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You are here: Home >>  Communications Kit >>  How to Approach Internal Communications >>  What is a Steering Group?

What is a Steering Group?

Forming a Steering Group to drive through the development and implementation of a Travel Plan is hugely beneficial. It is about getting together a representative mix of the key decision makers within an organisation.

The role of the Steering Group

• Provide the management support required to take ideas forward and make strategic company decisions. (For example alterations to company policy where necessary).

• Steer your Travel Plan in the desired direction and address any issues that may have arisen.

• Set tasks, priorities and work programmes for the Travel Plan Co-ordinator and provide/ secure assistance as necessary.

• Agree any necessary funding required to take the Travel Plan forward.

• Monitor and review progress and identify realistic targets for taking the Travel Plan forward.

• Keep key people informed of progress with your Travel Plan.

• Ensure that the work of the Travel Plan is co-ordinated with other activities of your organisation.

• Lead by example.

 

Who Should be involved in the Steering Group? 

Your Steering Group should not be too large,  no more than six to eight people. The group should include:

• A Managing Director or similar level management representative.

• One member of management from each key department in your organisation (this can help to secure budgets from individual departments), for example, personnel, finance, estates management, the fleet manager, logistics manager etc.

• The Travel Plan Co-ordinator.

There may also be occasions where it is appropriate to invite others, such as local authority representatives, public transport operators, trade union representatives and mode group representatives along to individual Steering Group meetings. 

 

How often should the Steering Group meet?

It very much depends on the stage of the travel planning process. Initially, meetings may be quite frequent – monthly at the development stages. Meetings should then be linked to “milestones” in the Travel Plan implementation process - happening less frequently, as and when they are required.
 
It is important that the group meetings are planned and are thus given priority over subsequent demands upon employee time. They should be concise, productive meetings, in recognition of the staff time involved. Standardisation of timings/ location is likely to prove invaluable to the successful operation of this group and to ensuring regular attendance.

The group need not be called a ‘Steering Group’; you could consider use of different terminology such as the ‘Travel Plan Co-ordination Group’ or the ‘Travel Plan Committee’ or "Travel Action Group" (TAG).

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