LEP Sustainable Travel Expo comes to Bradford

Picture credit: The Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway, one of CityConnect’s flagship projects and the longest continuous route of its kind in the UK.

The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) invites businesses to find out more about the benefits of encouraging their staff to travel to work more sustainably and save money at an event in Bradford tomorrow, 21 November 2018.

The Sustainable Travel Expo will be a chance to hear from real businesses on the business benefits of encouraging staff to use public transport, car share, cycle and walk to work and the support available to do this.

Belgian expert on sustainable travel, Jeffrey Matthijson will also be in Bradford, sharing his tips on how to get staff thinking differently about travel choices and sharing best practice from other European cities.

There will also be a chance hear to meet the transport operators and check that your employees are getting the best travel deals as well as opportunities to network with businesses from across the region.

The benefits

Representatives from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s £60m CityConnect programme aimed at encouraging more people to cycle and walk will also be at the event, offering advice and support to the businesses attending.

People who commute by bike typically take fewer days off sick, they arrive feeling more alert and are more productive. Through CityConnect’s Bike Friendly Business scheme, employers can access expert advice and grants of up to £5,000 to encourage more staff to commute by bike.

CityConnect’s “Bike Friendly Businesses” have seen a 25% increase in cycling, thanks to the pioneering scheme. More than 200 organisations across the region have taken part so far, with nearly 60 receiving accreditation. Grant funding has been used to install bike parking, as well as providing pool bikes and cycle training.

Businesses attending the event will also be able to able to find out about the wide range of support and funding available from the LEP and our network of partners for growing businesses in the region.

Roger Marsh, OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership said:

“Supporting growing businesses is at the heart of the LEP’s work to create a strong, successful economy that benefits everyone who lives and works here. Encouraging and supporting businesses to embed sustainable travel into their operations has multiple business benefits and I encourage all businesses to pick up the phone and book a place.”

Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, said:

“We know encouraging more of us to travel by bike or on foot not only boosts people’s health and saves individuals money, it also brings wider economic and environmental benefits. Through the CityConnect programme and in partnership with others, the Combined Authority is not only building new cycling and walking routes and improving existing infrastructure, it also offers a range of free services, including adult cycle training and support for businesses.”

To book a place please call the LEP Growth Service on 0113 3481818 or email businessgrowth@the-lep.com