What Centre for Alternative Technology does

Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is an independent UK registered charity (Charity no. 265239), founded in 1973 and headquartered at Llwyngwern Quarry near Machynlleth, Powys, Wales. It operates the Graduate School of the Environment, its flagship division, delivering postgraduate courses in sustainability, renewable energy, sustainable food, and architecture that are validated by partner universities and offered via full-time, part-time, on-site intensive blocks, and distance learning formats. The organisation also runs short courses, school and university group visits, community learning programs, a free sustainability advice service, the Zero Carbon Britain Hub & Innovation Lab, venue hire and accommodation at its working sustainable site, and an Ecostore retail channel at store.cat.org.uk.

CAT's revenue is generated across five primary streams: postgraduate tuition fees (the largest stream, exceeding £4m in 2023/24), short courses and group visits, venue hire and accommodation, Ecostore e-commerce, and charitable donations including monthly giving, legacy gifts, and fundraising appeals. It does not receive regular statutory funding from Welsh or UK governments and is reliant on tuition, commercial activities, donations, and project grants. Its technology stack consists of a content website and learning management system for course delivery and applications; no proprietary AI/ML capability is disclosed. The business is fundamentally community- and education-led, converting prospective students through on-site and virtual open days, organic search, email marketing, and social channels, with a growing international student recruitment motion. As of March 2026, CAT is navigating a short-term funding gap via an emergency appeal, leadership transition (both joint CEOs departing), and a £13.1m Mid Wales Growth–funded Cynefin development project.

Name

Centre for Alternative Technology

Legal name

Centre for Alternative Technology Charity Limited

Website

https://gse.cat.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Centre for Alternative Technology is a UK educational charity founded in 1973 that runs the Graduate School of the Environment in Powys, Wales, offering postgraduate and short courses in sustainability alongside group visits, venue hire, and the Ecostore retail channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL), Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

Keywords

• Sustainability education
• Postgraduate courses
• Environmental training
• Renewable energy courses
• Green skills learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Machynlleth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Postgraduate Education: Tuition fees from postgraduate courses, both full-time and part-time, validated by partner universities. Income from 2023/24 exceeded £4m.
2. Short Courses and Workshops: Revenue from short courses, community group visits, school visits, and university visits.
3. Venue Hire and Accommodation: Revenue from hiring out CAT's facilities and accommodation to groups and organizations.
4. Ecostore: Online retail store selling sustainable products and merchandise through store.cat.org.uk.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations, monthly giving, legacy gifts, and fundraising appeals. The organization launched a fundraising appeal in March 2026 to bridge a short-term funding gap.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Centre for Alternative Technology is an educational charity that delivers postgraduate degrees, postgraduate certificates, and short courses in sustainability and environmental solutions, validated by partner universities and offered through full-time, part-time, and distance study modes with intensive on-site teaching blocks at its Powys site. It also sells group learning programs (for schools, universities, and community organisations), operates the Zero Carbon Britain Hub & Innovation Lab for research and free public advice, runs venue hire and accommodation, and operates the Ecostore sustainable products online retail store.

Product overview

Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is an educational charity offering a comprehensive portfolio of sustainability-focused products and services. The core offering is the Graduate School of the Environment, providing postgraduate courses (full-time and part-time) validated by partner universities, alongside short courses, group learning programs for schools and universities, community organization programs, and free sustainability advice resources. The organization also operates the Zero Carbon Britain Hub & Innovation Lab as a research and knowledge resource, plus practical offerings including venue hire, accommodation, and the Ecostore e-commerce platform. CAT leverages 50 years of sustainability experience to deliver education and practical solutions for a sustainable world.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Postgraduate Courses (Graduate School of the Environment) Full-time and part-time postgraduate degrees and certificates in sustainability, environmental solutions, architecture, sustainable food and renewable energy, validated by partner universities, delivered through flexible study modes (on-site teaching blocks plus distance learning) for UK and international students.
• Short Courses Shorter educational programs offered by CAT's Groups & Learning division for professional development and skill-building in sustainability areas, available to individuals, community groups, schools, and universities.
• Zero Carbon Britain Hub & Innovation Lab A research and knowledge hub providing information, tools, and innovation support for achieving zero carbon goals, open to professionals, researchers, and the public.
• Sustainability Advice (Free Information Service) Free information service offering guidance and advice on sustainability practices and environmental solutions to the general public.
• School Visits On-site educational visit programs for primary and secondary school groups to learn about sustainable technologies and environmental solutions at CAT's Powys site.
• Community Groups & Organisations Learning Programs Learning programs and resources tailored for community groups and organisations interested in sustainability, delivered on-site and through CAT's Groups & Learning division.
• Venue Hire & Accommodation Facility rental and on-site accommodation at CAT's site in Machynlleth, Powys, available for events, residential courses, and group stays.
• Ecostore Online retail store selling sustainable products and environmentally friendly merchandise linked to CAT's mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Qualifications from globally recognised courses validated by partner universities

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Sustainability Centre: The Sustainability Centre is a UK environmental education charity offering sustainability courses, events, outdoor learning, and venue-based experiences. It overlaps with CAT's site-based education, short courses, and community learning services.
• Gaia Education: Gaia Education provides sustainability and regenerative design courses through online and international programs. It is comparable to CAT's flexible sustainability curriculum and global/remote learner reach.
• Schumacher College: Schumacher College offers ecology, regenerative, and sustainability-focused education, including residential and short-course formats in the UK. It is highly comparable to CAT's mission-led sustainability education and experiential learning model.

Broad incumbents

• The Open University: The Open University is a large UK distance-learning university offering flexible higher education, including environment- and sustainability-related study pathways. It is comparable to CAT's distance-learning delivery model, though much broader and less niche in sustainability.
• Eden Project: Eden Project operates a major environmental education and visitor destination with sustainability learning programs. It is comparable to CAT's public-facing, place-based environmental education model, though it is broader as a visitor attraction.
• Forum for the Future: Forum for the Future is a sustainability nonprofit working on systems change, education, and practical transition resources. It is comparable to CAT's sustainability knowledge and climate-transition mission, but focuses more on organizational change and consulting-style programs.
• University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership: CISL delivers sustainability leadership education, executive programs, and advisory work through a major university platform. It is comparable as an established provider of sustainability education, though broader and more institutional than CAT.
• EIT Climate-KIC: EIT Climate-KIC runs climate innovation, education, and entrepreneurship programs across Europe. It is comparable through its climate-transition training and innovation focus, though it operates at a broader European ecosystem scale.

Others

• UK Green Building Council: UKGBC provides sustainable built-environment training, knowledge resources, and member engagement. It is comparable to CAT's sustainable architecture and built-environment learning themes, but is more of an industry network than an education campus.
• Centre for Sustainable Energy: Centre for Sustainable Energy is a UK charity focused on energy advice, community engagement, research, and training. It is comparable to CAT's sustainability advice and public education mission, particularly around practical energy transition knowledge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/48933285145
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-alternative-technology
• Instagraminstagram.com/centreforalternativetechnology
• Xx.com/centre_alt_tech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Centre for Alternative Technology