)

Feedback

Aberdeenshire Council intend this section to be of help to businesses wishing to develop their own Travel Plans. If you have any questions or wish to make suggestions, which will improve the content in this section, please call the Travel Planning Officer on 01224 664773 or email transportation@aberdeenshire.gov.uk