rct homes group travel plan - mp.mangocreative.infomp.mangocreative.info/files/rct homes travel plan...

rct homes grouptravel plan

“This Travel Plan is part of the journey towards sustainable travel. I am keen to be part of the movement making a difference to the planet and have direct experience of ‘greening’ in a previous role. Whilst enjoying debating the options I really enjoy hearing ideas from colleagues across the business and do all I can to support things to happen on the ground.

I recognise the need for change in attitudes and did not need to be persuaded to be part of the Green Team!”Shirley Davies Homes and Neighbourhoods DirectorGreen Team member

contents•About us•How to find us•What we’re already doing•Action plan•Implementation•Marketing•Monitoring

travel plan

4 rct homes travel plan

Who we areRCT Homes is the largest registered social landlord in Wales and a community mutual organisation. We work with our tenants to make improvements to their homes and neighbourhoods.

In 2012 RCT Homes won the BITC ‘Welsh Company of the Year Award’, recognising our commitment to being a responsible business.

The RCT Homes Group is made up of six different companies, each with its own agenda and identity;

•RCT Homes: Our core business is to provide and maintain social housing.

•Homeforce: Our in-house gas servicing and repairs company.

•Meadow Prospect: The charity arm of RCT Homes with a focus on energy saving and community capacity building.

•GrEW: Our social enterprise organisation working to upskill and provide real work experience.

•Young Wales: The creative industries branch of GrEW, working with 14 to 16 year olds, educating and providing real work experience.

•Porthcwlis: Our new development company, facilitating the build of 11,000 properties across Wales.

The RCT Homes Group employs over 400 staff across its businesses. There are 20 sheltered complexes and over 10,000 properties across the borough as well as five offices.

Our officesThe main office is Ty Pennant in Pontypridd, where approximately 200 staff are based.

The Grow Enterprise Wales office in Gellihirion is home to another 50 staff, including volunteers.

There are 3 community housing offices; Aberdare, Porth and Tonyrefail. There are a handful of staff based at each of these sites.

The majority of staff travel to the main office in Pontypridd from within RCT and the surrounding boroughs.

about us

5rct homes travel plan

Why we’ve developeda travel planRCT Homes Group has made a commitment to support employees on their journey towards more sustainable travel.

We have adopted a travel plan with a package of actions designed to encourage safe, healthy and sustainable travel options. By reducing car travel, we can improve staff health and wellbeing and make a positive contribution to the community and the environment.

The travel plan links to a number of our existing groups and strategies:

•Corporate Health Standard

•Additions - cycle to work scheme

•Home Working Policy

•CSR strategy – Our Plan, Your Future

How we set our goalsIn order to build a travel plan that meets the needs of our staff we first had to find out how our staff currently travel. We carried out a staff travel survey in May 2012 and received over 180 responses from staff. The results of this survey helped us to build a travel plan that is relevant to our staff.

The survey was designed with a view to;

•Finding out how staff travel to work

•Determining baseline data from which we can measure the impact of the actions implemented

•Understanding the barriers to using more sustainable transport

Tracey CookeRegeneration & Project DeveloperCycle Commuter Training


Car (alone) - 75%

how do you get to work?

how far do you travel to work?

Bus - 1%

Train - 5%

Car (with others) - 6%

Walk - 6%

Bicycle - 3%

10 / 20 miles - 35%1 / 2 miles - 9%

Over 20 miles - 11%2 / 4 miles - 12%

Up to 1 mile - 8% 4 / 10 miles - 26%

0

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

75

65

55

45

35

25

15

0


Bus - 11%

Bicycle - 4%

Car (alone) - 31%

Car (with others) - 15%

Walk - 10%

Taxi - 1%Train - 25%

No - 49%

Already share - 10%

Yes - 41%

what other method of transport do you sometimes use to get to work?

would you be prepared to car share?

50

40

30

20

10

0

0

35

30

25

20

15

10

5


On your own two feetRCT Homes’ main office is in Pontypridd town centre with great links to the bus and train stations. The town centre has recently undergone regeneration works that included improvements to street lighting and the street-scape. There are ample crossing places as well as subway access to the office.

By bikeThe Pontypridd area is well served by cycle trails, both the Taff Trail and the Celtic Trail offer safe cycle routes to the town centre.

Our main office in Pontypridd has numerous facilities to support cycling to work, we have:

•Four banks of secure lockers

•Two clothes driers

•Safe and secure cycle storage for up to 15 bikes

•Showers

•Hair dryers and straighteners

•Tool kit and repair stand available for all to use

In the future we will look to extend these facilities to the other offices as required.

