Staff car hire scheme to help cut emissions
Norfolk trust steps up green transport strategy
With the NHS Sustainable Development Unit estimating that 17% of the health service’s carbon footprint comes from travel and transport, one trust is launching a car rental scheme in a bid to do its bit for the environment.
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCHC) has Enterprise Rent-a-Car to help it draw up a new policy based on a number of green travel options, including the hourly rental car club scheme, WeCar.
The scheme is being piloted with two vehicles at the trust’s Norwich site, which has 146 employees. Under the initiative, the trust has ditched its pool car and staff are discouraged from using their own vehicles for business journeys. Instead, the rental cars are offered to all staff for short business journeys in and around Norwich.
The company is also working with the trust to help create a broader, more sustainable transport strategy for its employees.
Our aim is to be innovative in our travel policy wherever we can, which will help us to reduce emissions and lower our fleet costs
Samantha Whiteley, project manager at the trust, said: “WeCar is ideal for us. Enterprise offers all the flexibility of a car club that hires by the hour, but with the added bonus that it can also offer cost-effective daily and longer-term rentals when we need them.
“Enterprise also participated in a number of travel road shows held at three of our larger locations to introduce our employees to the various sustainable transport options available now or in the future. Our aim is to be innovative in our travel policy wherever we can, which will help us to reduce emissions and lower our fleet costs.”
Rob Ingram, director of business rental at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, added: “WeCar means trust employees in Norwich have easy access to two modern, low-emission cars rather than having to use their own private vehicles, which are often older and produce more CO2. Also, the trust no longer has to pay mileage reimbursement or worry about the risk profile of employees driving their own cars.
“The trust is looking to take a more sustainable approach to transport generally so, in addition to WeCar and our daily rental services, NHS employees are being encouraged to use public transport, bicycles, and where possible, to avoid travel altogether through teleconferencing.”
