NHS Resourcing Your Sustainable Transport Strategy

Building a Strategy That Delivers 

Sustainable transport strategies are far more likely to gain support when they are positioned as solutions to existing organisational challenges, rather than environmental initiatives alone. Alongside reducing emissions, they can help address recruitment and retention, improve staff wellbeing, ease parking pressures, reduce costs and enhance the experience of patients and visitors. 

As Andrew explained, that broader perspective should shape the strategy itself. Rather than creating a document simply to meet guidance, organisations should develop a long-term framework that reflects local priorities, secures senior leadership support and translates into targeted travel plans that can be delivered.

Unlocking Resources Means Looking Beyond New Budgets 

Resourcing sustainable travel is rarely about securing a new funding stream. As Barry demonstrated through the Northern Care Alliance’s experience, organisations often achieve more by identifying opportunities within existing budgets, from reducing grey fleet mileage to rethinking parking provision, while working with local authorities and transport providers to unlock additional support. 

Mark showed how travel surveys, postcode analysis and journey mapping can identify where behaviour change is most achievable, giving organisations the evidence to prioritise investment. Howard then outlined how shared pool vehicles can reduce reliance on grey fleet travel and mileage reimbursement costs, helping organisations translate strategy into measurable operational and financial benefits. 

You can't sit there looking at the brick wall. Mobilityways created the window, and Enterprise Car Club has the potential to act as the glaziers.

Barry Waterhouse

Group Travel & Access Manager, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Looking Ahead

The organisations making the greatest progress are those that integrate sustainable transport into wider decisions about estates, workforce, finance and patient experience. By combining leadership, evidence and creative thinking around resources, trusts can build strategies that deliver lasting impact. To explore the examples and discussion in more detail, watch the webinar recording or download the presentation slides.