Artecology

What Artecology does

Artecology is a UK not-for-profit eco-engineering organization, operating as the R&D department of The Common Space CLG and based in Sandown on the Isle of Wight UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Founded in 2013, the company designs, manufactures, and installs nature-inclusive infrastructure — primarily the Vertipool family of vertical artificial rock pools cast in reduced-carbon, hand-finished bioreceptive concrete — to create intertidal, freshwater, and urban wildlife habitat on engineered coastal and built structures. Complementary products include MicroPools, Eel Tiles, BioTotems, NatureBricks, MudFlats, Refugia Tiles, and Mussel Boxes (Intertidal Habitat Panels), alongside R&D platforms such as CoralPod, Domed Refugia, Magnetic MicroPools, and PodPools for estuary and reef environments.

The business operates three service lines alongside product sales: (i) Ecoengineering Scheme Design Services for biodiversity net gain advice and bespoke wildlife enhancement plans, (ii) the Shaping Better Places framework for stakeholder engagement and ESG value capture, and (iii) the CoCreate methodology, a participatory design-and-make workshop programme that produces permanent habitat artefacts from high-fired grogged clay ceramics. Pricing is predominantly quote-based and project-specific, with only Mussel Boxes publicly listed at £300 + VAT per unit; contracts are typically multi-year and bespoke. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct enquiry, referrals from academic institutions and regulators (Environment Agency, Natural England, MMO), case-study visibility, and earned media (BBC Countryfile, CIRIA awards).

The customer base spans ferry operators (Wightlink), port and harbour authorities (Groundwork North East & Cumbria across Blyth, Whitby, Sunderland), government (HM Government of Gibraltar), investment managers and retail property (LaSalle IM and The Glades Shopping Centre), highways (Island Roads), social housing (Sovereign Housing Association), and local authorities (Newcastle City Council). Strategic R&D partnerships are maintained with Bournemouth, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Oxford, Exeter, Glasgow, and Aberystwyth universities, alongside European eco-engineering initiatives (Ecostructure, MARINEFF, Interreg France Channel Manche England). Since 2024 the organization operates under a not-for-profit structure with no external institutional investment disclosed.

Name

Artecology

Legal name

The Common Space CLG

Website

https://artecology.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Artecology is a UK not-for-profit eco-engineering organization that designs and manufactures hand-finished bioreceptive concrete habitat products — notably the Vertipool vertical rock-pool system — for developers, port operators, government bodies, and property owners seeking biodiversity net gain on built infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Engineering Nature-Inclusive Infrastructure

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Concrete Products, Except Block & Brick (3272), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes) (BPABADAF), Revetments, Groynes & Beach Nourishment (IMAFAJAD), Water Features Design & Installation (Ponds, Fountains, Waterfalls) (HSAIABAE)

Keywords

• Eco-engineering design
• Bioreceptive concrete products
• Nature-inclusive infrastructure
• Marine habitat creation
• Biodiversity net gain

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandown, Isle of Wight

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of proprietary habitat products including Vertipools (multiple models), BioTotems, NatureBricks, MicroPools, Eel Tiles, Refugia Tiles, Mussel Boxes, and CoralPods. Products are manufactured in-house and sold to clients for installation on coastal structures, urban developments, and public spaces.
2. Consulting and Design Services: Ecoengineering Scheme Design Service providing biodiversity net gain advice, ecological enhancement consultancy, and bespoke wildlife enhancement plans. Includes the Shaping Better Places consultation and project delivery service.
3. CoCreate Training and Workshops: Hands-on eco-engineering training programs for communities, schools, colleges, universities, and organisations to learn Artecology's techniques for creating nature-inclusive infrastructure. Includes STEAM workshops and CPD for industry and education.
4. Community Engagement Services: Stakeholder and community engagement services delivered through the Shaping Better Places framework, helping clients acquire Environmental Social Governance value from projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Artecology designs, manufactures and installs bioreceptive concrete habitat products (Vertipools, MicroPools, Eel Tiles, BioTotem, NatureBricks, MudFlats, Refugia Tiles, Intertidal Habitat Panels) that create wildlife habitat on coastal, freshwater, and urban infrastructure. It also delivers bespoke eco-engineering scheme design services, CoCreate community participatory workshops, and the Shaping Better Places ESG-focused project delivery service for clients including port authorities, developers, housing associations, and government bodies.

