What is Sustainable Routes?

Sustainable Routes is an exciting project that assists businesses reduce the cost of business travel. 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 travel and on improved travel choices
• 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 match funded grant of up to a maximum of £1000 towards the cost of implementing an initiative

How will this benefit my business?

• Clear ideas to reduce overhead costs, in particular travel costs
• A match funded grant of up to £1000
• A free staff travel survey from local transport teams
• Doing your bit for the environment – reductions in carbon emissions

What is the process?

• You’ll have an initial meeting with your Business Link Adviser
• You’ll need to fill in a simple online form with information about your current business travel
• You’ll receive a 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
• Once you have decided on the action you want to take, fill in the application form and send it to the Sustainable Routes team
• You must wait for approval in writing from the Sustainable Routes team  before going ahead with your action – remember this is a match funded grant
• You may be contacted by your local travel team and offered a free staff commuter travel review
• Once you have approval – take action and send in your invoice to the Sustainable Routes team who will issue the grant
• The Sustainable Routes team will follow up after 6 months to help you calculate the savings you have made

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 smarter working facilities you already use.

How can I get this information about my business?

If you don’t know this information your finance team or accountant may be able to help you.

Where does the funding come from?

The project has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

How quickly will I get my grant?

This will depend how on quickly you decide which initiatives you are going to implement, how long it takes for them to be implemented and how quickly you are able to complete the staff travel survey. Once the action has been implemented we will process your application as soon as possible once we receive a receipted invoice.

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 implement changes to staff commuting.

Why do I have to match the grant amount?

It is a requirement of all ERDF funding schemes that you match £ for £ the amount of grant you receive. This also demonstrates your commitment to implementing the activities that the grant is being provided for.

Who are SEEDA?

SEEDA is the Government funded agency set up in 1999 responsible for the economic and social development of the South East of England. You can find out more about SEEDA by visiting their website www.seeda.co.uk

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.seeda.co.uk/what-we-do/european-investment/erdf

Who are ngage solutions ltd?

ngage solutions ltd is a not-for-profit company based in Thame, Oxfordshire 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.

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 (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 who are managing the Sustainable Routes project for SEEDA will have access to your information/data and will only share it with our partners who are directly involved with this project.

Still have questions that aren't answered here?

Email info@sustainableroutes.co.uk and we’ll respond within 2 working days.