Relaunching “Smarter Travel for Essex Network” – an exciting opportunity for businesses in Essex
Essex County Council (ECC) have relaunched their Smarter Travel for Essex Network (STEN). They are very excited about this and hope Essex businesses will be too. Now is the time for change, and for businesses willing to be bold, ECC can help you and your employees be more active and travel sustainably.
The severe effects of the current COVID-19 global pandemic have presented ECC with a serious challenge - how to enable transport and infrastructure that encourages more people to walk and cycle, and which are critical to the recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic.
That said, the effects of COVID-19 have also presented new opportunities, with additional funding becoming available under the Active Travel Fund (ATF). ECC has worked collaboratively with local District Planning Teams to deliver and implement enhanced semi-permanent walking and cycling routes to encourage people to use more active travel (modal shift) whilst also allowing residents to socially distance.
They have introduced new cycle lanes, expanded footways, and 20mph speed limits. These measures are providing more space in key locations for town and city centre shoppers, residents, workers, and visitors. These works are largely situated within town centres, so as well as improving active travel options, measures will also assist in the economic recovery post COVID.
ECC know how vital it is to support safe and accessible travel in our counties. Therefore, they have set up the Smarter Travel for Essex Network (STEN). This is a network that brings together organisations with over 50 employees, to promote and encourage active and sustainable travel.
The network takes a lead on trying to promote more environmentally friendly travel choices, thereby reducing traffic congestion, and improving air quality. The network helps businesses prepare and implement effective travel plans that promote walking, cycling, public transport, car sharing and the use of electric vehicles. The overall aim is to encourage a modal shift by giving citizens of Essex better and sustainable travel alternatives.
Managed by a small team offering a wealth of experience and expertise, the STEN programme is designed to provide members with innovative advice and practical support on promoting active and sustainable travel. Members will receive access to dedicated support lines (email and phone), marketing materials, e-newsletter, staff postcode maps, employee engagement activities and specialist advice on active and sustainable travel options.
The Annual Travel Survey is another feature offered and has been recently enhanced to give employers clear insight into how their employees travel to work. This will allow businesses to benchmark themselves against other members of the network and potentially share best practice. The data collected from all organisations across the network can be used to monitor the effectiveness of staff travel plans implemented county-wide. Moreover, using the data gained can further help organisations see which travel incentives they should consider, based on the popularity of travel methods used by employees.
As part of STEN, members are also eligible to apply for National Travel Plan Accreditation, supported by Modeshift STARS Business. Modeshift STARS is an online travel planning tool kit, that creates, develops, and supports travel plans. Additionally, it recognises and rewards businesses for their excellence in the promotion of active and sustainable travel. Levels of accreditation are Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Membership for STEN is completely free, as are the Green and Bronze accreditation awards. For those organisations progressing through Gold and above, a small fee is charged by Modeshift.
With many employers now delivering their core services from home, the future of transport could be very different to what we’ve all been used to. Now is the time to be bold and create a new blueprint for the way we travel, helping to create the vision of a safer, greener, healthier county. If becoming a STEN member is of interest to you, please get in touch with the Sustainable Travel Planning Team to find out more email: travelplanteam@essex.gov.uk.
The severe effects of the current COVID-19 global pandemic have presented ECC with a serious challenge - how to enable transport and infrastructure that encourages more people to walk and cycle, and which are critical to the recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic.
That said, the effects of COVID-19 have also presented new opportunities, with additional funding becoming available under the Active Travel Fund (ATF). ECC has worked collaboratively with local District Planning Teams to deliver and implement enhanced semi-permanent walking and cycling routes to encourage people to use more active travel (modal shift) whilst also allowing residents to socially distance.
They have introduced new cycle lanes, expanded footways, and 20mph speed limits. These measures are providing more space in key locations for town and city centre shoppers, residents, workers, and visitors. These works are largely situated within town centres, so as well as improving active travel options, measures will also assist in the economic recovery post COVID.
ECC know how vital it is to support safe and accessible travel in our counties. Therefore, they have set up the Smarter Travel for Essex Network (STEN). This is a network that brings together organisations with over 50 employees, to promote and encourage active and sustainable travel.
The network takes a lead on trying to promote more environmentally friendly travel choices, thereby reducing traffic congestion, and improving air quality. The network helps businesses prepare and implement effective travel plans that promote walking, cycling, public transport, car sharing and the use of electric vehicles. The overall aim is to encourage a modal shift by giving citizens of Essex better and sustainable travel alternatives.
Managed by a small team offering a wealth of experience and expertise, the STEN programme is designed to provide members with innovative advice and practical support on promoting active and sustainable travel. Members will receive access to dedicated support lines (email and phone), marketing materials, e-newsletter, staff postcode maps, employee engagement activities and specialist advice on active and sustainable travel options.
The Annual Travel Survey is another feature offered and has been recently enhanced to give employers clear insight into how their employees travel to work. This will allow businesses to benchmark themselves against other members of the network and potentially share best practice. The data collected from all organisations across the network can be used to monitor the effectiveness of staff travel plans implemented county-wide. Moreover, using the data gained can further help organisations see which travel incentives they should consider, based on the popularity of travel methods used by employees.
As part of STEN, members are also eligible to apply for National Travel Plan Accreditation, supported by Modeshift STARS Business. Modeshift STARS is an online travel planning tool kit, that creates, develops, and supports travel plans. Additionally, it recognises and rewards businesses for their excellence in the promotion of active and sustainable travel. Levels of accreditation are Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Membership for STEN is completely free, as are the Green and Bronze accreditation awards. For those organisations progressing through Gold and above, a small fee is charged by Modeshift.
With many employers now delivering their core services from home, the future of transport could be very different to what we’ve all been used to. Now is the time to be bold and create a new blueprint for the way we travel, helping to create the vision of a safer, greener, healthier county. If becoming a STEN member is of interest to you, please get in touch with the Sustainable Travel Planning Team to find out more email: travelplanteam@essex.gov.uk.