Product overview

Artecology is a not-for-profit organization (R&D department of The Common Space CLG) offering nature-inclusive design and eco-engineering products and services. The product portfolio centers on the Vertipool platform - vertical artificial rock pools cast in reduced carbon concrete that create wildlife habitats on engineered coastal infrastructure. Key products include Bouldnor Vertipool (original, 10L capacity) and Sandown Vertipool (compact, 1.5L capacity), alongside complementary habitat products: MicroPools, Eel Tiles, BioTotems (sculptural way-markers), NatureBricks (bioreceptive building bricks), MudFlats, Refugia Tiles, and Intertidal Habitat Panels (Mussel Boxes). Services include Artecology CoCreate (community-based design and manufacturing workshops), Shaping Better Places (ESG-focused project delivery), and Ecoengineering Scheme Design Services. Research and development products include CoralPod (coral reef restoration), Domed Refugia, Magnetic MicroPools, and PodPools for estuary environments. The company also offers training, CPD, and STEAM workshops for industry and education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vertipool: Award-winning artificial rock pool systems for marine environments, including Bouldnor Vertipool and Sandown Vertipool models.
• Shaping Better Places
• Artecology CoCreate
• BioTotem
• NatureBricks
• MicroPools
• Eel Tiles
• MudFlats
• Refugia Tiles
• Intertidal Habitat Panel

