Over recent years, Beachcroft has continually highlighted the importance of climate change to its employees and with the relocation of the Bristol office came the perfect opportunity to further incorporate the minimising of carbon emissions through the establishment of various initiatives such as the initiation of an employee travel survey, flexible working and travel plan schemes.
With 28% of the workforce living within 2 miles of the Bristol office and a further 26% living 2 - 4 miles from the office Beachcroft created a business travel survey to discover what would motivate these employees to minimise the unnecessary use of cars to and from the office. The move brought with it a reduction in car park spaces available to staff by at least 50% and the transition to lower emission company cars. Results from the survey showed that 38% would like workplace lockers, showers and changing rooms before walking or cycling to work.
Following the survey the travel plan scheme incorporated various concerns employees felt were preventing them from cycling, walking or using public travel for their commute. These included the creation of on-site facilities such as showers and changing rooms, season ticket loans, information on a free-to-use car sharing scheme and a travel policy to increase reliance on rail travel. Within this policy Beachcroft centralised all travel booking to monitor all internal journeys resulting in employees now having to travel by train to meetings if it is possible to do so.
To further engage staff in using more sustainable travel methods Beachcroft introduced a Green Week providing incentives such as free breakfasts to promote walking and cycling. It also enhanced the efficiency of flexible working by introducing a consistent flexible working policy with office support offered. Similarly, to minimise business travel Beachcroft provided video and telephone conferencing facilities.
