Photo supplied by Norwich Airport

 

Two new schemes are being launched at Norwich Airport with the aim of saving employees money, promoting fitness and reducing carbon emissions, as part of its net zero strategy.

Norwich Airport Managing Director Richard Pace (pictured centre) joined airport colleagues outside the terminal building earlier this week to kick off the cycle-to-work and lift share initiatives.

Staff are being urged to sign up to its new ‘lift share community’ after a recent travel survey found that 50 percent of respondents would like the airport to support opportunities with
other businesses based on-site.

In addition to this, they are being offered the chance to join the cycle-to-work scheme – a tax efficient employee benefit saving nearly 40 percent on the cost of a new bike.

Lift Share

With the lift share programme, employees can link up with colleagues by using a free downloadable app to meet and arrange commuting to and from the airport together in one car.

It is estimated that the average commuter would save £1,000 a year in fuel costs by sharing just three journeys a week, as well as reducing stressful road and parking congestion.

Almost 100 members of staff at Norwich Airport have already signed up to the lift share community and as part of the scheme, they will be able to use priority parking bays on-site by authenticating each journey.

Recent research by the airport found that 80 percent of employees lived within walking distance of at least one other colleague and 45 percent lived close to more than ten others. Postcode data also suggests that 100 percent of all staff could pick someone else up on their way into work.

Cycle-to-work

Staff at Norwich Airport are also now able to save money on a new bike and spread the cost with the tax efficient Cyclescheme.

As part of the salary sacrifice, employees can choose any tax-free bicycle, including electric and folding models, and pay back the loan during a hire period from their gross pay rather than net pay, allowing them to benefit from income tax and NI relief.

It is estimated that staff at the airport could save between 30 and 50 percent depending on personal tax bands. At the end of the hire period, they would be able to purchase the bike for a fraction of its original value.

Richard Pace, Managing Director at Norwich Airport, said: “These two schemes bring multi-faceted benefits to staff across the entire airport site, and we are delighted to be supporting the launch of them for our colleagues. What is great about both initiatives is that they are completely flexible, they save money, they promote sustainable travel and encourage fitness while travelling to work, so it’s a win-win all round.

“Norwich Airport is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions from airport operations within our own control by 2050 at the latest. These schemes help support our strategy in reducing our carbon footprint. It is really encouraging that so many staff have already signed up and we very much hope that more employees will follow suit.”

Norwich Airport is operated by Regional & City Airports, the airport management division of Rigby Group plc, which also owns and operates Exeter Airport and Bournemouth Airport.

As well as daily connections to Amsterdam and a range of holiday flights, the airport is a key hub for the southern North Sea offshore oil and gas industry.