Date: 24 November 2007 11:07

HONOURS FOR PIONEERING COMPANIES OF GREEN TRAVEL

Twenty-eight organisations from across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are 
to be rewarded for pioneering healthy and environmentally friendly commuting 
initiatives.

The third annual Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Workplace Travel Plan 
Awards will be presented on Thursday 22nd November 2007 at the Science Park 
in Cambridge.

The awards are presented jointly by the Cambridgeshire Travel for Work 
Partnership (TfW) and Peterborough City Council's Travelchoice Team. 
Organisations can apply for various levels of awards to provide a way of 
progressing their actions and plans. They range from commitment, to 
development and implementation of a travel plan, and through to the Travel 
Plan Excellence Award, which is presented to businesses whose travel plans 
are now wedded into the way they do business.

"The idea is to publicly acknowledge the work being done by employers who 
are implementing effective workplace travel initiatives, "said Mark Webb, 
Development Manager at the Travel for Work Partnership, which is hosted by
Cambridgeshire County Council.

Nicola Francis, senior travel plan coordinator with Peterborough City 
Council said: "There are very real benefits for the employers. Healthy staff 
are more productive and there is less pressure on the company car park and 
commuters improve their physical and mental health along with the health of 
their bank balances!"

"There are also advantages to the community at large of fewer cars on the 
road, cleaner air and a more effective local economy. That is surely worthy 
of reward!" added Richard Bettle, Travel Plan Advisor at TfW.

Nicola added: "The awards are going to employers from all sectors; 
commercial, retail, charity and public. The wide range of employers shows 
that any type of organisation can benefit from travel planning. These 
employers have implemented a really wide range of initiatives. From a prize 
draw for bus tickets at the Cambourne Business Park, who will receive the 
Certificate of Continuing Travel Plan Excellence Award, to car journeys 
being replaced by pushbikes with trailers at Peterborough Environment City 
Trust, who will receive the Certificate of Implementation."

The Awards have been jointly supported by the East of England Development 
Agency, Stagecoach in Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire County Council and 
Peterborough City Council.

Organisations interested in finding out more about the Cambridgeshire and 
Peterborough Workplace Travel Plan Awards and how to apply for the 2008 
Awards should contact Richard Bettle, on (01223) 712429 or email
info@tfw.org.uk or Nicola Francis on (01733) 317484 or email
Travelchoice@peterborough.gov.uk.

Cambridgeshire Travel for Work Partnership (TfW)
TfW assists to help local employers encourage their staff to travel to and 
from work in a sustainable and healthy way when possible. This is usually 
achieved through the production and implementation of workplace travel plans 
that also have real business benefits. TfW has a number of services and 
tools available to employers. It has two websites - www.tfw.org.uk  and 
www.camshare.info .

TfW is a partnership of eleven local organisations, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust, 
Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, Cambridge City Council, the Cambridge 
Cycling Campaign, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Primary Care 
Trust, Council for the Protection of Rural England, Government Offices for 
the East of England, Huntingdonshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire 
District Council and the University of Cambridge.

John Reynolds