Isle of Wight businesses have been finding out more about sustainable travel options with the help of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce. The Green On Wight Business Forum brought together key Island employers as well as travel providers including Southern Vectis, the Cowheels Car Club and Red Squirrel Electric Bikes. The event is part of the Chamber’s on-going work to promote sustainable travel to the business community, in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council.
Businesses attending Green On Wight included Gurit, Liz Earle, UKSA, WightFibre, Osel Enterprises, Southern Housing Group, Spinlock, Betapak, Crossprint, CycleWight, Datatel Networks, NFU Mutual and Isle of Wight Design and Print. The event was hosted by the Chamber’s Tom Stroud and introduced by Chamber Chief Executive Kevin Smith. The forum was held at the Cow Company at Tapnell Farm.
Kevin Smith said:
“In business today, if you don’t have an environmental aspiration, you’re behind the times. Sustainability should be at the heart of business. We all have a fundamental responsibility to look after our planet and our society and I think the Island’s business community can be leading that agenda. Events like this are part of a wider conversation about the future of our economy and our environment, which will then influence the Economic Strategy for the Isle of Wight.”
Delegates also found out more about the new Bicycle Island App which will encourage cycle commuting between Cowes and Newport. Sustainable travel providers welcomed the event which delivered an opportunity to showcase new options to key business contacts.
Paul Crabb from Cowheels said:
“Green On Wight was well organised and very professionally delivered and an absolute pleasure to attend. I was delighted to be able to engage with several high target potential clients which provided a gem of a B2B opportunity.”
Businesses also heard from Arc Consulting’s Ian Boyd who talked about how the commercial sector can go beyond environmental compliance and move towards innovation in product and practice.
Ian Boyd said:
“Going beyond compliance is an exciting adventure. If businesses can go above and beyond the bare minimum it becomes a point of difference and people will want to talk to you about what you are doing. In many ways the Isle of Wight is already streets ahead of what’s happening on the mainland. The Island has a huge amount to offer the business community of the UK PLC. The Island has tremendous ingenuity and innovation as well as ambition.”
Tim Thorne from CycleWight added:
“For a group like CycleWight the Green on Wight event was an excellent opportunity to listen to other people’s views. It was a great to hear of initiatives around the Island to encourage more people to travel sustainably. It further inspires us to make cycling on the Island better.
“The spring and summer offer a great time to try different ways to travel to work rather than using the car. There is lots of support out there. So give it a go.”
