'ways2work' promotes sustainable travel
By Ana Svab, National Business Travel Network (NBTN)
A new online tool to promote sustainable travel and encourage flexible working was launched last month. The ways2work tool is the latest joint initiative from NBTN and Business in the Community (BITC) and represents a key output of this collaboration.
ways2work has been developed for business by business to increase efficiency through better ways of working and travelling. Its aim is to provide practical guidance in promoting sustainable travel and flexible working in companies as a strategic part of a business improvement programme.
This unique resource draws on the collective experience and expertise of the Sustainable Travel Steering Group – RWE npower (chair), Accenture, Boots UK, BSkyB, BT, Capgemini, E.ON, FirstGroup, GlaxoSmithKline, Highways Agency, Microsoft, Nationwide, NATS and The Wellcome Trust – with support from NBTN and BITC’s Business Action for Working Well campaign.
It includes practical advice on how to create and successfully run sustainable travel initiatives and flexible working programmes. More importantly, it provides the reader with a comprehensive list of business, environment and health benefits achieved by other organisations. These are designed to help practitioners make a good business case when advocating for change in their organisations.
Alex Gourlay, Chief Executive of the Health & Beauty Division, Alliance Boots, said: “A growing number of companies are recognising that there is a robust business case for investing in workforce wellness, particularly during difficult economic times. ways2work has been created by businesses for businesses to help companies develop initiatives that support corporate and employee wellness.”
NBTN’s Programme Director, Heather McInroy, added: “We hope that companies will use ways2work to help their employees find better ways to work and travel, by providing the infrastructure, work and technology options needed to minimise their environmental impacts and maximise their health and wellbeing on the journey to better business”.
The concept of ways2work synthesizes two parallel themes of travelling more sustainably and travelling less in relation to our work. It has been designed to be used by anyone with an interest in business efficiency, employee physical and psychological health and responsible business practice.
Editor’s note: This article was written by Ana Svab of the National Business Travel Network and originated from the ways2work website. The NBTN is a business-to-business network which enables companies to share best practice and reduce the impacts of work-related travel through more sustainable and active travel and facilitating reduced travel through technological solutions.
