Permaculture Association (UK)

What Permaculture Association (UK) does

The Permaculture Association is a UK registered charity (charity numbers 1116699 and SC041695; company number 05908919) founded in 1983 and headquartered in Leeds. It operates as the UK's leading membership organisation for permaculture practitioners, serving over 2,000 individual members alongside community groups, educators, farmers, schools, and international NGO partners. Its functional remit spans nature-based solutions for sustainable living, regenerative agriculture, green community development, natural gardening, and climate action.

Core products include the Permaculture Design Course (PDC, a 72-hour certification), the Diploma in Applied Permaculture (an advanced portfolio-based credential with 204 graduates and 122 current apprentices), the PAB Courses online learning platform, the member-exclusive Permaculture Community Hub, and the LAND network of 660+ demonstration sites. Programme offerings also include 52 Climate Actions (48,441 unique visitors since July 2019), Community Climate Coaches, and the newly launched Designing Sustainable Schools course aligned with the DfE Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. The underlying technology is non-proprietary: Drupal CMS for the website, CiviCRM for member management, Campaign Monitor/MailChimp for email, MightyNetwork for online courses, and Cloudflare for access management.

The business model combines (1) recurring tiered membership subscriptions (regular and professional, annual billing), (2) one-time course, event, and webinar fees (e.g., Campfire sessions at £6 per non-member), and (3) donations and grants from a broad roster of charitable trusts and foundations including Lush Spring Prize, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the Darwin Initiative, and the Big Give campaign. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by member referrals, word-of-mouth, educational events, convergences, and the Permaculture Community Hub, with no proprietary sales motion.

Name

Permaculture Association (UK)

Legal name

Permaculture Association

Website

https://permaculture.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Permaculture Association is a UK registered charity founded in 1983 and the country's leading membership organisation for permaculture practitioners, delivering permaculture education (PDC, Diploma), community networking, and climate action programmes to over 2,000 members, schools, and community groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADALAO

Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYBPADALAA

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYBPAGABAK

Climate Resilience & Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

Keywords

• Permaculture education
• Sustainable agriculture
• Regenerative farming
• Membership charity
• Climate action training

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: The association generates primary revenue through membership fees. Tiered membership packages are available for regular members and professionals. Members receive access to the Permaculture Community Hub, the seasonal digest (Permaculture Digest), monthly newsletters, member discounts, educational resources, and the ability to contribute to the website blog.
2. Course and event fees: Revenue is generated from permaculture courses, including the Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) courses, teacher training, and online courses. Campfire monthly webinar sessions are free for members and £6 per session for non-members.
3. Donations and grants: The association receives donations (including through the Big Give campaign) and grant funding from trusts and foundations including Lush Spring Prize, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Permaculture Association is the UK's leading permaculture charity, delivering nature-based solutions through a 72-hour Permaculture Design Course (PDC), an advanced Diploma in Applied Permaculture, an online learning platform (PAB Courses), a directory of member-led courses, teacher training and certification programmes, and a Designing Sustainable Schools course. It supports a community of over 2,000 members and 660+ LAND network demonstration projects across the UK and internationally.

Product overview

The Permaculture Association is a UK charity founded in 1983 that operates as an educational membership organization rather than a traditional software product company. Its core offerings center on permaculture education through multiple channels: the Permaculture Design Course (PDC) and Diploma in Applied Permaculture as primary qualifications; PAB Courses as the online learning platform; and a network of member-led courses worldwide. The organization supports practitioners through the LAND network of demonstration sites, the Permaculture Community Hub for networking, and the Design Library showcasing diploma work. Climate action programs include 52 Climate Actions and Community Climate Coaches. Publications include the Permaculture Digest (termly) and resources like the Climate Action Plan Toolkit. The membership program provides tiered access to these educational offerings, project support, networking, and discounts on partner products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Permaculture Design Course (PDC) A comprehensive 72-hour certification course teaching permaculture design principles, ethics, and practical applications for sustainable living, gardening, farming, and community development. Offered both in-person and online to individual learners seeking foundational permaculture credentials.
• Diploma in Applied Permaculture An advanced professional qualification that allows practitioners to develop and implement permaculture designs under tutor guidance, building a portfolio of real-world design work. Currently 122 apprentices are enrolled and 204 graduates have completed the programme since its inception.
• PAB Courses (Online Learning Platform) Online education platform providing accessible and affordable permaculture courses, from introductions to deeper learning opportunities. Hosted on MightyNetwork and accessible globally to 800+ learners.
• Member-Led Courses Directory of courses run by certified member educators across diverse locations worldwide, ranging from taster sessions to full Permaculture Design Courses. The most popular page on the association's website.
• Teacher Training and Certification Programmes to become a certified permaculture teacher, including educator training, certification registers, and ongoing professional development for educators. Supports the network of 54 internationally recognised certified teachers and 130+ educators.
• Designing Sustainable Schools Course A course supporting educators in developing comprehensive Climate Action Plans for schools, aligned with the UK Department for Education's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. Targets teachers and school sustainability leads.
• Membership Program Tiered membership programme (regular and professional members) providing access to the Permaculture Community Hub, seasonal Permaculture Digest, monthly newsletters, member discounts on partner products, educational resources, and the ability to contribute to the website blog. Over 2,000 members.

