What is Sustainable Routes?

Sustainable Routes is an European funded grant scheme that assists businesses to reduce the cost of travel and lower their environmental footprint. Funding is provided through the European Regional Development Fund. It’s a fact that by making clever travel decisions businesses can save money, improve profitability and become more efficient. The project has 3 main goals:

• To focus your business on improved travel choices, saving you money and reduce your environmental impact
• To provide your business with a plan and guidance on how to implement smarter travel options and get the benefits
• To provide your business with a part funded grant of up to a maximum of £1000 towards the cost of implementing an initiative

How will this benefit my business?

• By providing ideas to reduce overhead costs, in particular travel costs
• By providing a grant for a half of your project cost (50%), with the maximum grant being £1,000
• By receiving a free staff travel survey from our local transport teams
• By improving your business's green reputation

What is the process?

• Fill in a simple, on-line form telling us about your business travel;
• We will send you a personalised Travel Efficiency Plan indicating how you can save money by making smarter travel choices e.g.  video conferencing, remote working, alternative fuels; plus you’ll receive a grant application form
• Decide what actions you want to take then fill in and return the simple application form
• As soon as we have written to you approving your application you can go ahead and get started - but don't start until we write to you if you intend to claim a grant!
• Complete your project and then send us your Sustainable Routes Grant Claim so that we can issue payment

What will the Sustainable Routes team do?

• We will check through your application to make sure that your project is eligible for grant aid
• Sometimes we need to contact applicants to find out more about their project or discuss its eligibility
• Your local travel team may also contact you to offer a free commuter travel review
• We will get in touch again 6 months after your project to help work out what savings you have made

I am a new business do I qualify?

You must have been trading for at least a year to qualify for the grant.

I am a franchise do I qualify?

No.

What information do I need to provide?

Other than general details about your business (address and contact details, staff numbers and turnover) we will need information about business mileage, time spent travelling, average salaries, staff turnover and details of any sustainable transport facilities you already use.

How quickly will I get my grant?

You can claim your grant as soon as you have finished your project. We aim to process claims and send out payment within 15 working days.

Who is my local travel team?

This is a team within your Local Authority who are responsible for a wide range of transport issues.  This includes working with businesses to help them review and implement staff travel plans relating to getting to and from work.

What is a staff travel survey?

This is the initial step in reviewing how staff get to and from work and will help businesses to identify what action they or their staff can take to reduce the cost and impact of commuting.

Can I convert my car to run on LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas)?

Yes if you can show that the vehicle is owned by the company.

Can I include laptop accessories, office consumables, office furniture or maintenance and insurance contracts within my grant application?

Unfortunately we are unable to fund laptop accessories as these will not reduce CO₂ directly. Office consumables, office furniture and maintenance and insurance contracts are not eligible for grant aid.

Can I include delivery charges in my claim?

No these do not contribute to CO₂ reduction.

Can I use the grant to purchase the latest portable tablet computer?

We want to see a robust  business case if you want to buy portable technology. Whilst the latest hardware may be the coolest fashion accessory around, if the business case doesn’t stack up, we won’t be supporting it with public money.  We would ask you to consider other less expensive but equally appropriate solutions for your business.

Who are Ngage Solutions Ltd?

Ngage Solutions Ltd is a not-for-profit company based in Buckinghamshire that designs and delivers programmes to support businesses, individuals and communities. Every year we provide practical solutions to real needs. To date, Ngage has leveraged £20 million of funding to invest in business support services and £4 million of grants for our local economy.  To find out more about Ngage please visit www.ngagesolutions.co.uk

Can I claim for VAT?

If your business is not VAT registered you can claim back VAT.  However if your business is VAT registered you will not be able to claim for VAT.

Will my information/data be secure?

Ngage Solutions Ltd has implemented security procedures and technology in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 27001 information security standard.

Who are the partners directly involved in this project?

• Ngage Solutions Ltd (lead partner)
• Buckinghamshire County Council
• Milton Keynes Council
• Reading Borough Council
• Wokingham Borough Council
• Oxfordshire County Council
• Business Support Kent
• National Business Travel Network

Who will have access to my information/data?

Ngage Solutions Ltd which is managing the Sustainable Routes project for DCLG (The Department for Communities and Local Government) will have access to your information/data and will only share it with our partners who are directly involved with this project.

What is the European Regional Development Fund?

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has been established to reduce the gap between the levels of development of various regions in the EU, and the extent to which the least-favoured regions and islands (including rural areas) are lagging behind.  You can find out more about the ERDF by visiting http://www.communities.gov.uk/regeneration/regenerationfunding/europeanregionaldevelopment/

What are the terms and conditions of the grant?

The maximum grant that can be received is £1,000. The grant rate is 50% so to recieve the full grant the total project cost must be £2,000 or more.

Grants will only be approved for activities that will have a significant impact on CO₂ .

Grants will be paid only on the supply of receipted invoice(s) and/or bank statements.

Payment will be made within 15 working days of receiving the approval of the claim.

A condition of accepting the grant is that you will take part in a 6 month follow up questionnaire.

A business can only receive one grant.

You have 90 days within which to claim your grant once your grant application has been approved

A condition of receiving the Sustainable Routes grant is that you agree to take part in a staff travel survey with your Local Authority. The travel survey is usually carried out online and can benefit your staff by offering quicker, easier travel choices.

If you still have questions that aren't answered here?

Email info@sustainableroutes.co.uk we will respond within 2 working days.