As well as these facilities we also have 4 pool bikes available for staff to borrow. The bikes are available during work hours for staff to commute to meetings, they are also available to be taken out on evenings and weekends for leisure in order to encourage cycling.

The cycle to work scheme enables staff to purchase a bike. Staff are also able to claim 20p per mile cycled for business use.

Take the trainPontypridd train station is a 5 minute walk from the main office in the town centre. The station has links to Cardiff, Aberdare, Treherbert, Bridgend and Merthyr.

Staff are able to apply for a season ticket loan and can pay back the cost of the season ticket in monthly instalments from their salary.

More information about train links can be found at www.traveline-cymru.info

Hop on the busThe main office is within a 5 minute walk of Pontypridd Bus Station and is located opposite a bank of bus stops. The bus station is well lit and has recently been modernised.

Pontypridd has excellent bus links serving areas as far a field as Hereford and Brecon as well as numerous local services, including:

how to find us•Aberdare

•Abergavenny

•Blaenrhondda

•Caerphilly

•Cardiff

•Llandridnod Wells

•Maerdy

•Ynysmaerdy

More information about bus links can be found at www.traveline-cymru.info

Driving and parkingThe main office in Pontypridd does not have any free parking. However, there are several car parks around the town centre, all within a comfortable walking distance of the office.

Staff are able to apply for a parking season ticket loan and spread the cost over a year.

We encourage staff to car share and sign up to www.liftshare.com to find someone to car share with.

As an incentive to car share, 5p per passenger per mile is paid to those who car share for business use. This is on top of the 45p per mile mileage payment and so if you have a full car you could get up to 65p per mile!


head office


porth office


tonyrefail office


aberdare office

“The Green Team has carried out some fantastic work in encouraging and promoting sustainable travel in the last two years. With assistance from SEWTA and SUSTRANS we have been able to provide an impressive list of resources to all staff across the business.

It has been great to witness staff taking part in events and utilising the facilities provided. In particular a real positive was to see how many staff took advantage of the Bike Pool and used a bike for the first time.”Lauren TaitGroup Energy and Renewables Advisor Green Team Chair

Claire OverdTenancy Sustainability Team Leader at the Travel Plan Launch


Cycle to work schemeRCT Homes is part of the Cycle to Work Scheme, a government initiative aimed at getting more people cycling. The RCT Homes Cycle to Work Scheme is administered by Cyclescheme. Staff can make savings on bikes and safety equipment and spread the cost over a year as well as saving on income tax and national insurance contributions. To date 17 staff have used the scheme.

Season ticketsIn order to make public transport a more viable travel option for staff, season ticket loans are available. RCT Homes will pay the full amount for the annual pass and the employee will pay back the balance in monthly instalments directly from their salary. Season ticket loans are also available for annual parking passes.

Corporate health standardRCT Homes holds the Corporate Health Standard gold award, recognising the work that we have done to improve the health and wellbeing of our staff in the workplace.

Our travel plan, alongside our on site facilities, have contributed to our gold award.

Alternative working methodsThe following practices and facilities can be used to reduce the need for travelling:

•Remote access

•Flexible hours

•Home / flexible working

•Tele Conferencing

•Online file share

•Intranet

•Lap tops and PDA’s

Aims and actionsThe travel plan has its own distinctive branding to give it it’s own identity and to bring the four sections of the plan together.

The four key action areas of the plan are;

•choose walking

•choose cycling

•choose public transport

•choose car sharing

Through the results of our travel survey we were able to set realistic goals and identify the barriers to more sustainable travel.

what we’re already doing


Choose walking

Currently 6% of our employees regularly walk to work while 17% live less than 2 miles away.

Our short term aim is to increase those who regularly walk to work to 10% over the next 3 years.

The main barriers to walking to work were identified as; the weather, distance and work commitments.

Our long term aim is for all staff who live within a 2 mile radius of their place of work to walk to work regularly.

NO Measure Implementation Deadline

Responsibility Indicator (s) and Monitoring Frequency

2.1 Promote and develop Choose Walking Campaign Ongoing Green Team

2.2 Re-launch lunchtime walking group for staff •Launch as part of Love Parks Week 27th July to

4th August with a picnic in the park

•Weekly walks around Ynysangharad Park

July 2014 Green Team Log level of interest amongst staff monitored during Love Parks Week

2.3 •Walk to work day

•Promote a day a month without meetings or childcare commitments whereby people, within a reasonable distance of Ty Pennant, can walk to work. Launch as part of walk to work week May 3 -10 2014

May 2014 Green Team Alternative method formLog the number of staff taking up the walking to work day and monitor every 6 months

2.4 •Team Walking Challenge

• Issue pedometers to all staff for week long challenge. Prize to be issued to winning team

May 2014 Green Team Monitor number of entrants and distance covered

Our travel action plan is regularly updated to include new facilities and new ways to promote alternative travel methods.

