Businesses throughout Greater Manchester are beginning to recognise the benefits that the bus can bring to their organisation and employees as part of the Stagecoach business travel discount scheme.

As motoring costs and parking problems escalate, organisations have adopted the travel discount scheme as part of an overall green transport policy to encourage other travel options. The adoption of this policy has been popular with employees who enjoy reduced travel costs whilst businesses can benefit from reduced physical and financial pressures of providing and funding car parking spaces.

Around twenty businesses are currently working with Stagecoach to provide discounted travel tickets, including councils, health authorities and local businesses.

Mary Brooks, travel-co-ordinator at Stockport PCT said “The Stagecoach business discount scheme has enabled us to sell bus tickets to our employees at a discounted rate. This is of great benefit in helping us to encourage our employees to use public transport and is in line with NHS Corporate objectives in encouraging healthy lifestyles, reducing pollution and the protection of the environment".

In the past twelve months sales from Stagecoach business travel scheme have increased by 25%. The biggest growth area has been monthly and annual Megarider tickets which are sold exclusively through the travel scheme. The annual ticket which costs £305 offers up to a 34% saving off the price of a comparable weekly Megarider pass, whilst the monthly ticket costing £30.50 offers an attractive 15% discount. As part of the scheme discounts are also available on weekly and day tickets, when purchased in bulk.

The business discount scheme is available to any organisation with over 100 employees, Stagecoach work with the employer to tailor the package most suitable to the organisation and provide support to promote the scheme internally.

Stagecoach operates over 600 buses on more than 100 routes across South and East Manchester, Stockport, Trafford and Tameside.  With an investment of over £10 million in the last 2 years the Stagecoach fleet is one of the most modern in the country, with over 50% of the fleet being the latest low floor, fully accessible vehicles.

For further details of Stagecoach Business Travel Discount Scheme contact Karen Coventry, Marketing Manager on 0161 276 2727 or at sales.manchester@stagecoachbus.com