Parking in the Community Award: PayByPhone

British Parking Awards 2023

As a provider of parking payment services, PayByPhone has demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement and making a positive impact on the areas in which it operates.

In addition to work on simplifying drivers’ parking experiences, PayByPhone has identified four key areas on which it wants to focus: Our Planet, Your Community, Our People and Your Experience. In 2022, the company asked the PayByPhone UK team to form committees, known as ‘Pillars’, around these four areas. The pillars are teams of two or three people who act as a task force to ensure it is delivering real value in these areas, is holding the business to account and, by communicating results to colleagues, create a sense of pride about working at PayByPhone.

The community engagement projects are driven by a team comprising members from the finance, client management, sales, operations and marketing departments, as well the senior leadership team.

The Community Pillar is led by Nihal Kale, data insights manager, who is supported by Rebecca Maisey, PayByPhone’s client director. 

Nihal Kale says: “Growing up in a tight community myself, it has always been of importance to provide support to my community where I can. I have witnessed community societies show the power of collectiveness and giving a chance to make a positive impact. At PayByPhone the Community Pillar has been built to do exactly this, by connecting with communities to bring change, empower and support where we can.

“Aside from the grounding experience this has given our team it has also benefitted them and enabled them to really test and use other skills. Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. The team worked together to identify a charity that they wanted to support, and they then worked together to raise the funds for the donation.”

Projects the PayByPhone Community Pillar supports include:

• Keech Hospice Care, Luton: In the spirit of the festive season, PayByPhone UK staff decided to forgo their Secret Santa tradition in favour of donating to Keech Hospice Care, a local adult and children’s hospice that provides care and support to those with life-limiting illnesses. The PayByPhone team purchased a range of presents and personally delivered them for the children and adults who use the hospices, which was a humbling experience for all involved.
• Trestle School of Drama, St Albans: This drama school nurtures creativity, mental wellbeing and personal growth through various workshops and sessions. A Community Pillar donation provided sustenance during a 24-hour drama extravaganza.
• Community defibrillator, East Ayrshire: As part of the East Ayrshire Council community defibrillator initiative, PayByPhone donated a heated defibrillator and cabinet to The Bunker Gym 2.0, which was in desperate need of this life-saving device.
• Harrow Heroes, Harrow: PayByPhone sponsors of an annual event hosted by the London Borough of Harrow that celebrates the exceptional achievements, hard work, and dedication of local individuals and teams.
• Changing Lives, Lambeth: PayByPhone is a partner in Lambeth Council’s social value programme. Changing Lives empowers residents with innovative ideas, offering them employment, training and volunteering opportunities. In collaboration with the programme team, the Dynamic label feature within the PayByPhone app promotes Changing Lives across the borough.
• Lambeth Bee Roads: A council initiative to enhance green spaces along roadsides, benefiting both wildlife and the community.
• Meters for Trees in Kensington & Chelsea, Brighton, Ealing, Newcastle and Aberdeen: An initiative that combines a focus on environmental improvement with enhancing the quality of living in local communities. By replacing pay & display machines with newly planted trees, PayByPhone improves air quality and contribute to the well-being of residents.