 Happy New Year!
We hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year break. We look forward to working with you in 2022 to encourage more people to travel sustainably in our region.
Here's the latest from the Workplaces Team...
Work from home where possible
 With the Omicron surge at the end of 2021, the Government requested people work from home where possible, to slow the rapid spread of the COVID variant.
As the new year progresses, the My Journey Workplaces team will continue to support businesses providing travel guidance and support. We will also continue to work closely with our travel champions at key worker sites, to help your staff travel to and from work in an easy and sustainable way.
If you have any questions, or need advice about developing a working from home policy, please email us at workplaces@myjourneyhampshire.com.
Working with businesses along the M3 corridor
 You will have seen in the national news that the government has paused the development of all-lane running motorways until 5 years’ worth of data has been gathered from the existing examples regarding safety. This of course means that the project to turn the M3 into an all-lane running motorway, between junctions 9 and 14, (due to start in November ‘21) is now suspended until further notice.
The high levels of traffic on the M3 remain, and the focused work that we are doing on behalf of National Highways in the area to encourage the use of sustainable transport will continue. National Highways are committed to funding this work, to reduce congestion and improve air quality, as part of their national drive towards Net Zero.
Look out for the ads for our current travel demand management campaign, Travel Smart, and email us at workplaces@myjourneyhampshire.com to find out how we can help you set up and run sustainable travel campaigns and promotions within your organisation.
Winter Wheelers was a success
 Winter Wheelers is a fun annual competition run by our partners at Love to Ride.
In the same style as an advent calendar, it ran from 1 to 24 December 2021 with daily cycling prizes on offer to those who registered.
In December 2020, the total amount of workplaces that registered were 85.
That number has been successfully passed! Winter Wheelers ‘21 saw 105 workplaces registered. We are looking forward to beating that target in December 2022.
Cycling helps us stay mentally and physically healthy, plus it frees up space on public transport for key workers who need it. Click here for more information about Love to Ride.
Save the date:
'Love your bike' from our partners at Love to Ride - Saturday 12 February to Sunday 13 February 2022 at Westquay.
Future transport and other hot topics at the Workplaces Travel Network meeting
 It was great to be joined by so many of you at our Workplace Travel Network (WTN) event in December. It was our first in-person event since 2019 and we were pleased to see so much discussion and enthusiasm.
Thank you to all the organisations that shared their own experiences on topics such as travel policies and green plans. We will continue to keep you updated on the ongoing development of Maas (Mobility as a Service) as we know this is a topic of interest.
You can find pdfs of all the presentations on the My Journey Workplaces webpage. If you would like further advice on the topics discussed, or any other aspect of sustainable travel, email us at workplaces@myjourneyhampshire.com. We are always keen to hear your suggestions about the event format and future topics, so please send us any suggestions you have.
We look forward to seeing you at our next event on Wednesday 16 March 2022.
Workplace Travel Grants – still time to apply
 Our match funded Workplace Travel Grants are available for you to apply for now. You can receive up to £5,000 to improve your on-site facilities and buy in services to help your staff travel to work sustainably. This can range from installing or upgrading changing facilities or bike shelters to having regular visits from the Bike Doctor and much more!
Workplace Travel Grant applications can be submitted from 3 January to 11 February 2022.
Email the workplaces email workplaces@myjourneyhampshire.com or find out more information on our website.
See if you are eligible for a LoCASE grant
 Businesses across Southampton could be eligible for grants of up to £10,000 to make their green ideas for business growth a reality.
Grant funding, through the Low Carbon Across the South and East (LoCASE) initiative, is now available until Summer 2023. The aim is to support businesses (specifically SMEs) to become more competitive and profitable while protecting the environment and encouraging low carbon / eco-innovative solutions. Southampton City Council is playing a key role in promoting this initiative across the city and supporting businesses across Hampshire to apply for funding.
Examples of projects that LoCASE could fund include:
- Upgrading heating, lighting, and IT systems.
- Improving building control systems.
- Investment in new plant and machinery as well as refrigeration equipment.
- Marketing and consultancy costs.
- New product development.
To learn more about LoCASE, go to their website and register your interest. You can also contact our dedicated LoCASE Adviser Greg White at Greg.White@southampton.gov.uk.
Hampshire based businesses can help shape the future of active and sustainable travel in Hampshire
 Hampshire County Council’s Travel Planning Team need your views on encouraging active and sustainable travel for your employees.
Would your business like to reduce its carbon footprint? Could supporting your employees to adapt their travel choices be part of your corporate social responsibility?
Hampshire County Council would like to create a new service for Hampshire-based businesses and organisations that encourages active and sustainable travel for employees, and they want to do it in a way that works for you!
If you are a Hampshire-based business, this is your chance to say what you would like/need from a future service and, if you have the time, what you are currently offering your employees.
The closing date for the survey is 31 January 2022.
Click here to fill in the survey.
All respondents will be entered into a prize draw that includes £100 and £50 high-street shopping vouchers. Full terms, conditions and privacy notice are included in the survey.
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