The Glasgow Sustainable Mobility Conference

Some of our SP Energy Networks team recently participated in the Glasgow Sustainable Mobility Conference at the Arnold Clark Innovation Centre, which delved into discussions about the future of eco-friendly transport and explored how sustainable transport can transform Glasgow into a greener, more connected community.

The conference brought together speakers from key organisations around the city who outlined the vision for Glasgow's sustainable mobility and transport whilst discussing practical solutions to help businesses support the delivery of net zero mobility strategies.

Both speakers, Councillor Angus Millar, from Glasgow Convener for Climate Glasgow Green Deal, Transport and City Centre Recovery, as well as Gordon Dickson, Head of Bus Strategy and Delivery for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), started the event. They detailed how their strategies are moving forward to help people in and around the city centre and reflected on recent implementations including the LEZ reports, shared transportation networks and green logistics solutions aiming to amplify the combined impact of reducing emissions and promoting sustainable mobility.

Speakers Sarah Graham, Neil MacBeth, Paul Reid, and Dennis Sweeney from Edrington, The University of Strathclyde and the NHS, discussed future transport infrastructures, public transport solutions, and how smaller organisations in Glasgow deliver sustainable mobility. They also shared their businesses' ideas and solutions for reducing their emissions.

Sarah Graham from Edrington and Paul Reid and Dennis Sweeney from the NHS implemented similar strategies within their businesses, considering how their sustainability goals can align with other factors, including car sharing, cycle-to-work schemes, and discounted annual public transport tickets. They recognised that limited parking at their locations was potentially a challenge for employees driving to work and were keen to implement solutions for employees to choose more sustainable transport options. The NHS implemented schemes to help employees use bikes by having 'Dr Bike' available to assist with bike care and needs and finding suitable routes. Whilst Edrington uses an app called 'Motability' which helps drivers find individuals going the same route to encourage car sharing and takes the stress away from finding parking by advising on less crowded car parks.

After surveying the main reasons people drive to work, the University of Strathclyde realised that employees who travel during their working hours felt they needed to for various reasons: distance, easiness, and comfort. Neil expressed how they overcame this by adding electric pool cars as a service which any employee can book for their travels—going into detail about the success of this strategy, including how many journeys and miles these pool cars have used and showing the carbon emission saved within the year.

Guy Jefferson, Chief Operating Officer for SP Energy Networks said “The conference was a fantastic opportunity to get together with a variety of organisations from across Glasgow and hear first-hand how they are enabling a more sustainable future for the people of Glasgow. We are passionate about delivering a sustainable future for the people and businesses of Glasgow and SP Energy Networks are proud to play a role in supporting the move to electrification and Net Zero.”

Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Transport, said: “Creating a sustainable transport system for Glasgow’s is central to our push to reduce the city’s carbon emissions and help tackle the climate emergency.

“But our transport plans must also help to deliver a fairer system that’s affordable, accessible and easy to use, safe and reliable.

“Glasgow’s transport strategy is now a finished document and through this we have identified many priorities where we must make progress if we are to achieve our ambitions for a sustainable transport system for the city.

“We have a clear framework for the detailed planning that will help us achieve a better balance across our city network for all modes of transport and help to improve the efficiency of travel for all road users.

“I was delighted to be able speak at the Glasgow Sustainable Mobility Conference and share our vision for the city’s network, but also hear what individuals, businesses and organisations are doing to travel more sustainably.

“Across the city there is clearly a desire for transport to be cleaner, cheaper and healthier and through the actions set out in transport strategy, we are doing everything possible to deliver a more sustainable transport future for Glasgow.”

Find out more about Sustainability at SP Energy Networks