Field Studies Council

What Field Studies Council does

Field Studies Council is a UK environmental education charity founded in 1943 and headquartered in Shrewsbury, operating a network of 25 field centres across England, Wales and Scotland. The charity delivers residential and day field trips for primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities, with curriculum-linked biology and geography fieldwork as its core offer. Adjacent services include natural history and biodiversity training (100+ adult courses), the +Adventure residential programme for schools, Duke of Edinburgh Gold residentials, the Young Darwin Scholarship, conservation and green skills camps, art and leisure courses, wellbeing retreats, and teacher training. The charity also publishes a 200-title wildlife identification catalogue (including 90+ WildID fold-out guides), distributed through its own e-commerce shop and 200+ UK trade outlets.

The underlying delivery model is experiential outdoor learning at physical field centres, supplemented by digital teaching resources, an FSC Virtual online platform, and the Field Studies Journal. Revenue is generated through six streams: education course fees (per-student residential and day programmes), publications sales, donations and fundraising (anchored by the Every Child Outdoors appeal), venue hire and group accommodation, natural history training, and membership. Pricing is unit-based (e.g., £35 day trip subsidies, £225 two-night residentials), with grants and bursaries subsidising disadvantaged learners. The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Jeff Sissons, with Mark Castle OBE as Chief Executive and HRH The Princess Royal as Patron. FSC holds multiple sector accreditations — Carbon Trust, LOtC Quality Badge, Investors in People, Geographical Association Secondary Geography Quality Mark, and validated Science Based Targets — and reports a 77.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions since 2011.

Name

Field Studies Council

Legal name

Field Studies Council

Website

https://field-studies-council.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Field Studies Council is a UK environmental education charity operating 25 field centres that deliver residential and day fieldwork trips for schools, universities, young people and adult learners, supplemented by a wildlife publications business and biodiversity training programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Outdoor learning
• Field study courses
• Biodiversity training
• Wildlife publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Shrewsbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices27 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Education Course Fees: Residential and day courses for schools, colleges, and universities covering biology, geography, and environmental education. Fees charged per student with full-board accommodation options at 12 residential centres.
2. Publications Sales: Sale of wildlife identification guides, books, and gifts through the online shop. Over 200 publication titles including WildID fold-out guides, identification books, and nature-themed gifts.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations supporting the 'Every Child Outdoors' campaign and Grants for Schools programme. Individual donations, corporate partnerships, and legacy giving.
4. Venue Hire and Accommodation: Conference facilities and group accommodation available at many centres for external bookings.
5. Natural History Training: Adult biodiversity training courses including 100+ courses for beginners, enthusiasts, volunteer recorders and professionals. Online and in-person delivery.
6. Membership: Annual membership programme supporting the charity's work providing opportunities for young people.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Field Studies Council delivers residential and day environmental education courses through a UK-wide network of 25 field centres (12 residential, 7 day, 6 other learning locations). Core services include curriculum-linked fieldwork for primary, secondary and higher education, adventure residential trips, natural history and biodiversity training for adults, and a publications shop selling wildlife identification guides. The charity supplements earned income with donations, grants and venue hire.

Product overview

Field Studies Council operates a diversified portfolio of environmental education products and services, combining in-person field-based learning with supplementary digital and published offerings. The core offering consists of residential and day field trips for schools (primary and secondary) and universities, supported by a network of 25 UK field centres providing accommodation and venue hire. Adjacent to the core educational services, FSC offers natural history and biodiversity training courses (100+ courses online and in-person), the +Adventure programme of adventure residential trips, youth experiences including the Young Darwin Scholarship and Duke of Edinburgh residentials, and art/leisure courses. The product portfolio also includes a wildlife publications shop (WildID guides, identification books, gifts), free teaching resources, the FSC Virtual online platform, wellbeing retreats, and conservation programmes. The company also runs the Every Child Outdoors fundraising appeal to subsidize access for disadvantaged learners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WildID: Wildlife identification guides and fold-out guides for identifying flora, fauna, fungi, and wildlife
• FSC BioLinks
• Young Darwin Scholarship
• Every Child Outdoors

Products and services

• +Adventure Residential Trips
• Natural History & Biodiversity Training Courses
• Primary School Trips
• Secondary and Further Education Courses
• FSC Wildlife Shop (WildID Guides & Publications)
• Young People Experiences (Young Darwin Scholarship & DofE)
• Group Leader and Teacher Training
• Art and Leisure Courses
• Venue Hire and Group Accommodation
• Wellbeing in Nature Retreats

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ learners helped annually through outdoor education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Access UnlimitedflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021FSC part of new £2.5million project (Access Unlimited) to increase opportunities for young people in the outdoor sector. 16-month project creating hundreds of jobs and volunteering opportunities.
• National GridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Grid Environmental Education Centres developed in collaboration with environmental charities. FSC Amersham and Bishops Wood are part of this network showing how nature and communities can thrive alongside critical national infrastructure.
• Birmingham City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC Birmingham works in partnership with Birmingham City Council to deliver high-quality environmental education across the city's parks and urban green spaces.
• London Borough of LewishamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with London Borough of Lewisham to deliver education services in Beckenham Place Park.
• Fundraising RegulatorcoreOthersRegistered with the Fundraising Regulator, demonstrating commitment to ethical fundraising practices.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cranedale Centre: UK field studies centre in Yorkshire offering GCSE and A-Level biology and geography fieldwork courses. Directly comparable to FSC's secondary education courses, with similar curriculum-linked residential model and output.
• PGL Travel: UK's largest provider of outdoor education and adventure residential courses for schools. Operates a network of centres delivering curriculum-linked outdoor learning for primary and secondary schools, directly competing with FSC's +Adventure and school residential programmes.
• Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT): Wales-based environmental education charity offering residential courses on sustainability, renewable energy, and green building. Comparable charity model and educational mission, with overlapping sustainability curriculum and visitor centre operation.
• Kingswood (Educational Activity Centres): UK operator of residential outdoor activity centres serving schools with curriculum-linked adventure and fieldwork programmes. Direct competitor to FSC's school residential products at similar scale and price points.
• Outward Bound Trust: UK charity providing outdoor adventure and personal development courses for young people at residential centres. Competes with FSC's Young People Experiences and +Adventure offerings, particularly on Duke of Edinburgh residentials and character-development programmes.

Broad incumbents

• The Wildlife Trusts: Federation of 46 UK wildlife trusts operating nature reserves and educational programmes. Offers comparable school visits, family activities, and biodiversity training, with much broader regional reach but less specialised field centre infrastructure.
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds): UK's largest wildlife conservation charity, running nature reserves with educational visitor centres and learning programmes. Larger and broader in scope than FSC, but overlapping in school engagement, nature education, and biodiversity training delivery.
• National Trust: UK heritage and conservation charity with significant outdoor learning programmes at historic properties and natural landscapes. Much larger in scale and resources than FSC, but overlaps on school visits, family activities, and outdoor education.
• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT): UK wetland conservation charity running nine wetland visitor centres with educational programmes. Comparable to FSC on nature centre operations, school engagement, and conservation education; FSC trustee Philip Wilson also serves as WWT trustee, evidencing proximity.

Emerging players

• Woodland Trust: UK charity focused on woodland conservation and tree planting, with growing school engagement and outdoor learning programmes. Similar charity model and environmental education focus, though smaller centre footprint and more focused on tree-specific curriculum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FieldStudiesC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FieldStudiesCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/FieldStudiesC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/field-studies-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/field_studies_council

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

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 Field Studies Council