Serving the local community
At Enterprise we go beyond simply providing a form of transport to the areas in which we operate, we passionately strive to enrich the lives of those around us. By improving local levels of emissions, providing regional employment, helping to ease congestion or supporting charitable causes; we seek to embed ourselves in the communities we sit within, acting as a committed, active, socially responsible corporate citizen.
Promoting shared transport
Enterprise Car Club is an accredited member of CoMoUk, a charitable organisation which plays a leading role in the UK’s transition to integrated mobility solutions designed for the public good. Their work support car clubs, bike share and ride share as well as other emerging transport modes such as “on demand” buses and scooter sharing to enable mobility lifestyles which present an alternative to private car ownership. By taking private vehicle ownership off the road, Enterprise Car Club helps create a space for alternative shared transport methods and encourages initiatives that promote advocacy, inputs into research and supports shaping the industry to cultivate better communities.
Encouraging active travel
By taking private vehicle ownership off the road, Enterprise Car Club creates space for active travel, making it safer and more attractive to the wider community. Car Club members themselves after joining are likely to walk more and cycle more than they did prior to obtaining membership. Research shows that up to 60% of car club members walk three times a week, and up to 30% have used a bicycle as frequently – compared an average of just 14% of people cycling more than once a week*. This is because car club members have a greater propensity to opt for these active travel modes for smaller localised journeys, using a car only when really needed. Find out more about Enterprise Car Club & Active Travel.
*2020 research from shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility
Improving Air Quality
Enterprise Car Club deploys a range of hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles. On average Car Club cars produce 72% lower emissions (PM2.5) than the average car*. This positive impact is amplified by the fact that each car club car takes 18 other private cars off the road*.This has led us to working in partnership with many local governmental organisations, helping them shape their transport policy to best meet their air quality targets. Find out more about the benefits Enterprise Car Club brings to the environment.
*2020 research from shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility
Reducing Congestion
Each Car Club car takes 18 private cars off the road*, meaning the more Car Club wheels that hit the tarmac, the fewer cars there are on the roads overall. This can greatly help to ease localised congestion, mitigating the negative impact of traffic pinch-points. Communities benefit both socially and economically by the improved fluidity of travel.
*2020 research from shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility
Improved accessibility & affordability
Enterprise Car Club rental costs include fuel, insurance, servicing and breakdown cover. This, when combined by the fact that you can rent by the hour or day 24/7 all year round, makes vehicle hire much more affordable for so many more people. Not only does Enterprise Car Club make such travel more financially obtainable, but the fact that we offer rental options to those aged between 19-24 opens this mode of transport to younger drivers who are otherwise prohibited from renting vehicles from rental branches until they are 25.
Supporting good causes
Regional Enterprise teams do lots to support a wide range of national and local charitable causes, social initiatives and not-for-profit organisations. Across the network, teams support local Pride events, and drum-up support for Children in Need, MacMillan Cancer Support, Comic Relief & the British Heart Foundation. More localised projects are also supported such as local food banks, childrens charities, hospices as well as individual-led fund raising projects. In addition, teams get hands-on, donating their time to mentor local school children, maintain local community centres and volunteer at local food banks.
The company's private foundation was established in 1982 to give back to the communities where partners and employees live and work. Since then, the Enterprise Holdings Foundation has contributed more than $520 million to thousands of local nonprofits focused on community improvement, education and environmental stewardship. In FY2021, the Enterprise Holdings Foundation donated $57.9 million. Ninety-eight percent of those grants fulfilled requests by employees to help community causes they personally champion and actively support.
Socially responsible business practices
Enterprise is proud to be an inclusive workplace where everyone is accepted without exception. Following the result of an employee survey where employees in the UK were invited to provide feedback, Enterprise ranked 76 in the Stonewall Top 100 Employer 2020 awards. Stonewall's Top 100 is compiled from submissions to the Workplace Equality Index - a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT equality in the workplace, as well as their wider work in the community and on service provision. (There were no Top 100 Employer 2021 awards due to the pandemic. However, they will resume in 2022).
Personal honesty and integrity are the foundation of our success. We treat every person who walks through our door with respect. Whether it’s a customer or an employee, our focus is on building loyal, long-term relationships by meeting their needs and earning their trust. As part of this, we embrace the differences that make us successful and unique.
This has led to Enterprise featuring in the Times Top Employers for Women for 16 consecutive years, receiving the RMP’s National Undergraduate Employability Award for Best Diversity Initiative, and setting up The Enterprise Holdings Supplier Diversity Policy intended to help facilitate an increase in the number of minority-owned, women-owned, and other socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses that work to supply goods and services for our company.