Products and services

• Bouldnor Vertipool The original retro-fit artificial rock pool designed for intertidal environments, holding about 10 litres of intertidal seawater and engineered to withstand highly dynamic conditions. Award-winning vertical artificial rock pool cast in high-performance reduced carbon concrete with hand-finished complex surface textures that support marine biodiversity. For installation on defended coasts, sea walls, ferry terminals, harbour walls, timber groynes, concrete beams, gabions, and sheet piling.
• Sandown Vertipool A compact Vertipool model holding approximately 1.5 litres of intertidal seawater that delivers significant ecological benefits relative to its diminutive size. Cast in reduced-carbon concrete with hand-finished textures designed for marine biodiversity. Used in arrays (e.g., 36-unit Blyth Vertipool Array) and in Mediterranean deployments such as the Gibraltar harbour wall project.
• MicroPools Small-scale artificial rock pool units for creating wildlife habitats in various settings including urban environments, shopping centres, and green spaces. A complementary habitat product to the larger Vertipool system.
• Eel Tiles (Heart & Dart System) Specialised bioreceptive tiles designed to provide passage and habitat for European Eels and other migratory aquatic species in culverts and watercourses. The Heart & Dart tiled system provides surface complexity for colonisation and riparian habitat enhancement.
• BioTotem Living sculptural way-markers and public art installations that provide wildlife habitat. Made from sanded larch and oak with 150 patterned holes of different shapes and sizes designed for invertebrate habitat including solitary mining bees. Used in urban rewilding and public realm projects.
• NatureBricks Versatile bioreceptive building bricks that can be used in any stone or block wall construction, designed for riparian flood response settings and built infrastructure applications. Created in response to civil engineer demand for habitat-supporting construction materials.
• MudFlats Habitat creation units designed for intertidal mudflat environments, supporting coastal and marine biodiversity in soft-sediment intertidal settings.
• Refugia Tiles Tile units providing microhabitats and textural cues for early marine colonisation. Designed with less protrusion than Vertipools, making them particularly suitable for wave overtopping applications at the top of seawalls.
• Intertidal Habitat Panel (Mussel Boxes) Metal-framed bioreceptive concrete boxes designed for intertidal zones, creating shaded, humid spaces behind them with crevices and hollows to attract marine life such as mussels. Sold at £300 + VAT & Shipping per unit.
• Ecoengineering Scheme Design Service Ecological engineering design services that scope schemes for Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. Includes wildlife enhancement plans, public consultation, community engagement, bespoke on-site interpretation, STEAM workshops and CPD training for industry and education. Delivered for clients such as Groundwork North East and Cumbria.
• Shaping Better Places A unique project delivery service that provides authentic Environmental Social Governance value through stakeholder and community engagement combined with biodiversity gains. Built on three foundation capitals (Natural, Social, Cultural) with nine actions for place-based regeneration. Used by clients such as LaSalle Investment Management to integrate biodiversity into multi-asset portfolios.
• Artecology CoCreate A hands-on eco-engineering methodology where communities help design and make nature-inclusive infrastructure. Participants create habitat artefacts with complex surface structures using high-fired grogged clay ceramics that integrate into Vertipools, HivePools, and Refugia Tiles. Delivered as training workshops for organised groups, schools, colleges, universities, and organisations; CPD for industry and education.
• CoralPod R&D product: cast concrete domes available in 300mm, 400mm, 500mm, and 650mm diameters developed in collaboration with The Coral Centre for coral propagation, coral restoration, and complex artificial reef habitat creation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 267% increase in species richness in Vertipools compared to next best eco-engineering unit (Mac MacDonald survey)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature11 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Arc Biodiversity & ClimatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organisation and sister consultancy. Artecology is the innovative interdisciplinary research and development department of Arc Biodiversity & Climate. Ian Boyd and Nigel George lead both organisations. Arc provides consultancy services while Artecology focuses on R&D and product development.
• The Common Space CLGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtecology R&D is a department of The Common Space CLG, a not-for-profit company registered in England and Wales No 09627490. Artecology's operations were moved into The Common Space to create a platform better suited to meeting the scale and urgency of ecological challenges.
• University of PortsmouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for bioreceptive design research. Nige and Hannah George delivered workshops and tutorials for Interior Design students. Ongoing research collaboration on eco-engineering materials.
• Bournemouth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term research partner. Dr Alice Hall conducted ecological evaluation of Vertipool systems and continues to monitor Wightlink Vertipools twice yearly. Research published in peer-reviewed journals.
• University of PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner conducting comparative studies on CoCreate Vertipools. Researcher Claire Beckley found CoCreate Vertipools supported nearly 4x bio-abundance vs standard Vertipools. Also involved in Environment Agency MSc research by Sarah Darke.
• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy and project partner. Artecology's work features in MMO Marine Plan Policy Assessment guidance. EA officer Sarah Darke's MSc dissertation explored Vertipools and coastal resilience. EA awarded highly commended for Eel Pass project with Island Roads.
• Groundwork North East and CumbriamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on Revitalising our Estuaries Scheme funded by Green Recovery Challenge Fund. Deploying Vertipool arrays at Blyth Pier and conducting ecological engineering design schemes for Whitby and Sunderland Harbours. Groundwork staff received CoCreate training.
• EcostructuremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean ecoengineering research initiative. Vertipools are at the centre of Ecostructure research studies alongside MARINEFF.
• MARINEFFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean ecoengineering research initiative. Vertipools are at the centre of MARINEFF research studies alongside Ecostructure.
• Interreg France (Channel Manche) EnglandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean funding programme partner for cross-channel eco-engineering research and deployment.
• ABPmermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine consultancy partner on Wightlink Vertipools project and Blyth Vertipool Array. Conducting ecological surveys and monitoring alongside Artecology.
• The Crown EstatemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner on Newcastle Bio-Graffiti initiative at The Gate Leisure Complex. Gatekeeper Biograffiti Wall featured in The Crown Estate Annual Report 2018.
• Natural EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for nature conservation. Artecology team met with Natural England officer Mandy Preece at Solent Forum to discuss fractals in nature and human wellbeing research.
• National Biofilms Innovation CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtecology hosted scientists and researchers from the National Biofilms Innovation Centre at their studio for cross-disciplinary discussion on biofilm science and eco-engineering applications.
• The Coral CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D collaboration partner on CoralPod project focused on coral propagation, coral restoration, and complex artificial reef habitat.
• CIRIAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry body partner. CIRIA Big Biodiversity Awards recognises Artecology and partner projects. Artecology Eel Pass project informs CIRIA's approach to biodiversity in construction.
• Natural Resources WalesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh government partner for nature and coastal management initiatives.
• LaSalle Investment ManagementmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAsset owner client commissioning Wild Glades project at The Glades Shopping Centre Bromley and 5 other biodiversity projects. Artecology integrating Shaping Better Places framework into their Four Pillars to Sustainability strategy.
• Wightlink FerriesmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for Vertipool installation at Fishbourne ferry terminal as part of £42M port infrastructure refit. Wightlink provides ongoing monitoring opportunities and public engagement platform.
• Isle of Wight UNESCO World Biosphere ReservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtecology is based in the Isle of Wight UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and collaborates on various local projects including Discovery Bay research and Science Beach education initiatives.
• University of OxfordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner listed among Artecology's collaborative university network.
• University of ExeterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner listed among Artecology's collaborative university network.
• University of GlasgowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for PhD research on Hope Beach groyne examining man-made textures and marine colonisation effects.
• Aberystwyth UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner listed among Artecology's collaborative university network.
• Balfour BeattyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCivil engineering partner and client for eco-engineering projects.
• Mott MacdonaldminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy partner listed among Artecology's collaborative network.
• HM Government of GibraltarmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment client for harbour wall biodiversity project with custom Gibraltar model Vertipools deployed in Mediterranean waters.
• Streetwise (Newcastle)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal charity partnership for Bio-Graffiti project. Young volunteers from Streetwise created and continue to maintain Gatekeepers Gardens under National Trust guidance.
• National TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Newcastle Bio-Graffiti project. Young volunteers continue to maintain Gatekeepers Gardens under their guidance. National Trust received Artecology's moss mix for Green Academies activities.
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife trust partner for nature conservation. BioTotem design iteration created for Sandown Meadows reserve.
• Wild About WightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity project partner for Arc Woodland wildlife safari and nature education activities.
• City Arts Portsmouth CICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity arts partner for CoCreate sessions demonstrating alignment with NHS Five Steps to Mental Wellbeing.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Jacobs: Global professional services firm with environmental, coastal, and infrastructure capabilities. Relevant incumbent peer pursuing nature-based solutions and biodiversity work at much larger scale and broader scope than Artecology.
• Royal HaskoningDHV: Large international engineering consultancy with a substantial coastal, marine, and nature-based solutions practice. Comparable to Artecology as a broader incumbent offering overlapping eco-engineering and coastal resilience services as part of a much wider portfolio.
• WSP: Global engineering consultancy with a dedicated biodiversity and nature-positive advisory practice. Competes for many of the same ESG-, coastal-, and infrastructure-driven mandates Artecology serves, though as one offering within a much broader portfolio.
• RSK Group: UK environmental and engineering services group covering ecology, biodiversity, and infrastructure. Relevant as a broad incumbent competing for many of the same developer, infrastructure, and regulator mandates Artecology targets.

