3Ci

What 3Ci does

3Ci (Cities Commission for Climate Investment) is a UK national collaborative initiative established in 2021 and led by Connected Places Catapult, in partnership with London Councils and Core Cities. The programme addresses a specific systemic barrier in the UK's net zero transition: the fragmentation of local authority project pipelines and their misalignment with private and institutional investor requirements. 3Ci convenes local authorities, central government (notably the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and HM Treasury), investors, and industry partners to develop investable project pipelines, structure projects to commercial readiness, and align public and private capital around place-based net zero delivery.

Its core outputs are policy and finance frameworks rather than software products. The principal asset is the National Net Zero Project Pipeline, mapping more than 1,200 projects with a combined value of approximately £60 billion. The flagship framework is Net Zero Neighbourhoods, a Treasury Green Book–compliant place-based, multi-intervention model for neighbourhood-scale decarbonisation, supported by an Outline Business Case, Prospectus, and Investment Memorandums. Supporting instruments include Community Municipal Investments (CMIs) to diversify local authority funding sources, and six training programmes that have reached 88 local authorities and government bodies. The programme has produced 12 reports, 11 case studies, and a Legacy, Impact and the Road Ahead report documenting four years of operation.

3Ci does not generate commercial revenue through product or service sales. It is a programme funded through its public-sector parent (Connected Places Catapult), and in 2025 its delivery is transitioning to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. A key legacy instrument is the Local Net Zero Finance and Investment Group, co-chaired by DESNZ and the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Islington, which continues the convening function at national scale. The customer base is composed entirely of public-sector bodies and aligned investors; pricing models are not applicable.

Name

3Ci

Legal name

3Ci (Cities Commission for Climate Investment)

Website

https://3ci.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

3Ci is a UK national collaborative initiative, led by Connected Places Catapult, that convenes local authorities, government, investors, and industry to unlock private capital into local net zero projects through place-based investment frameworks and the National Net Zero Project Pipeline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Finance and Net Zero Investment Facilitation

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Services-Services, Nec (8900)

akta.pro primary industry

Green/Climate Development Banks & Funds (FSABAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure & Project Finance Development Banks (FSABAKAD), National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC)

Keywords

• Net zero finance
• Climate investment facilitation
• Place-based decarbonisation
• Local authority advisory
• Green investment frameworks

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Programme/Funding Based: 3Ci is a national collaborative initiative established and led by Connected Places Catapult. It is not a commercial entity generating revenue through product or service sales. The programme was funded through public sector partnerships and is transitioning to government delivery under the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

3Ci is a national collaborative initiative that convenes local authorities, central government, investors and industry to unlock private capital into UK local net zero projects. Its core deliverables include the National Net Zero Project Pipeline (mapping 1,200+ projects worth approximately £60 billion), the Treasury Green Book-compliant Net Zero Neighbourhoods model, and supporting investment memorandums and Community Municipal Investments research. The programme also runs training and a stakeholder convening group in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Product overview