The travel action plan was used to form the basis of this travel plan.

action plan




3.1 •Promote existing schemes / facilities

•Eg: showers, lockers, cycle storage, salary sacrifice scheme, 25p per mile, Dr Bike

Ongoing – Re-launch annually as part of Bike Week

HR / Marketing / Green Team

Log the uptake of salary sacrifice scheme monitor bi-monthly

3.2 •Expand current facilities

• Introduce facilities to other offices

Ongoing Green Team This will be subject to demand for the facilities, details will be logged and monitored bi-monthly

3.3 •Dr Bike sessions

•Available 4 times a year to safety check bikes

On demand Green Team Attendance to be logged and monitored bi-monthly

3.4 •Monthly cycle surgery

•Train and equip 2 members of RCT Homes staff to perform safety checks and small repairs. Create a small work space equipped with tools and a repair stand

Ongoing Green Team Attendance to be logged and monitored bi-monthly

3.5 •Borrow a bike scheme

•2 mountain bikes available for loan, 2 hybrids and bike racks so that they can be taken home or away for a weekend

Ongoing Green Team Log the number of bikes on loan via a check in and out system. Monitored bi-monthly

3.6 •Cycle safely Kits

•On request to include: hi viz, helmet, maps, safety tips

Ongoing Green Team Log number of participants and rides. Monitor bi-monthly

3.7 •Cycle Club

•Regular, guided cycle rides of varying distances and difficulties led by qualified cycle leaders to build confidence and cycle skills

April 2014 Green Team Log number of participants and rides. Monitor bi-monthly

Choose cyclingThe survey showed that 3% of employees cycle to work on a regular basis.

Our short term aim is to double the number of employees regularly cycling to work over the next 3 years.

The main barriers to cycling to work were identified as; the weather, safety concerns and cycle storage / facilities.

Our long term aim is for 50% of people who live within 5 miles of their place of work to cycle to work at least once a week.




4.1 •Promote and develop Choose Public Transport Campaign

•Promote Traveline Cymru (and app)and season ticket purchasing

Ongoing Marketing / Green Team

Email sent to all staff

4.2 •Public transport area on Arthur

•Links to national rail and travel line

•Figures about emissions and money savings

Ongoing Marketing / IT / Green Team

Set up Travel Plan section on the staff intranet (Arthur)

4.3 •Choose Public Transport Day

•A quarterly event where people are encouraged to use public transport to get to work. Also used to re-fresh and promote the Choose Public Transport Campaign

Ongoing Green Team Number of entrants to be logged and monitored bi-monthly

Choose public transport6% of our staff regularly use public transport to get to work, while 36% of staff occasionally use public transport.

Our short term aim is to increase the number of staff travelling to work via public transport by 10% in the next 3 years.

The main barriers to using public transport were identified as; the perception that it is time consuming and inconvenient, cost and work commitments.

Our long term aim is to subsidise season tickets to encourage more staff to travel to work on public transport.




5.1 •Promote car sharing on Arthur

•Promote additional 5p per mile per passenger

•Car sharing register for RCT Homes staff

•Link to local car sharing register – possibly with the council

Re-launch annually as part of car sharing week

Marketing / IT / Green Team

Set up Travel Plan section on the staff intranet (Arthur)

5.2 • Implement a green points system

•Points are collected for each time staff members travel to work in a “green” way (ie car sharing), a voucher is awarded after a certain number of points have been collected

Summer 2014 CSR Manager Collect green points and log monthly on a mileage form. Monitor the number of points collected bi-monthly

Choose car sharing10% of staff regularly car share, however, 45% of staff would be prepared to do so on a regular basis.

Our short term aim is to increase regular car sharing to 20% over next 3 years.

The main barriers to car sharing were identified as; location, work commitments and child care.

Our long term aim is for RCT Homes and RCT CBC to create their own car share register so that office based staff are able to find car sharing opportunities across the borough.


The travel plan is fed by ideas from the green team and suggestions from the green team mailbox. We have tried to implement as many of these ideas as possible.

In 2012 we successfully applied for the SEWTA Travel Plan Grant and were awarded £4,348 and following a successful application in 2013 were awarded a further £4,878. We have also secured a budget of a further £2,000 from RCT Homes.

