National & International Links
Strategic communications for the region
The North West Business Leadership Team (‘NWBLT’) encourages all its member organisations to adopt a travel plan and to make maximum use of the region’s assets in terms of national and international links.
Appropriate workplace travel plans enable businesses to address the combined challenge of reducing C02 emissions whilst also achieving financial savings and productivity improvements. Commuter car use can often be reduced by 20 - 30%. Examples of effective workplace travel plans can be obtained through organisations such as the National Business Travel Network (NBTN). See www.nbtn.org.uk
In terms of national and international links, the North West is well served in terms of air, rail, sea and electronic links and NWBLT believes it is in the region’s economic, environmental and social interests for businesses to use these as opposed to alternative routes.
For example, overseas travel via Manchester Airport takes advantage of the North of England’s principal global gateway. Over 100 airlines offer direct flights to 225 destinations world-wide, connecting over 22 million passengers annually to more places than any other airport in the UK. Liverpool John Lennon Airport, as one of the UK’s principal regional airports and one of the fastest growing in Europe, also offers convenient direct routes to a number of European destinations.
Following the recent major modernisation of the West Coast Main Line, the North West is now enjoying faster, more frequent and more reliable services into Central London, with increased capacity through longer trains. This is expected to serve the region’s needs until about 2015. To meet future capacity requirements NWBLT is pressing for a new High Speed Line linking the region with the capital. Meanwhile, Transpennine services have also been upgraded and rail links into Manchester Airport, for example, are proving increasingly attractive.
The Port of Liverpool, together with the Manchester Ship Canal, provide two dynamic international trading centres forming a single 44 mile seaway between the heart of the UK and Britain’s richest cargo creating and consuming region outside London. Between them they offer a comprehensive range of port facilities, handling more than 40 million tonnes of cargo and 15,000 ship movements a year, making the River Mersey Britain’s third busiest estuary.
Modern technology, speed and convenience, together with economic and environmental considerations, now encourage business people to communicate via telecommunications and electronic links as opposed to meeting face to face. Major investments in 21st century telecommunications networks, and the advent of fibre optic cables, are enabling an increasing number of companies to conduct their business rapidly, economically and sustainably by electronic means. The use of video conferencing, for example, is increasing rapidly worldwide, with users now able to benefit from improved reliability and the high quality required for business communication.
NWBLT believes that, through a collective commitment to effective travel planning, we can further strengthen the competitive advantage offered by the region’s excellent transport links and help make the North West the UK’s most attractive region in which to live and work for generations to come.
National & International Links
NWBLT presses case for High Speed Rail
14/01/2010
The North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) continues to press national politicians from all the main parties to commit their support for future High Speed Rail investment.
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