3Ci (Cities Commission for Climate Investment) is a national collaborative initiative led by Connected Places Catapult that functions as a programme platform rather than a single product. The core offerings include the National Net Zero Project Pipeline (mapping 1,200+ projects worth £60 billion) and the Net Zero Neighbourhoods model (a Treasury Green Book–compliant investment framework). Supporting sub-products include Net Zero Neighbourhood Investment Memorandums and Community Municipal Investments for diversifying funding sources. The programme also delivers training programmes for local authorities and convenes the Local Net Zero Finance and Investment Group in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. These offerings work together to unlock private investment into local net zero projects through place-based collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Net Zero Project Pipeline A comprehensive mapping of over 1,200 net zero projects across the UK with a combined value of approximately £60 billion, designed to aggregate projects across cities and regions to create the scale and certainty required by investors.
• Net Zero Neighbourhoods Programme A place-based, multi-intervention delivery model for neighbourhood-scale decarbonisation, supported by a Treasury Green Book-compliant Outline Business Case and Prospectus, designed to unlock private capital for large-scale retrofit across the UK with 40 live opportunities across 35 local authorities.
• Net Zero Neighbourhood Investment Memorandums Investment documentation demonstrating how place-based Net Zero Neighbourhoods, supported by targeted government funding and robust investment models, can unlock private capital and accelerate large-scale retrofit across the UK.
• Community Municipal Investments (CMIs) A financing mechanism providing public bodies and investors with insights and examples of how CMIs can diversify local authorities' funding sources and strengthen trust between councils and communities.
• Local Net Zero Finance and Investment Group A stakeholder convening group delivered in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to address practical barriers to deploying capital into local areas, co-chaired by the Department and the Chief Executive of London Borough of Islington.
• 3Ci Training Programmes Six training programmes supporting 88 local authorities and government bodies across the UK to improve commercial readiness and develop robust, credible investment propositions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,200+ projects mapped with £60 billion combined value across National Net Zero Project Pipeline
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Connected Places CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3Ci was established and is led by Connected Places Catapult. The Catapult provides the institutional home and operational framework for the national initiative, supporting programme development and stakeholder coordination.
• London CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding partner alongside Core Cities. London Councils represents the capital's local authorities and contributes to place-based net zero investment initiatives.
• Core CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding partner alongside London Councils. Core Cities represents the UK's major city local authorities and supports collaborative net zero investment approaches.
• Department for Energy Security and Net ZerocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe programme is transitioning delivery to DESNZ, ensuring insights, partnerships and models continue at national scale. DESNZ co-chairs the Local Net Zero Finance and Investment Group.
• Scottish Cities AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3Ci has collaborated with the Scottish Cities Alliance on advancing sustainable Net Zero initiatives, providing comprehensive overview of partnership flagship projects and investment prospects in Scotland.
• UK Government / HM TreasurycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Net Zero Neighbourhoods Outline Business Case is Treasury Green Book-compliant, aligning with HM Treasury's established evaluation and business case methodology.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Scottish National Investment Bank: Scotland's national development bank invests in projects supporting the Scottish economy including net zero and place-based regeneration. Comparable to 3Ci through its national development finance mission and focus on projects that private capital alone would not deliver.
• Local Partnerships: Local Partnerships is a UK public-sector joint venture that advises local authorities on infrastructure, regeneration, and commercial projects. Comparable to 3Ci as a public-facing advisory body supporting local authorities in structuring investment-ready projects, though without 3Ci's specific net zero focus.
• UK Infrastructure Bank: UK Infrastructure Bank is a government-owned policy bank that invests in infrastructure including local and net zero projects across the UK. It is the closest direct peer to 3Ci given its national remit, government backing, and focus on mobilizing private capital into UK place-based infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Triodos Bank UK: Triodos Bank UK is a sustainable bank that lends to environmental, cultural and social enterprises including place-based climate projects. Comparable to 3Ci through its values-aligned lending focus on environmental outcomes in the UK, though operating as a regulated deposit-taker rather than a programme.
• Green Investment Group: Green Investment Group is a specialist green investment arm of Macquarie focused on renewable energy and green infrastructure globally. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in green/climate finance with project development and capital structuring capabilities, though at far larger scale and international scope than 3Ci.

Others

• Connected Places Catapult: Connected Places Catapult is the UK government's innovation accelerator for transport and the built environment, and the established parent operator of 3Ci. Comparable as the institutional home of the programme, providing the operational backbone for 3Ci's place-based net zero work.
• UK100: UK100 is a network of UK local authority leaders committed to clean energy and climate action. Comparable to 3Ci through its UK-wide convening of local authorities on net zero and climate investment, serving as an ecosystem participant rather than a direct investment facilitator.
• Big Society Capital: Big Society Capital is a UK social investment institution that mobilizes capital for social and environmental outcomes through intermediaries. Comparable to 3Ci in its role as a UK-focused capital mobilization entity addressing place-based outcomes, though operating through social investment funds rather than direct project facilitation.

Emerging players

• Climate Bonds Initiative: Climate Bonds Initiative is an international organization working to mobilize global capital for climate action through standards and certification for green bonds. Comparable to 3Ci as an emerging player in climate finance mobilization, though operating globally through standards rather than UK place-based facilitation.
• Abundance Investment: Abundance Investment is a UK-regulated investment platform that enables retail investors to back renewable energy and social enterprises. Comparable to 3Ci in exploring mechanisms to mobilize non-institutional capital for place-based climate projects in the UK, though operating as a regulated platform rather than a programme.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3ci-cities-commission-for-climate-investment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 3Ci