Working with SEWTA and Sustrans has allowed us to shape our travel action plan. Through these partnerships we have also launched the green team with a Green Travel Day as part of Health and Wellbeing Week.

The green team are responsible for the monitoring and implementation of the travel plan.

Members of the green team are:

•Lauren Tait: Group Energy and Renewables Advisor

•Lynsey Holley-Matthews: Group CSR Manager

•Shirley Davies: Homes and Neighbourhoods Director

•Allister Parkinson: Financial Accountant

•Paul Tuckwood: ICT Engineer

•Richard Haddock: Income Maximisation Officer

•David Evans: Conference Centre and Facilities Manager

•Laura Moore: Project and Placement Coordinator

•Ellis Cunliffe: Regeneration Trainee

Members of the green team have put themselves forward as champions for each of the 4 alternative travelling methods. These champions develop and promote the areas of the travel plan that they are responsible for.

implementation

Phil PrivettSystems Development Manager & Keen Cyclist


There are a number of marketing methods available to promote the travel plan.

ArthurAll staff have access to Arthur, the RCT Homes intranet. The green team ensures that the travel area on Arthur is up to date and contains relevant information regarding travelling to and from work.

UpdateAll staff receive a copy of Update, the RCT Homes quarterly staff magazine. A page of each issue of update is made available to the green team to promote the travel plan and other “green” initiatives.

Meadow prospect websiteMeadow Prospect is the charity arm of RCT Homes and focuses on community development and energy efficiency. The new Meadow Prospect website includes a plethora of information regarding energy efficiency and grant allocations. The travel plan has its own area on the website to promote the travel plan to the wider community, as well as RCT Homes staff.

Regen e–bulletinsThe Regeneration Team at RCT Homes send out quarterly interactive bulletins with case studies and updates about on-going projects. Any upcoming travel plan events are promoted on the e-bulletin and case studies of travel plan successes are included.

Competitions and eventsThrough out the year, and in-line with national awareness raising weeks, the green team run travel events and competitions aimed at promoting alternative transport methods to staff.

BrandingThe “Choose” campaign is the main marketing tool for the travel plan; it provides continuity and gives the travel plan its own identity.

marketing


The green team are responsible for monitoring as well as implementing the travel action plan.

There are a number of mechanisms in place in order to monitor the outcomes and progress of the travel action plan.

The green team mailbox and calendarThe green team has it’s own email address and calendar that is accessible for all staff. The inbox and calendar are regularly checked and updated by members of the green team.

The mailbox is a means of communicating with staff, there is a single point of contact for any requests or questions.

The calendar is used to keep track of the travel plan events, as well as all pool bike loans.

Staff feedback from events and suggestions are used to shape future events.

Mileage claimsMileage and expense claims are submitted monthly. The forms are a means of monitoring how many miles have been travelled, as well as how many miles were travelled with a passenger. The claim forms also show how many business miles have been cycled, 20p per mile is up for grabs for our keen cyclists!

The claim forms are also used to claim back public transport costs for business travel.

NumbersThe green team keep track of all of the entrants to travel competitions. This information is logged as and when competitions are run and will form part of the annual report.

As part of health and well being week there is an annual Green Travel Day to promote alternative methods of transport, the green team monitors how many staff members become involved in the day.

The participants in the cycling and walking club are logged and forms part of the annual report.

Annual reportA full report of travel plan activities will be carried out every 2 years. The travel plan annual report will bring together information gathered from the monitoring mechanisms available, as well as articles and case studies from the staff magazine, Meadow Prospect website and Regen e-bulletins.

Staff travel surveyEvery two years an online survey is sent to all staff, this survey is used to track changes in staff travel behaviour. The survey is a way to monitor the effectiveness of the measures implemented in the previous 2 years. The survey is completed in partnership with SEWTA and Sustrans.

monitoring

Catryn GrundyRegeneration ProjectDeveloper & 1st time cyclist

“Learning to ride a bike was something that I never expected to do through work. It’s been a great opportunity and I’ve really enjoyed it!”

“Cycling to work has been made much more convenient for staff, even if you don’t have your own bike, you can borrow one.The green team has been great at knocking down barriers to cycling, we even have straighteners now so there’s no excuses!”

Tracey CookeRegeneration & Project Developer

Published by Meadow Prospect part of the RCT Homes Group

Meadow Prospect Ty Pennant, Mill Street, Pontypridd, CF37 2SW

[email protected]

www.meadowprospect.co.uk

rct homes group travel plan - mp.mangocreative.infomp.mangocreative.info/files/rct homes travel plan...

Documents