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SmartGo Maylands, which launched by Go Travel Solution on December 5, helps businesses and its employees access sustainable travel opportunities.

The scheme is funded by Dacorum Borough Council, Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, Hertfordshire County Council and St Albans City and District Council to help tackle congestion and pollution in the area and improve the sustainability of travel in and around the business park.

The staff benefits package aims to incentivise the use of alternative sustainable transport solutions to get to and from work such as buses, bikes, trains and electric vehicles.

Front row, from left: Chris Taylor group manager of strategic, planning and regeneration at Dacorum Borough Council, Tara Clark, project manager at Go Travel Solutions, Helen Pollock, project executive at Hertfordshire IQ, Robin Pointon, managing director at Go Travel Solutions. Back row, from left: Max Oram, Hertfordshire County Council, Lawrence Hewitt, economic development officer at St Albans City and District Council, James Doe, assistant director of planning, development and regeneration at Dacorum Borough Council.

Richard Whitehead, chairman of Hertfordshire IQ and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership board member, said: “Sustainability is one of the biggest priorities for Hertfordshire IQ as we build a new cluster of green businesses in Hemel Hempstead.

"Enabling the business community to collaborate and incentivise sustainable travel solutions will not only benefit employers but will also have a positive impact on everyone who lives and works in the area."

Discounts are offered with transport specialists Arriva, London Northwestern Railway and Halfords to encourage opting for low-carbon travel solutions. In order for employees to access deals, employers need to register with SmartGo Maylands.

The benefits for employers could include improved staff health and well being, boosting staff morale and retention rates with an employee discount scheme, corporate social responsibility via reduced carbon footprint and lowered demand for parking spaces.

Councillor Graham Sutton, portfolio holder for planning and infrastructure at Dacorum Borough Council, said: “We need to work together to support a shift towards more sustainable travel in and around Hemel Hempstead.

"The council, in conjunction with its partners, is putting together a number of measures to enable this but need the support of the public and businesses to bring a shift away from single-occupancy car use. SmartGo is one piece of the jigsaw in making this happen.”

Tara Clark, Project Manager for SmartGo Maylands, said: “Employers on Maylands are facing growing challenges with travel to and at work. SmartGo Maylands offers a low-cost way for employers to respond to these challenges through promotion of sustainable transport, gaining all the business benefits that this approach brings.”

For more information about the SmartGo Maylands scheme, email [email protected] or call Tara on 07487 612770.

Low-carbon travel scheme comes to Hemel Hempstead business park