Better Transport, Better Business: what we learned
Amplifi’s latest webinar puts the spotlight on an important aspect of business: how your people and goods move. Our guest speaker, Michael Solomon Williams, Head of Campaigns at Campaign for Better Transport, walked us through why smarter travel is not only cleaner, but genuinely better for recruitment, productivity and growth. You can watch it here.
Why transport belongs on your business agenda
Access to reliable, sustainable transport opens up a wider labour pool, improves punctuality, and supports staff wellbeing. It also boosts customer access and cuts congestion. Michael’s core message was simple: Moving trips from private cars to public transport, walking, wheeling, cycling and shared options creates wins across the board, from lower emissions to higher productivity.
The toolkit: practical steps any employer can take
Michael introduced the Better Transport for Better Business toolkit and suggested starting with a quick travel health check:
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How do colleagues currently commute?
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What gets in the way of greener choices?
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Which local links (bus, rail, cycling) already exist?
From there, pick a few actions that fit your context:
Car sharing and car clubs
Lift-sharing platforms and car clubs reduce parking pressure and costs, while keeping essential access when needed.
Public transport partnerships
Where services are thin, businesses can work with councils and operators to tweak routes or trial a targeted shuttle, especially for station links or shift patterns.
Cycle to Work & e-bikes
E-bikes flatten hills and extend range, making cycling realistic for more people. Salary-sacrifice schemes and simple facilities (secure storage, somewhere to freshen up) help turn curiosity into habit.
Rail-first business travel
For domestic trips, trains are often faster door-to-door and far more productive than flying or driving. A rail-first policy can cut carbon without cutting outcomes.
Last-mile deliveries
E-cargo bikes are quick in congested areas and can increase drops per day while lowering running costs. They’re not just for big cities anymore.
A city that proved it works
Michael shared Nottingham’s experience with a Workplace Parking Levy. This is a locally raised, locally reinvested charge that has funded new tram lines, better buses and a modernised station. The result is less traffic, more public transport use and a stronger local economy. The headline isn’t “copy Nottingham,” but rather make it local: identify your levers, ring-fence the proceeds for transport, and build consensus with businesses and residents.
Where Amplifi businesses can start
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Survey your team and set a simple target (e.g. shift 10% of car commutes over two years).
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Pilot one change: a lift-share push, an e-bike trial day, or a station shuttle for peak shifts.
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Partner locally: approach the council and operators to align trials with area-wide goals.
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Tell the story: share quick wins, e.g. reduced parking pressure, happier commutes, time saved.
Next steps
If your business wants to pilot a travel measure, share data, or help shape a local transport plan, we’d love to hear from you.
Sign up to the amplifi community and keep an eye on newsletters for upcoming sessions. Let’s build a town that’s easier to get around: cleaner air, calmer roads and stronger businesses.
References mentioned in the webinar:
https://cyclesaver.co.uk/forest
https://www.li.me/en-gb/locations/london
https://betterbikeshare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Womens-Night-Safety-Report-Nov-2023.pdf
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