Shepherd Group Industrial Division (From York Press)

Shepherd Group Industrial Division

11:43am Thursday 26th August 2010 in

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PEDAL power plays a big role in the efficiency of the massive Shepherd Group Industrial Division site, in Huntington, York.

It is nearly a mile from one corner of the 60-acre site to another in New Lane and each department in the division, which consists of Portakabin, Portasilo and Portastor, has free small-wheeled bikes available to key people who need to make the journeys.

For the division this is but one part of its Green Travel Plan to encourage its 800 staff to travel to work on foot, by cycle or motorcycle and by car sharing.

Its success has been so stunning, that the division has now entered the Best Sustainable Travel Initiative category in The Press Business Awards 2010.

Over the past ten years, Shepherd has supported the national Cycle To Work campaign and this year’s effort resulted in 168 employees cycling to work – more than 20 per cent of the Huntington workforce.

Helping to maintain the two-wheeled momentum is a BUG, or Bicycle Users Group which organises events like themed cycling competitions with cycle-related prizes, well as a family cycle ride, country pub ride and an off-road mountain bike event at Dalby Forest.

Even on a cold, wet day this month at a time when many employees are on annual holidays, an audit showed 20 per cent of the workforce came to work on two wheels, while eight per cent walked to work – astonishing given the out-of-the-way location of the site and the distance and routes many have to travel.

Many staff car share because public transport is not suitable for travelling to the work site.

A recent audit showed 43 cars arrived at the New Lane site each day with multiple occupancy – about 13 per cent of the workforce.

Meanwhile, the division is increasingly relying on the “virtual world” – using videoconferencing where possible to met up with businesses throughout the UK, Ireland, Belgium and Holland.

It also employs a travel company to organise business travel and analyse the carbon footprint of journeys.