The scheme provides a range of business travel benefits and services aimed at making commuting and business travel cheaper, easier and more sustainable.
It was launched to an audience of businesses at stadiummk earlier this week. Speaking at the event, Milton Keynes Mayor Cllr Brian White said: “It is important that we give Smartgo our backing. It will help us to become the city that we want to be.”
Backed by Milton Keynes Council and vehicle manufacturer giant Volkswagen, which has its UK headquarters in the city, the scheme has been developed and co-ordinated by specialist sustainable travel consultancy Go Travel Solutions.
The Smartgo Milton Keynes programme offers a membership package that includes travel incentives and discounts, workplace travel assessments and planning and the opportunity to secure funding for shared local transport projects.
Similar projects are already running in Leicester and Stevenage.
The council and the Milton Keynes NHS Trust have already signed up and the initiative has the backing of Red Bull Racing and Trek Cycles. Membership prices begin at £25 + VAT per year for firms with up to 25 staff, rising to £475 + VAT for those with more than 1,000 employees.
Milton Keynes South MP Iain Stewart, who is also the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, said: “Transport is going to be critical to economic growth here in Milton Keynes and across the country, as well as to our quality of life.”
Smartgo has start-up funding from its corporate sponsors and the council but will be funded by its membership fees.
Andrew Bannister, chair of the Smartgo Milton Keynes steering group and head of group environmental management at Volkswagen Group (UK), said: “It will further the economic development of Milton Keynes by enabling the most efficient and healthy transport schemes. We hope its numbers will grow as we persuade other businesses to join us.”
To find out more about Smartgo Milton Keynes, contact Go Travel Solutions on 0116 216 8326, e-mail info@smartgo.co.uk or visit www.smartgo.co.uk/milton-keynes