Quantifiable outcome

• On average 600 students earn a PDC certificate per year; 204 Diploma graduates since inception; 122 current apprentices; 800+ learners on online platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Permatil Timor-LestecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024PAB partnered with Permatil Timor-Leste to create a pilot webinar series 'Water Restoration and Resilience' in November 2024, showcasing community-led water catchment solutions from Timor-Leste. Eugenio (Ego) Lemos, Executive Director of Permatil Timor-Leste, presented alongside Permatil Global and Münster University. Ego Lemos subsequently shared these experiences with UNICEF and the President of Timor-Leste, sparking interest in COP30.
• Permatil GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnered on the Water Restoration and Resilience webinar series. Permatil Global, established in Australia in 2020, expands global impact of permaculture. Co-founded by Lachlan McKenzie, co-author of the Tropical Permaculture Guidebook. The organisation focuses on supporting Permatil TL and improving environmental resilience worldwide.
• Münster University (Prof. Dr. Thomas Stodulka)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Collaboration on the Water Restoration and Resilience webinar series. Prof. Dr. Thomas Stodulka from the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Münster University collaborated with Permatil and Permatil Global, with students providing technical assistance such as video editing.
• Life Skills for Better Future (LSBF) — Kakuma Refugee Camp, KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAB supported LSBF (a grassroots permaculture organisation registered in 2022) by connecting founder Polydord Wasokye with Morag Gamble of the Permaculture Education Institute for a PDC scholarship, with Liz Postlethwaite/Small Things Creative Project UK for Full PDC training, and with Laura Corfield/Shift Bristol for fundraising and community infrastructure support. PAB invited LSBF to join the Permaculture Community Hub.
• Permaculture Education Institute (Morag Gamble)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided a full scholarship for a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) to Polydord Wasokye of LSBF. Morag Gamble offered this scholarship to support the Kakuma refugee permaculture centre vision.
• Small Things Creative Project UK (Liz Postlethwaite)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with LSBF during 2024–2025 to complete a Full Permaculture Design Course and co-create training resources and permaculture lesson plans for home gardens in Kakuma. Liz Postlethwaite is also tutoring Polydord's Diploma in Applied Permaculture.
• Shift Bristol (Laura Corfield)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShift Bristol helped LSBF raise funds to improve community learning infrastructure — securing a television screen for online lessons, art supplies, easels, shoes and school materials. Also assists with proofreading proposals, project development, GoFundMe management, and social media.
• European Permaculture NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Permaculture Association is one of the founder members of the European Permaculture Network which now has 24 members. EUPN is a mutual aid network of organisations that help each other in a non-hierarchical way and supports a European convergence every two years.
• Mother Nature ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA strategic partnership between seven European organisations aimed at developing nature-based methodologies and tools to empower mothers in their personal transformation, and strengthening professional capacities to support them.
• Lush CosmeticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPAB works with Lush to cross-pollinate the wider regeneration movement, supporting with permaculture expertise and sharing good practices. Lush donates to the association and lets PAB use their London offices for visits. Lush's last financial year donations included over £1.6 million to small charities globally (£6.3 million worldwide).
• ECOLISEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAB is a national contact point for the European Day of Sustainable Communities, a key element of ECOLISE's 'Communities for Future' strategy. ECOLISE's vision is of Europe where communities take a lead role in ensuring local economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
• Oxford Real Farming ConferencecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPAB has attended every event since 2010, puts sessions on at almost every event, and is now an official partner of the Oxford Real Farming Conference, promoted as the most important three days of collaboration in the Regenerative Farming calendar.
• Northern Real Farming ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthern spin-off of the Oxford Real Farming Conference, proposed by founding member Rod Everett. PAB helped start this initiative and continues to play an active role.
• Urban Agriculture Consortium (UAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2020, UAC has been bringing people together to co-create conditions for urban and peri-urban agroecology to thrive. PAB has been involved from the start and contributes tools, practices, and holistic design approach to planning initiatives.
• CTRLshiftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAB initiated a conversation in 2016 about responding to Brexit and engaging people excluded from politics and civil society. PAB brought ten partners together and over 100 more into the conversation through Emergency Summits. Now organising the third wave of events and projects.
• Permaculture Magazine / Permanent PublicationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLongstanding supporters and members. Permaculture Magazine (over 30 years, bestselling international green/environmental magazine) helps connect PAB with many more people. PAB members receive a 25% discount on Permanent Publications' range of permaculture books.
• Good EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreen electricity partnership. Customers switching to Good Energy can support the Permaculture Association. Partnership page: goodenergy.co.uk/partner-pages/permaculture-association/.
• EcotricityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreen energy partnership. For every pound customers spend, Ecotricity spends another pound building wind turbines. Switching raises up to £60 for the Permaculture Association.
• Your Co-op (telecoms)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK co-operative broadband supplier. When members use their service, 6% of spend on calls and broadband goes to the Permaculture Association. Calls are up to 15% cheaper than BT.
• Paramaethu Cymru (Wales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Welsh branch of the Permaculture Association covering the whole of Wales. Organises the annual National Festival of Permaculture in Wales and supports regional Welsh permaculture groups.
• Permaculture Association ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA working group of the Permaculture Association focused on Scottish projects and activities. Over the years has run local and national gatherings, developed the LAND and projects network in Scotland, and contributed to national policy consultations.
• Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaboration of organisations working towards a wellbeing economy delivering human and ecological wellbeing — clearly aligned with permaculture ethics of Earth Care, People Care, Fair Shares.
• Zero HourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAB supports Zero Hour's work to press the Government to introduce a Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill drafted by scientists, legal experts, ecological economists, and environmentalists.
• International Alliance for LocalisationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects PAB to over 1,800 groups and individuals in 58 countries. Established as part of Local Future's work to build a localisation movement powerful enough to turn the global tide.
• SustainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAB is a long-standing member of Sustain and has adopted many of their model policies and contributed to and supported their national campaigns.
• Community Wealth Fund AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAB supports Big Local's campaign to bring increased investment into local communities, especially the most disadvantaged.
• Earth Rising (SDR Games)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerA board game where up to six players must work together to bring the world into sustainable harmony. PAB is one of six named charities and permaculture features throughout the game.
• Recycle4CharityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA free scheme providing facilities to collect and recycle used printer inkjets and mobile phones into cash donations for PAB.
• University of Parakou, BenincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by the University of Parakou, this Darwin Initiative-funded project aims to include fungi in biodiversity policies and conservation efforts in Africa. PAB provides practical expertise to promote regenerative agriculture and food forests, supporting indigenous social and cultural values, community self-empowerment, gender equity, and local ecosystem stewardship.
• University of Parakou, BenincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAB is the UK partner in a Darwin Initiative-funded project led by the University of Parakou, Benin, working on fungal biodiversity conservation in Miombo woodland with practical expertise in regenerative agriculture and food forests. The project ends in March 2026.
• Fiscal sponsorship partners (OrganicLea, Landworkers Alliance, Sector 39, Re/Alliance, IPEN, Marda Farm, Farmers Alliance Restoration, Himalayan Permaculture Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAB supports other organisations to access funds by working with them on shared charitable aims. Over the last 30 years PAB has supported over 50 groups to secure funds and develop permaculture work in the UK and around the world.
• Zurich InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing tailored masterclasses for LAND network members and permaculture practitioners. A 12-month programme of masterclasses was delivered through the partnership. Partner insurance discounts are available to LAND network members.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Real Farming Trust: UK charity that runs the Oxford Real Farming Conference and funds agroecological enterprises. Overlapping educational and policy mission in regenerative farming, and PAB is an official partner of its flagship conference.
• Sustainable Food Trust: UK charity promoting sustainable farming and food systems through policy, events, and the flagship Oxford Real Farming Conference (which PAB co-sponsors). Adjacent but overlapping educational and advocacy mission in regenerative agriculture.
• Schumacher College / Dartington Trust: UK higher-education institution offering short courses in ecological design, transition, and sustainable living. Competes for the same adult-learner audience seeking immersive sustainability education with similar tuition-based revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• Soil Association: The UK's largest organic food and farming charity, with parallel interests in regenerative agriculture, organic certification, and sustainable-living education. Overlaps with PAB on farmer education and policy advocacy but operates at much greater scale with a certification revenue stream.

