Education First Case Study

Founded in 1965 Education First (EF) is one of the largest private educational company, with 15 subsidiaries and non-for-profit organizations centered aound language learning, educational travel, cultural exchange and academic programmes. EF operates 450 schools and offices in over 54 countries.

RBKC Road Safety and Travel Plan Team supported EF headquarters in developing their first workplace travel plan in 2009 as part of their staff’s health and well-bring strategy.

At the time when EF completed their first in January 2010, the company employed a total of of 160 employees. Two years later EF finished their second travel plan and employed a total of 200 employees. The results of the travel surveys carried out in 2011 (43% response rate) and in 2012 (53% response rate) showed a remarkable mode shift towards active modes:

·  9% of staff travelled by bike as main mode in 2010- increased to 18% of staff travelling by bike

·  In 2012 of those who did NOT choose bicycle as their main mode, 26% occasionally cycle to work. Of those, 14% cycle twice a week or more.

·  22% walked to work in 2010 –increased to 25% in 2012

Modes / 2010 / 2012
Car use / 1% / 0%
Travel by bike / 9% / 18%
Walk to work / 22% / 25%
Tube / 40% / 30%
Bus / 16% / 15%
Train / 11% / 9%

RBKC Road Safety and Travel Plan Team further supported EF in implementing measures to achieve such impact on modes of transport. Below there is a list of incentives we offered EF:

·  March 2010 – we installed 12 cycle stands within EF premises

·  March 2012 – showers improvements through match funding with RBKC

·  July 2012 – launch of new gym – we provided a Smoothie Bike session to promote cycling initiatives linked to well-being aims. We attempted to gauge interests from staff to start a bike user group and identify cycle champions

·  August 2012 – cycle parking expanded – can now accommodate 50 bikes

EF has implemented the following initiatives:

·  Walk to Work Week and Bike Week every year

·  designed a webpage dedicated to active travel on the intranet

·  promoted RBKC cycling initiatives (cycle training, Dr Bike) and Bikeminded in their notice board

·  offered cycle to work scheme

·  encouraged staff to do video conferencing

Staff Intranet

Expanded cycle parking

Noticeboard

Smoothie Bike for the launch of the gym