The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) achieved a landmark milestone, becoming the first NHS site to earn ‘Excellent’ Modeshift STARS Accreditation status.
The Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) earned this nationally recognised award in 2025, reflecting the Trust’s long-term commitment to creating a culture where active and sustainable travel is encouraged, supported, and celebrated.
The hospital’s leadership in sustainable transport also earns them national recognition, with Leicester Royal Infirmary scooping a Modeshift STARS National Travel Award.
Building a culture
UHL’s journey toward ‘Excellent’ Accreditation began more than two decades ago when Ruth Ward joined as the Travelwise Manager. With a background in data management within the pharmaceutical sector, Ruth was tasked with tackling parking challenges across three hospital sites a complex issue that set the foundation for a broader focus on sustainable travel.
What started as a single-person role has grown into a small but dynamic team, now including Mohammed Farooq, Head of Sustainability & Travel / University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
Together, they have embedded a clear purpose: supporting the Trust’s Green Plan targets and helping staff, patients, and visitors make informed, sustainable travel choices.
Ruth Ward, Travel Wise Manager, said:
‘My aim has always been to give people options. I completely understand how hard it can be not to use the car every day. I’ve worked here for over 20 years, in that time my home life has changed immensely, and with each change comes a different travel challenge. For many, public transport isn’t always practical, and that’s okay. It’s not about an all-or-nothing approach, it’s about helping people make sustainable choices when they can and feeling supported to do so.’
Practical solutions that make a difference
The LRI team has introduced a wide range of initiatives to make active and sustainable travel a realistic option for everyone:
- Hospital Hopper Bus Service. An electric bus linking hospital sites and nearby communities, the Hopper is a commercial service, run by Centrebus, paid for by the UHL. Passenger numbers have exceeded all expectations, reaching 14,000 users per week.
- Cycle offers. Staff benefit from multiple cycling offers from training through to salary maxing purchase schemes and free maintenance.
- Partnerships with Leicester City Council and local transport providers. Improving public transport links and launching active travel incentives.
- BetterPoints App. Encouraging sustainable travel through the points-based rewards system.
- Awareness campaigns. Shared through internal bulletins, ‘Friday Focus’, which are livestreams, and staff events.
- On-site engagement. Including travel roadshows, bike maintenance sessions, QR-coded restaurant table displays, and travel information packs.
Recognition and results
To achieve ‘Excellent’ status, UHL evidenced 22 travel initiatives and 10 supporting initiatives, alongside significant reductions in single-occupancy car journeys.
Ruth said:
‘It’s wonderful that Leicester Royal Infirmary has won the STARS Healthcare Site of the Year. Being the first Trust to reach Excellent status is testimony to over 22 years of continual work to improve what the Trust offers in terms of alternative sustainable travel options.’
Mohammad said:
‘The Modeshift STARS framework has validated over 20 years of sustained travel planning, provided clear external recognition of our impact. It has strengthened our Travel Plan by giving us a structured platform to plan, deliver and evidence initiatives, while focusing on removing the real barriers to sustainable travel.
Working with Modeshift has also been a genuinely valuable partnership, connecting us with peers across the sector, enabling shared learning, and opening the door to new ideas and innovation. ‘
UHL were also Team Modeshift Partnership of the Year Award finalists in 2025 – for its collaboration with Leicester City Council and Centrebus on the Hospital Hopper bus service.
Associate Director of Sustainability, Samantha Stanhope, said:
‘We are delighted to have been recognised for our efforts to support our colleagues and visitors to make healthier and more sustainable travel choices. However, the journey does not stop here. Our ambition is to serve as a great example of how hospitals can lead the way in promoting a transition from car-first to choice-first.
This achievement is the result of the efforts of everyone at UHL who has played their part in embracing change and choosing to travel differently. However, it’s important to honour the outstanding contribution of Travel Wise Manager, Ruth Ward, who has been the driving force behind travel planning at UHL for many years and has done so much to make this possible’.
Next steps
Following the success at Leicester Royal Infirmary, UHL now aims to achieve Modeshift STARS accreditation at its Glenfield Hospital and Leicester General Hospital, with the long-term goal of reaching an Outstanding Modeshift STARS Accreditation across all three sites.
Want to hear more? Ruth will be speaking at our Healthcare Team Talk on 21 May 2026.
In summary
The Leicester Royal Infirmary demonstrate how sustained effort, partnership, and empathy can embed sustainable travel within a complex organisation.
