A growing desire to introduce more sustainable fleet and travel strategies from businesses and the public sector is already being seen in the West Country as Bristol gets ready to become European Green Capital 2015.

The European Commission award - Bristol is the first UK city to achieve that status - is being viewed as the catalyst to encourage more employers to ‘green’ their transport and travel operations with employers learning from each other as to how vehicle emissions and fuel usage can be cut and ultimately costs reduced.

Organisations including Bristol City Council, Business West and Bristol Chamber of Commerce are at the forefront of the ‘go green’ business agenda and they have already adopted initiatives which they hope other employers will follow.

Meanwhile, Bristol 2015, the company specially established to facilitate the city’s year as European Green Capital, and Low Carbon South West has launched an online platform enabling businesses to promote best practice ‘green’ initiatives to each other alongside help and advice as to how to implement ‘green’ travel and transport plans.

‘Go Green’ is the over arching message to businesses and will be delivered by Business West in partnership with Low Carbon South West with the aim of supporting organisations in five key areas, including transport.

The ‘Go Green’ website - www.gogreenbusiness.co.uk – is encouraging businesses, charities and organisations of all sizes able to sign up to the free scheme.

Businesses that join will be able to attend networking events, access support and guidance, stay informed on green funding and training opportunities and be recognised for their sustainable achievements.

‘Go Green’ is designed to help employers form a green action plan, track their progress, connect with other businesses in the region and clearly communicate their contribution towards creating a clean and sustainable business community for Bristol. 

Andrew Garrad, chairman of Bristol 2015, said: “Transport is one of our core areas of focus. As well as encouraging the use of public transport, our aim is that the year will inspire people and organisations to reduce emissions and promote the use of low emission and alternatively-fuelled vehicles.

“For example, through our business engagement scheme, ‘Go Green’, we hope to help business of all shapes and sizes to find ways to green their fleets.”

Business West, which has offices in Bristol and Swindon, claims to be one of the most influential independent business leadership organisations in the UK, representing and working with over 18,000 businesses across the South West.

It has already been running its own ‘Go Green project’ targeting SMEs and helping them implement a range of initiatives including driver training, low carbon vehicle acquisition and vehicle management systems.

What’s more Business West has gone green by installing two electric vehicle charging points in collaboration with Source West, which can be used free of charge by electric vehicle drivers.

It is also encouraging employees to car share for business travel by offering an additional 5p per mile above the 45p HM Revenue and Customs’ tax-free Approved Mileage Allowance Payment and by offering 20p per mile for cycling. As a result car sharing has increased by 50%.

Nina Skubala, initiative manager at Business West, said: “Bristol is one of the most congested cities in the UK and parking is a major issue. By bringing the business community together we can raise awareness of how to make changes and that includes introducing electric vehicles, utilising car clubs and using alternatives to the car particularly in respect of ‘last mile’ travel.”

Meanwhile, local Nissan dealer, Wessex Garages, has been encouraging businesses to make the switch from petrol and diesel power by offering them the opportunity to trial the zero emission Leaf for the past two months as well as the recently launched e-NV200.

Bristol Royal Infirmary has taken delivery of two of the vans and already operates a Leaf. The dealer’s local business specialist Kate Hancock said: “We have been inundated with requests by businesses to test both vehicles. We are confident that inquiries will translate into sales, particularly as Bristol has an excellent recharging network, which continues to grow, and that eases range anxiety fears.”

Source West, which is funded by Bristol City Council through the UK’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, promotes the introduction of electric vehicles into the region and aims to have a network of 219 recharging points by March 2015.

Within the Bristol City Council area there will be 100 charging points at 20 sites with the remainder spread across the South West region.