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Huge economic benefits from ditching cars for short journeys, says Cycling and Transport Supremo
Startling statistics revealing the upside of replacing short car journeys with walking and cycling have been laid out to senior figures from the Island’s business and political community.
These were the stark messages from Greater Manchester’s Transport Commissioner and former Olympic Cycling Champion, Chris Boardman, when he spoke in Douglas this week at an event called, ‘Enabling Economic Opportunity Through Active Travel’.
The meeting, sponsored by Conister Bank, with close support from the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce, was attended by senior political figures, including Chief Minister Alf Cannan and more than 100 representatives from the Island’s business sector.
Mr Boardman was joined by Brian Deegan, Greater Manchester’s Infrastructure Lead, who has been heavily involved with Transport for London in combatting congestion in the capital. They revealed the challenges they faced and the reasons behind the delivery of Greater Manchester’s £1.5 billion fully integrated transport system, based around ‘Active Travel’.
Manx Financial Group and Conister Bank make key Main Board appointment
Greg Jones, one of the Isle of Man’s foremost tax advisors, has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Conister Bank Limited (Conister) and its parent company Manx Financial Group (MFG).
Greg, the former Head of Tax at KPMG on the Isle of Man, where he spent 29 years before retiring in October 2019, will also be a member of the MFG Group Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee.
The appointment is seen as auspicious, given Greg’s connection with Conister Bank stretches back nearly 25 years.
“I am delighted that the Group have asked me to become a non-exec Director at this time,” Greg explained. “To join the Conister family is a really interesting development for me. It helps that I know the company well.”
He continued: “With a background in tax-related financial services, rather than banking, hopefully, I can bring a different, more generalised commercial approach, to the Board.”
Douglas Grant, MFG’s Group CEO and Managing Director of Conister Bank, said this appointment further demonstrates our intention to continually broaden the Board’s experience with knowledgeable local business leaders who can add value to our growth strategy.
Conister sponsors Chris Boardman's ‘Active Travel’ Initiative on the Isle of Man
One of Britain’s best-known names in cycling, Chris Boardman MBE, is due to give a keynote speech on the Island in early November, to promote ‘Active Travel’ as the route to healthier and more productive lifestyles.
The event, sponsored by Conister Bank, entitled ‘Enabling Economic Opportunity Through Active Travel’, is aimed at key influencers in Government and the local business community to help create, as part of a long-term strategy, less reliance on cars in our daily lives.
The objective is to provide high-quality infrastructure, that enables people to use their cars less frequently for everyday journeys, by encouraging cycling to work or school and even going to the shops.
The free-to-attend breakfast event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2nd at the Claremont Hotel 8am – 9.45am.
Sustainability is a lifestyle at Conister Bank!
Conister Bank is leading from the front and intends to assist the Isle of Man, and the wider financial sector to be recognised as a business that properly mitigates and responds to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks as we embrace opportunities that demonstrate that we are a sustainable and responsible business.
As part of our ESG initiative, Conister Bank has purchased 5 Electric Bikes available for staff to use to encourage active travel within our workforce. Transportation makes up the second-biggest source of greenhouse gases. As a responsible employer, we want to give our staff the opportunity to take part in active travel with an option to leave their cars at home and cycling to work, or simply use an E-bike to take a break throughout their busy day to enjoy the Manx scenery.
We have been working closely with Dot Performance who captured an early morning ride with our Head of Sales, Andy Bass as he led the way through the stunning Marine Drive.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for a cleaner life, and a cleaner Isle of Man
Conister was privileged to be asked to be a part of the ‘Time Enough Climate Change Solutions’ produced by Dave Armstrong and Isabella Hawke.
The Time Enough project aims to find local solutions to global problems and has created a platform to discuss climate change on a global scale, with an emphasis on what individuals can do to create a positive impact. The overall climate project is supported by the Time Enough film project that tracks the Ilse of Man's journey to a sustainable future.
Dave and Isabella met with Conister's Clara Isaac at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show. In this video, Clara talks about how she is making recycling easier for all Isle of Man residents so that we can all play our part in keeping things green and healthy through recycling! Recycling reduces our carbon footprint by eliminating plastics instead which would otherwise end up as litter on landfills or seashells breaking apart into microplastics when they hit ocean waves - real impacts right there but those aren't even half if you consider where these materials come from (which often includes mining). All that waste adds to warming greenhouse gases like methane trapping more heat radiation away from Earth than reflected back towards ourselves causing climate change.
Is the Two-Pillar Global Tax Reform a threat to zero-10?
James Smeed, Finance Director at Conister Bank, believes the Isle of Man must ensure it’s ready for the changes when the G20 countries finalise the details of proposed tax changes thrashed out at the G7 summit earlier this year.
In an interview with Business 365 James discusses his views as to whether the Two-Pillar Global Tax Reform a threat to zero-10 and if the Isle of Man needs to make sure it is best placed to withstand a wave of global tax reform that is inevitably coming.
Conister Bank as an independent institution that has adapted to many changes, both domestic and international, over the years. James talks about how it is in our interests, but also the Manx economy, to support a collaborative effort to see the Manx Government engage with counterparts to ensure the island’s economy remains strong and the Isle of Man continues to offer the perfect location for businesses of all sizes.
Conister Bank’s Response to the IoM Climate Change Plan 2022-27:
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The IOM Climate Change Plan 2022-27 provides a pragmatic framework for change and demonstrates a positive step in the right direction towards a sustainable future.
Conister Bank understands the importance of actively tackling climate change and fully supports the positive aims of the plan and the ‘Vision of 2050’. As one of the Islands' oldest banking institutions, we are leading from the front on sustainability. We see ourselves as sustainability leaders for the Isle of Man and the wider financial sector as a business that properly mitigates and responds to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk and embraces the opportunities that being a sustainable and responsible business offers.
Conister Bank provides a funding line to Payl8r
Online buy now, pay later millennial finance firm, Payl8r, has secured its first institutional funding line with Conister Bank, an achievement that will boost the award-winning business’s ambitious expansion plans, which includes the aim to become a £1bn fin-tech business within five years.
The funding has the potential to generate a further £40m for Payl8r and will enable further growth by helping the business grow its customer base, partner with larger brands, grow into new sectors, and bring new products to markets.
Chief Executive Louis Alexander, Managing Director Samantha Palmer, and Finance Director Tim Slinger worked on the funding initiative, which required an 18-month process of due diligence, analysis, and scrutiny.
The deal with Conister Bank will play an integral role in Payl8r’s mission to become the main credit provider to millennials in the UK.
The Conister Bank Green Campaign is in full swing.
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As our video affirms, we are committed to not only promoting sustainability, but in raising awareness of what Green Finance entails and how it will benefit all of us.
Conister Bank transforming finance for a greener future.
Head of Sales in the Isle of Man, Andy Bass is driving Conister's Green Finance Strategy to ensure sustainable and renewable finance options are available for individuals and businesses to achieve their sustainability goals.
In an interview with Business 365 Andy discusses how Conister Bank is acting responsibly to assist the Isle of Man Government’s mission to drive climate change by transitioning to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Individual choices make an impact, and it is important to keep the conversation alive as to what people can do to reduce their own impact on our beloved island.
Conister Bank has already seen benefits in terms of the service offered – a quicker and less paper-intensive system – and, with the increase in the electric vehicle market, Conister is geared up to support its clients to keep up with developments.
Find out more as to how Andy intends to lead this change and ensure that Conister stands out as the go-to finance company for anything green and sustainable.
