ways2work Award

Inspiring better ways of working and travelling

The aim of the ways2work Award is to identify inspiring examples of sustainable commuting and business travel, as well as sustainable working and alternatives to travel, such as flexible and agile working. These inspiring stories can then be used to encourage and support other companies to take action.

Scope of the ways2work Award:

This Award covers sustainable commuting and business travel, as well as sustainable working and alternatives to travel, such as flexible and agile working.

Organisations may choose to complete the award application based on both these subject areas OR one of them so either Sustainable Travel or Alternatives to Travel.
It is acknowledged that different solutions suit different businesses and we are looking for the most appropriate and effective solution, for the size and nature of business. We are looking for best practice examples of organisations that understand, and act on reducing the full impact of how they work and travel in relation to their work

Excludes:

The Award does not cover freight and logistics vehicles, or any other works vehicles, with the exception of company car fleets used by employees for commuting and business travel purposes only. 

Any information supplied on exempt categories will not be scored during the assessment process, though it can be referred to within context.

Eligibility:

Any private sector company with a presence in the UK is eligible to enter the award as well as any Business in the Community member or ways2work member (formerly known as The National Business Travel network), or Mayday Network member.

Why Commuting and Business Travel is important:

Over the past few years, a growing number of organisations have introduced sustainable travel and alternatives to travel to their business operations.

However despite the strident technological and social networking advances of the past decade, most are still working in the same way as they have for many years. As a result, our transport infrastructure is overloaded at peak times, costing businesses and individuals heavily both financially and socially.

The environment also suffers: 22% of UK CO2 emissions are from land transport, with 41.4% coming from cars. 38% of CO2 emissions from our personal cars relate to driving for work (25% commuting and 13% business travel).

Congestion on our roads is estimated to cost UK businesses over £20 billion pounds per annum and four out of five businesses cite congestion as a costly problem for them.

One third of road deaths result from work-related travel which equated to over 600 deaths in 2010, resulting in incalculable human costs and high business costs. Physical inactivity, which includes the effects of sedentary travel, costs an estimated £8.2bn a year in England, through direct costs of treating diseases linked to lack of exercise and the indirect costs of sickness absence. 

For more information see: ways2work and The Prince’s Mayday Network.

To find out more about previous winners of this award visit our website.

What we hope to hear about from the award entries:

The Award is looking for best practice examples of organisations that understand, and act on, reducing the full impact of how they work and travel in relation to their work. This might be:

•  Initiatives aimed at reducing travel – for example: technology solutions, flexible and remote-working policies;
• Switching to active and / or sustainable travel modes – for example: cycling or walking to work, travelling by public transport;
• Encouraging safer and greener travel behaviours – for example: eco driving, car sharing, car clubs.