COMPANY car drivers at Yorkshire Building Society are being urged to opt for alternative fuels, including diesel, for their next vehicle as part of an environmental focus at the firm. It has introduced a series of initiatives to encourage its 160 user-choosers, based in Bradford, to choose 'greener' cars, including providing 10 Dualfuel Vauxhall Astras, Vectras and Omegas for staff to test.

Carried out in partnership with JCT600, 40 test drives were taken in the first week of the two-week scheme, which ends this week. Mary Blackwell contract cost manager, said: 'Our environmental policy sets out our intention to consider the environmental impact of all relevant areas of our activities. A major contribution is to produce a greener car fleet.'

Before the test, one driver had chosen an LPG vehicle for his company car and Blackwell is hoping to achieve a green fleet of 10 before the end of the year. She added: 'Currently 20 'business needs' drives have diesel vehicles, but we aim to increase the number using either diesel of LPG to 80 drivers, have the business-need drivers, within two years.'

To encourage staff, they are provided with a 15% increase in their car allowance if they opt for an alternatively-fuelled company car. The twin move to encourage company car drives to select either diesel powered or dual-fuelled company cars comes a year ahead of company car tax changes which will see a benefit-in-kind system based on carbon dioxide emissions which play to the strengths of both forms of propulsion.

The firm has also confirmed its commitment to the environment by signing up to the Government-backed Motorvate scheme, which requires a 12% reduction in emissions, including 3% through reduced mileage, as part of a high-profile certification programme over three years.