Emerging players

• Xylo Systems: Emerging eco-engineering and habitat technology venture focused on modular habitat structures for marine and freshwater infrastructure. Adjacent to Artecology's Vertipool and MicroPool product range, addressing similar customer pain points around biodiversity on built assets.

Direct peers

• Arc Biodiversity & Climate: Sister consultancy under The Common Space CLG, co-led by the same founders (Ian Boyd, Nigel George). Functions as Artecology's consultancy counterpart, addressing biodiversity net gain and ecological advisory services that overlap directly with Artecology's Ecoengineering Scheme Design Service.
• Biohabitats: US-headquartered ecological engineering and habitat restoration firm. Directly comparable to Artecology because both design and deliver nature-based and eco-engineering interventions on built and natural environments for biodiversity and resilience outcomes.
• Land & Water Group: UK specialist in waterway, river, and coastal engineering including biodiversity-enhancing interventions. Comparable to Artecology in delivering nature-inclusive infrastructure on engineered watercourses, harbours, and coastal assets.
• Ecosulis: UK-based habitat creation, biodiversity net gain, and ecological consultancy. Closely overlaps with Artecology on Biodiversity Net Gain scheme design, habitat creation, and developer/regulator stakeholder work in the UK.

Regional players

• Salix River & Wetland Services: UK-based contractor specialising in river restoration, wetland creation, and natural flood management. Comparable to Artecology on riparian/freshwater habitat creation, including bioreceptive and bioengineering approaches in UK-built infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/artecologyiw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artecology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Artecology