Category: MiPermit

British Parking Awards Finalists

Hand shown using NEPP's new website.

The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) has been shortlisted as a finalist for three awards in the national British Parking Awards 2021 recognising organisations that have made a significant contribution to improving parking.

Having won the Communications award and been finalists in another two categories last year, the Partnership is keen to continue its success and has been shortlisted in the Communications Award, Positive Responses to the Pandemic Award and Parking as a Service Award categories this year.

The ‘Communications Award’ category recognises imaginative, engaging and informative approaches adopted by parking organisations to communicating with the public and other organisations. NEPP has been shortlisted for its messaging throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, helping to keep customers as up to date as possible. This includes a dedicated coronavirus webpage to keep residents informed, three videos including showing the benefits of using contactless MiPermit payments and work on social media highlighting the Positive Parking Agenda (PPA) and Selfish Parker campaigns.

The Positive responses to the pandemic award’ will be awarded to recognise and honour the exceptional work that parking teams have done to support the NHS, local authority clients and communities across the UK manage, mitigate and fight the coronavirus pandemic. Along with the dedicated coronavirus webpage, NEPP extended support to NHS staff members by offering a free parking permit. Single yellow line restrictions were eased to allow for increased homeworking and less commuters during the lockdown stages of the pandemic. Residents were also offered a three-month extension to their residents parking permits.

The Parking as a service award’ is presented for creating a positive experience for motorists, recognising work done to create easy-to-understand, non-confrontational and person-centric services. NEPP have created a positive experience for motorists by supporting the Positive Parking Agenda which focuses changing perceptions and misconceptions towards parking, as well as the Don’t be a Selfish Parker campaign. In addition, recognition is given to the 3PR and Park Safe Schools projects which aim to tackle dangerous and illegal parking around schools.

Cllr Sue Lissimore, North Essex Parking Partnership Chair, said: “I’m incredibly pleased that NEPP has been shortlisted once again in multiple categories for the prestigious national British Parking Awards. NEPP continues to receive recognition across the parking sector for its innovation, communications, customer service and project work with partner authorities and I look forward to the results next month.”

Originally launched in 2002, The British Parking Awards seeks to recognise and celebrate best practice, innovation and achievement in the design and management of both public and private sector parking.

The 2021 winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 24 September at Royal Lancaster, London.

NEPP wins big at the British Parking Awards

The very best of parking management was celebrated at the prestigious British Parking Awards 2021, last Friday, which saw North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) scoop three of the coveted glass trophies – equalling its 2019 tally and adding to its 2020 Communications Award.

NEPP triumphed in the Positive Responses to the Pandemic Award, for its exceptional work to support the NHS, local authority clients and communities across north Essex to manage, mitigate and fight the coronavirus pandemic. Along with its dedicated coronavirus webpage, NEPP extended support to NHS staff members by offering a free parking permit. Single yellow line restrictions were eased to allow for increased homeworking during the lockdown stages of the pandemic, and residents were also offered a three-month extension to their residents parking permits.

NEPP picked up a further prize, when it beat stiff opposition to win the Parking as a Service Award. The award recognises work that delivers a positive experience for motorists by creating easy-to-understand, non-confrontational and person-centric services. NEPP’s win recognised its work to support the Positive Parking Agenda, which focuses on changing perceptions and misconceptions towards parking, as well as the Don’t be a Selfish Parker campaign. The 3PR and Park Safe Schools projects were also singled out for helping to tackle dangerous and illegal parking around schools.

And, finally, there was a special prize for Richard Walker, NEPP’s Parking Partnership Group Manager, who was lauded with the MiPermit Inspiration Award for making a significant contribution to improving parking. Richard joins the ranks of previous Inspiration Award winners as an exemplar of excellent practice who has inspired colleagues, clients and the wider parking community.

Cllr Sue Lissimore, Chair of the North Essex Parking Partnership, said: “I’m delighted and enormously proud that the innovative and positive approach NEPP has taken towards creating a positive experience for motorists has been recognised and celebrated once again at these prestigious national awards. I would like to congratulate NEPP and its dedicated staff on their fantastic achievement, winning three awards for the second time in three years. We will continue to work hard to ensure this excellent work continues.”

The awards were held at the Royal Lancaster in London, on Friday 24 September 2021.

For more information about the awards and to view the results, please visit: http://www.britishparkingawards.co.uk/2021/home.php

Car parking app video launched

Today, the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) is launching its latest video, which provides motorists with a step-by-step visual and audio guide to using the free MiPermit app to make contactless payments in car parks.

As well as taking viewers through the quick, easy stages of setting up the app for the first time and paying for and extending a parking stay, the video also provides top tips and highlights some of the benefits of using the app, such as expiry reminders and access to exclusive parking offers.

Since the outbreak of coronavirus in the spring, motorists have, and continue to be encouraged to make contactless payments using MiPermit in the car parks NEPP manages in Braintree, Colchester, Harlow and Uttlesford.

The MiPermit app, which is available to download for both Android and iPhone devices, removes the time and hassle of finding, queuing for and using cash/card machines in car parks, which is also a real advantage if you’re in a hurry, can’t find the right coins or the weather is unpleasant. Another real benefit of using the app is MiPermit can be used in lots of other car parks across the UK, meaning visitors to and from the area, can also use it when they travel elsewhere.

NEPP introduced the MiPermit system for contactless payments eight years ago and whilst usage of the app has increased by more than 5000% during this time, this video is designed to help and support those who may be keen to use the app but are unsure how to do so or what the benefits are.

The popular MiPermit app is quick, convenient and easy to use and this is reflected in its uptake and usage across car parks managed by NEPP in North Essex. Since NEPP’s promotional campaign last summer, app usage has significantly increased,and in Colchester alone, the app is now the most popular car parking payment method, with MiPermit usage doubling to 54% over the past year!

This new short video supports the national Positive Parking Agenda, and is part of a series of five educational videos being produced by NEPP to outline their work, its online services and promoting the use of MiPermit.

The first video in this series ‘About Us’ won the Communications Award at the British Parking Awards 2020.

Councillor Robert Mitchell, Chairman of the North Essex Parking Partnership, said: “The NEPP’s latest educational video is a fantastic tool for helping motorists to set up and use the MiPermit app on their phones, whatever their digital knowledge. The short video shows how quick and easy this free app is to use and demonstrates some of its many benefits.

“Use of MiPermit as a car park payment method in North Essex continues to grow and the public’s desire to be able to make contactless payments, since the coronavirus outbreak, has added to this. This latest video is just one of a number of ways in which NEPP is supporting and enabling motorists to be able to do this.”

The video is available to watch on NEPP’s YouTube channel.

Further information about using MiPermit can be found on the NEPP’s website.