Direct peers

• OrganicLea: London-based workers' cooperative growing food organically and running training in horticulture and sustainability. Similar community-led educational model serving London practitioners and listed as one of PAB's fiscal-sponsorship partners.
• Permaculture Research Institute: Founded by Bill Mollison's colleague Geoff Lawton in Australia, PRI is the leading international permaculture education and demonstration network. It competes directly with PAB for global permaculture learners, teachers, and PDC certification credibility.
• Permanent Publications / Permaculture Magazine: Long-established UK permaculture publisher (30+ years) and close PAB partner, providing member discounts and editorial collaboration. Closely aligned brand and audience but operates as a publisher rather than membership charity.
• Garden Organic: UK charity dedicated to organic gardening research and education, running master gardener programmes and demonstration gardens. Closely comparable membership-charity model serving home growers and educators with similar educational mission.
• Landworkers' Alliance: UK member-based organisation representing small-scale farmers and growers advocating for agroecology. Direct overlap with PAB on regenerative farming education, member-led training, and co-listed as a fiscal-sponsorship partner.

Regional players

• Earth Trust: UK environmental charity managing farmland, woodlands, and wetlands for education and demonstration. Adjacent mission around LAND-style demonstration sites, learning visits, and volunteer engagement with comparable UK charity structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/permaculture_uk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PermacultureAssociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/permacultureassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/permaculture_uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/permaculture-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Permaculture Association (UK)