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Created by Transport for London (TfL) especially for the Capital’s SME sector, Enterprise aims to help organisations make better use of London’s transport system through the development of a workplace travel plan.

A workplace travel plan is a business management tool focused on improving access to your site and delivering a range of organisational benefits. It enables staff, visitors and customers to make sustainable travel choices with confidence alongside increasing efficiency within your organisation.

One of the key factors behind the scheme is its commitment to professional support throughout the process. Tim Carter, Workplace Travel Planning Relationship Manager at TfL, comments, “We have professional, experienced and enthusiastic travel planners and marketing personnel across London all focused on this project, ensuring each business in Enterprise has a travel plan devised that will work for them.” Chris Parrott, Director of Journey Latin America – one of the first organisations to sign up to Enterprise – agrees, “The support we have received has been far reaching and I have been really surprised by the impact of the initiative. I didn’t imagine that it would be so easy to convince people to change the way they travel to work. Amazing what a bit of promotion can do!”

The workplace travel plan process first involves a site audit and survey of staff (and potentially visitors or customers depending on the business). This ensures that relevant information and data about the organisation and its employees is collected at the outset.

Tim Forrester, Travel Plan Coordinator at WESTTRANS (one of a network of local coordinators promoting Enterprise) explains, “We can help with this by providing access to on-line surveys to reduce the time and effort needed to collect and analyse the information. Plus we can provide incentives to encourage as much feedback as possible”.

The results and detailed analysis of the data by the experts, informs the organisation’s workplace travel plan. “Each travel plan is tailor made for every business, to meet their individual transport concerns, travel needs and location,” explains Tim Carter, “The recommendations included, which are developed in consultation with each business, are then implemented through a variety of measures supported by the Enterprise team.” Chris Parrott says he was surprised at how much interest was generated by the Enterprise merchandise, “There was a real buzz about the place – like excited children waiting their turn for a luckydip.” Cycling is often a popular mode with employers and employees, mirroring the 91 per cent increase in cycling across London since 2000. Through Enterprise, the cycle support package can provide employees with helpful items to get them pedalling, such as cycle repair kits and reflective slap-wraps. It can also help improve facilities at the workplace through the offer of free cycle stands.

Tim Carter explains, “Enterprise will give you and your organisation all the advice, information and support needed, tailored to your strategic business needs, and delivered in a flexible way that helps you the most. By implementing a workplace travel plan, and developing a better understanding of your employees’ travel needs, you’ll make your organisation even more employee-focused. Plus, you will help support a shift towards walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing to the benefit of your company, the local environment and London’s economy.” “We’re here to answer any questions that you may have about Enterprise, the process of developing a travel plan, or how you can get the most out of it.”