Employees in Dorset are being encouraged to walk, cycle or take a bus to work instead of using the car.

Businesses across south east Dorset have until 9 March to apply for grants of between £500 and £20,000 to spend on new workplace facilities that encourage their employees to adopt sustainable travel to work.

A total of £100,000 is available for the grants through BCP and Dorset councils’ Transforming Cities Fund programme.

Businesses in the south east Dorset Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) region can apply for grants of up to £20,000 to help them build, install or improve ‘trip end facilities’ at their place of employment. This can include projects such as the installation of bike parking/storage, showers, lockers, bike repair stands, outdoor bike pumps, clothes drying facilities and electric bike charging points.

The scheme not only focuses on encouraging employees to cycle to work, but also many of the facilities supported by the grant scheme, such as shower and locker facilities, will also encourage employees to walk to and from the bus as well as to walk and run to work.

Cllr Mike Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transport and sustainability said: “This is a great opportunity for local businesses to show their support for sustainable travel and help us to reduce local traffic congestion; something which we know costs them both time and money.

“It also makes sound business sense for companies to encourage their employees to take up active travel, not just in terms of a healthy workforce and a reduction in the company’s carbon footprint, but also because people who take regular exercise on their way to work are more alert and productive during the working day.”

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment said: “It is not just local companies that will benefit from these grants.  Many working people have told me that they would love to cycle or walk to work as they wish to support the environment, but there aren’t any facilities at their workplace, such as lockable bike storage, lockers or showers.  By offering these grants, we are encouraging local employers to provide these facilities and in doing so, provide a more attractive place to work, thus helping with their staff recruitment and retention.”

Businesses wanting to apply for a grant should visit BCP Council’s information page where they can download the guidance document and an application form.