March 18th 2015

The achievements of local businesses were recognised and awarded at the Connected Businesses Awards which took place on 17th March at The Roundhouse Derby.

Over 120 businesses are engaged with Connected, and four levels of accreditation are used to recognise the achievement of these businesses in encouraging sustainable travel within their workplace each year.

The recognition achievement was given to 16 local businesses that have joined the Connected business network and are just getting started with their travel action plans.  64 businesses received Bronze accreditation, by conducting staff travel surveys, completing a travel action plan and through securing senior management support.  Silver accreditation was given to 33 businesses that have implemented their travel action plan and actively promoted sustainable travel to their employees.  Derby College, Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Derby all attained gold, the highest level of Connected accreditation by independently implementing their own travel action plans, running regular events focussed on sustainable travel, and encouraging their employees to choose healthy and sustainable ways of travelling to work through incentives and promotions.  The three gold accredited companies have all recorded reductions in single occupancy car use for staff commuting trips.

In addition to the above accreditation, four special awards were presented in recognition of Travel Planning excellence:

  • EPM Technology Group received the Connected Small Employment Site of the Year award
  • Interfleet Technology received the Connected Large Employment Site of the Year award
  • Derby College received the Connected Travel Initiative of the Year for the launch of a dedicated Facebook page set up to provide staff and students with information about transport to and from the sites. 
  • And the Travel Champion of the Year Award went to Andrea Shaw of Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in recognition of her hard work and dedication to continually promote sustainable travel within the workplace

Presenting the awards, Councillor Martin Rawson, Cabinet Member for Planning, Environment and Regeneration said “These awards are all about celebrating the achievements of local employers and the work they have been doing to encourage sustainable travel and support their employees, the local community and the environment.  It really is fantastic to see so many local businesses signing up to Connected, and really helping to keep Derby moving”. 

Adam Sendall, LSTF Programme Coordinator said “We’re delighted with what Connected has achieved so far, and the commitment of so many local organisations.  It really is important that we recognise the efforts of our local businesses, and I am really looking forward to our third year of the Connected programme and know that with the support of local businesses we can build on the success of the past two years and further embed a culture of sustainable travel in Derby”.