Birmingham City Council continues to encourage workers to reduce reliance on cars and commute sustainably: by bicycle, foot or public transport, via its Modeshift STARS scheme.
Twelve more organisations in the city have recently gained accreditation through the Modeshift STARS scheme for encouraging their staff to take up more active modes of travel when commuting to work such as walking, cycling or using the bus, train or tram.
The most recent organisations to be recognised with Modeshift STARS accreditation are: Aston University, Atkins (new Birmingham office, Two Chamberlain Square), Birmingham City University, Birmingham Metropolitan College, Bryt Energy, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Midlands Arts Centre, Newman University, Pell Frischmann, SCC Academy Birmingham, South and City College Birmingham, and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
In total, approximately 350 Birmingham based organisations, including schools, hospitals, universities and businesses are now registered on the Modeshift STARS scheme which provides the tools to create an effective Travel Plan and achieve nationally recognised accreditation.
Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, Councillor Waseem Zaffar MBE has said: “We are delighted to have a further twelve organisations in the city succeed in supporting their staff to choose more active and sustainable methods of commuting with the help of the Modeshift STARS scheme. I would like to urge organisations who have not yet joined the scheme to please do so in order to make a positive difference.
“Organisations using this scheme are now making a valued and important contribution to helping reduce Birmingham’s air pollution levels and supporting our ambitious net-zero carbon target by 2030. I would like to give special recognition to all those organisations which continue to support their workers, post-pandemic, in the shift away from commuting by car.”
Birmingham City Council is supporting organisations through the travel planning process and employers are further incentivised to take part in the Modeshift STARS scheme with a variety of initiatives, including free cycle racks from Park That Bike and Transport for West Midlands, cycle repair sessions delivered by Cycling UK and Birmingham’s Community Cycle Clubs or participation in challenges with Living Streets and Love to Ride.
In addition to helping Birmingham City Council meet Birmingham’s ambitious net-zero carbon by 2030 target, the Modeshift STARS scheme enables workplaces to support staff and visitors with travel choices, promotes healthier lifestyles, can lead to cost savings and supports Corporate Social Responsibility Objectives.
Lizzie Moran, Head of Technical Resources at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) said: “The Modeshift STARS scheme has helped us to consolidate the sustainability work that we’ve already been doing at MAC and focus on areas where we can improve. We had some useful feedback from our recent staff survey and the targeted travel plan gives us clear aims for the future. The accreditation is a great way to promote our work to become a greener organisation to staff and customers.”
Rachel Evans, Travel Plan Ambassador at Atkins Birmingham said: “Our new home at Two Chamberlain Square has accessibility, wellbeing and sustainability at its heart and we are delighted that our commitment to sustainable travel has been recognised with Modeshift STARS accreditation.
“We are supporting our people and visitors to make sustainable travel their mode of choice through a package of attractive initiatives such as high quality cycle storage, gold standard changing and shower facilities, public transport ticketing support and personalised travel planning.”
