London 2012 and TfL help businesses set Olympics transport plans
The two new programmes announced today aim to help both small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as multisite businesses to build and implement transport action plans for supplies, staff and customer access to their sites.
The programmes will include advice tailored to a particular business as well as free drop-in workshops that will be held around the country.
“Millions of additional trips are expected in the capital during the summer of 2012, and the transport network will be severely affected,” said Leon Daniels, managing director of Surface Transport at TfL.
“TfL is working with London 2012 to offer a range of free travel advice to businesses of all types and sizes, to ensure their staff, customers and suppliers can get around and that they can make and receive important deliveries during the Games.”
Daniel Ritterband, the Mayor of London’s director of Marketing and 2012 Communications, said that the tools and programmes are expected to help businesses get the maximum possible benefit from the Olympics, which are expected to attract over £700m of international spend in the capital.
Bespoke travel advice
From August, multisite companies employing more than 200 people – such as restaurant, pub or hotel chains – will be able to receive bespoke advice to help them set and implement their travel action plans.
TfL and London 2012 will aim to work with at least 100 multisite operators under this new programme.
“Each session will help firms manage the impact of the Games on staff and business operations and optimise deliveries, servicing and freight during Games time,” said TFL.
Travel workshops
In addition, over 50 workshops will be held across the country, starting next month and running through until summer next year.
These will aim to help firms with less than 200 employees that are based in areas set to be most impacted by the London 2012 Games.
“The drop-in sessions will help small and medium sized enterprises prepare for any travel disruption that may affect their business, and will cover topics such as how local roads will be managed, optimising deliveries and offering flexible working during Games time,” said TfL.
Online planning tool
In addition, a new online planning tool has been developed which aims to help businesses of all sizes think about the key issues that will affect them during the Games.
The tool asks a series of questions about staff and business travel, customers, visitors, suppliers and deliveries. After answering the questions, the travel planning tool provides companies with suggested actions and the considerations they will need to take into account, explained TfL.
Restaurants, pubs and hotels interested in using the online tool can visit www.london2012.com/traveladviceforbusiness and select the ‘Make your Plan’.
Businesses interested in signing up for the free workshops and one-to-one sessions can e-mail keeponrunning’at’london2012.com or visit www.london2012.com/traveladviceforbusiness for more information.
Later this month, BigHospitality will be publishing an in-depth guide to how the hospitality sector can prepare for transport challenges during the Olympics. Articles in our Olympics feature will be published here throughout the month.
