Swindon based Zurich Financial Services has been awarded the Commuter Initiative Award 2004 for the Private Sector by the Association for Commuter Transport .

David Jamieson MP presented the award in London to Arthur Champion, Zurich's environmental advisor.

According to Zurich, it has made substantial progress over the past two years with its Travel Plans initiative, which has involved conducting travel surveys among staff, encouraging greater use of telephone and video-conferencing, offering free and discounted bus travel and providing additional cycle racks and lockers.

Mr Champion said: "One of our most successful schemes has been our car-sharing initiative, using Jambusters software on Zurich's intranet.

"Around 600 of our staff have signed up to it, with 163 sharers already active in 73 teams.

"Car sharers are rewarded with preferential parking spaces and it is hoped to extend the scheme to all Zurich's UK offices by the end of 2004."

ACT marketing manager Tom Farnsworth added: "Zurich's submission shows the sustained commitment of Zurich to reduce congestion and pollution, and in a way that engages its people."