More funding for active travel, grants and webinar
- More funding for active travel projects
- Grants available from two funds in Highlands and Islands
- Webinar to help applicants prepare funding bids
New funding is being made available to help employers make it more attractive for staff to walk, cycle or wheel to work.
A second round of the Workplace Active Travel Infrastructure Grant launches today (April 21) with a larger budget for 2025 after a successful first year.
Delivered by HITRANS (the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership), the grant scheme is open to businesses, charities, public sector bodies and not-for-profit organisations in Highland, Moray, Orkney, the Western Isles and most of Argyll and Bute.
Applications are welcome from individual workplace sites or departments within larger organisations.
Grants typically range from £500 to £10,000 per site, although projects outside this range can be considered.
Money can be used for capital improvements, such as secure cycle shelters, bike repair stations, improved changing and showering areas, or drying space for outdoor clothing.
The changes can make a big difference for staff who want to walk, cycle or wheel to work – or use bikes for business journeys – but face barriers around storage, comfort, or security.
To help organisations get the most from the fund, an online information webinar will be held on April 30.
It will help people research their projects and decide how a grant can help ahead of the application deadline on June 21 this year.
Sheila Wickens, HITRANS’ Smart Travel Choices Officer, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for workplaces to respond to staff needs and create healthier, more sustainable working environments.
“Last year’s applicants responded directly to staff feedback – for example, providing secure storage for e-bikes – which helps support active travel become part of everyday working life.”
Last year’s applicant, Jaci Douglas, Chief Executive of the Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) Inverness said: “We are so pleased with our new bike shelter funded by HITRANS.
“As a charity, it’s not something we could have funded ourselves, but it was something our staff had asked for and we knew it also met our sustainable and active travels aims.
“It was such an easy process to apply for the funding. HITRANS staff were really helpful with any questions and offered support along with way and the installation was quick and efficient as well.
“Having the secure bike shelter has really allowed staff to cycle to and from work and be confident their bikes are safely stored on site, and of course out of any inclement weather.
“All in all, it was a really simple process with excellent results that make such a positive difference to our staff’s health and wellbeing.”
The webinar will showcase other examples from last year’s successful projects and include a live Q&A to seek information specific to your organisation.
Booking is now open via Eventbrite, and a recording will be made available after the event for those unable to attend live.
Visit here to register for the webinar.
HITRANS is offering the grant with funding from Transport Scotland’s People and Place Programme.
The programme also funds the Community Cycle Parking Grant which also opens today.
It supports improvements in places like transport hubs (eg bus stations, ferry terminals etc), schools, residential areas and community venues.
Local authorities and community organisations can apply for items such as sheltered cycle parking or public bike repair stands.
It aims to increase the number of people choosing to walk, wheel or cycle for local journeys or use sustainable transport for longer journeys.
This will help ensure that cycle parking initiatives align with HITRANS’ wider regional priorities for active travel across Argyll and Bute, Western Isles, Orkney, Highland, Moray and the Cairngorms National Park.
Applications should be submitted by 5pm on June 21 2025.
See here for information and guidance on both programmes.