Metro's Travel for Work Team, which works with local companies to develop environmentally sustainable workplaces, attended a Climate Change summit led by the Prince of Wales on Tuesday 1 May.

Prince Charles is President of Business in the Community and asked the organisation to run a national Climate Change Summit for chief executives and senior directors with responsibility for climate change. Simultaneous events, led by The Prince of Wales, took place throughout the UK, bringing together over 1,000 business leaders to mark the beginning of a business-led movement for action on climate change. 

At the Yorkshire and Humber event, held at Doncaster Rovers's Keepmoat Stadium, the Metro Travel for Work Team explained to the 140 invited delegates the free service they can provide to help companies draw up plans to deal with travel issues relating to specific sites, and develop sustainable travel options.

Metro, in partnership with the five West Yorkshire district councils, works with over 130 companies through its West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network to help them reduce their carbon footprint in travel terms. Measures promoted by the Team include discounted MetroCards and the promotion of discounts by travel operators, site-specific public transport information, car clubs and car sharing schemes, and walking and cycle routes. As well as travel to and from work, Travel Plans look at business travel, travel by visitors and the use of fleet and delivery vehicles.

"This summit was an ideal opportunity for us to show the region's business leaders what help we can give them to develop sustainable travel solutions with a real, positive environmental impact," said John Henkel, Metro's Director of Passenger Services.

"The Prince of Wales has stated through Business in the Community that he wants to see a business-led movement for action on climate change and the services Metro can offer through Travel Planning match up very nicely with making that aim a reality."

Metro's current, three-year Travel for Work (TfW) Project lasts until 2010 and has received £870k funding from Yorkshire Forward.

Companies interested in finding out more about what the West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network can do for them can visit its web site at www.wytravelplan.com or contact Travel for Work Project Coordinator Simon Robinson on 0113 251 7429.