The reasearch showed that 69% of businesses in the capital believe that the games will cause significant or medium travel disruption, yet fewer businesses have a plan for how to respond. Global Action Plan has published a ten-point plan to help businesses improve efficiency, save money and reduce environmental impact.
Global Action Plan researchers found out that 41% of research respondents do not have a strategic approach to cutting travel costs and emissions. With the games set to impose difficulties in staff getting to and from work, delivering supplies and meeting with clients, the event presents a golden opportunity to change travel behaviour, even after the games.
The capital and businesses will have to deal with unprecedented travel demand: 5.3 million expected visitors will likely create 855,000 games-related trips . Yet businesses face barriers in creating better travel plans, which include inadequate technology and lack of senior leadership. Global Action Plan’s report, the result of nine months of research, shows that through innovative approaches to travel, businesses have the opportunity to change people’s work and travel patterns, improving their bottom line and helping them cut carbon emissions.
The Global Action Plan report reveals that
• 66% of companies are assessing the option of flexible working; however only 25% are looking to ensure IT systems are prepped for this challenge
• Only 17% of companies in London indicated that they would use the games as an opportunity to change employee travel habits
• Very few organisations have tried to actively engage their employees to reduce travel: 76% have never tried using incentives and 80% have never tried carbon budgets
• Among large organisations, only 13% are significantly collaborating with suppliers to reduce travel
• Only 57% of organisations provide time and carbon comparisons to their employees, which would enable them to make informed travel choices
Global Action Plan CEO Trewin Restorick said:
“UK businesses spend £17.5 billion per year on business travel , and that’s escalating all the time. Yet 76% of companies have never tried even simple incentives to reduce travel. Improving travel efficiency will save businesses money and increase competitiveness. The Olympics are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to encourage employees to travel differently.”
