Business Declares
Business Declares is a UK not-for-profit business membership network, founded 2019 and operating from Swindon and London, that mobilises 60+ member companies to act on declared climate, ecological, and social emergencies through advocacy campaigns, policy support, and member toolkits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSwindon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Business Declares does
Business Declares is a UK-registered not-for-profit organisation founded in 2019 during the period of UK youth climate protests, operating as a business membership network responding to declared climate, ecological, and social emergencies. The network is headquartered with a registered office in Swindon and operational presence in London, with a small team of 11 employees and a board of directors including Ben Tolhurst, Samantha Cooper, Fiona Ellis, and Blyth Brentnall. As of October 2021 it had grown to 60+ business members spanning legal, financial, agricultural, digital, and communications sectors — including Riverford Organic Farmers, Forsters LLP, Triodos Bank UK, Forster Communications, Wholegrain Digital, and Bates Wells.
The organisation's core products are built around member declarations, coordinated advocacy campaigns, and downloadable resource toolkits. Its flagship member engagement is the CEO Letters to the Earth campaign (October 2021), and it has subsequently extended its offering with the Digital Declutter Toolkit and participation in convening events such as the Better Business Summit 2024. The network is a partner of the UN Race to Zero campaign (since December 2020) and publicly backs the CEE Bill, which has drawn stated support from 84 MPs across eight parties.
Its business model is a non-profit subscription-plus-donation structure: income is generated from membership fees paid by participating businesses and from donations routed through the Chuffed crowdfunding platform. No public pricing schedule is disclosed, and revenue scale is not reported. The network's strategic positioning combines coalition membership in international climate frameworks with domestic UK policy advocacy, providing member businesses with reputational alignment and a collective voice on emergency declarations.
Business Declares firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Business Declares
- Legal name
- Business Declares
- Website
- https://businessdeclares.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Business Declares is a UK not-for-profit business membership network, founded 2019 and operating from Swindon and London, that mobilises 60+ member companies to act on declared climate, ecological, and social emergencies through advocacy campaigns, policy support, and member toolkits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Business Declares industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC)
Keywords
Where Business Declares is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Swindon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Business Declares business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Business Membership Fees: Revenue generated through business membership subscriptions from companies joining the network and committing to climate action
- Donations: Voluntary donations collected through Chuffed platform for supporting organizational activities and campaigns
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Business Declares product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Business Declares is a not-for-profit business membership network that recruits companies to publicly declare a climate, ecological, and social emergency and commit to action. The organization provides a member network, events, advocacy campaigns (including FT print placements and CEE Bill support), open-source resources, and a newsletter to inspire, encourage, and accelerate climate action within UK businesses.
Product overview
Business Declares is a not-for-profit organization and business membership network rather than a product company. It operates as an advocacy and campaign organization focused on inspiring, encouraging, and accelerating action within businesses to address the climate, ecological, and social emergency (the "polycrisis"). The organization does not offer traditional SaaS products, software platforms, or technology products. Its offerings consist of a business membership network, events and networking opportunities, advocacy campaigns, open-source resources, and newsletter subscriptions. The organization's primary value proposition is collective action and advocacy rather than technology products or services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Membership Network
- Better Business Summit
Quantifiable outcome
- Network of 60+ pioneering businesses committed to climate action as of October 2021
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Business Declares
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Business Declares technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Business Declares partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- UN Race to ZeroflagshipBusiness Declares became official partners with UN Race to Zero, joining a global coalition of 454 cities, 23 regions, 1,397 businesses, 74 of the biggest investors, and 569 universities committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. All Business Declares members automatically become part of Race to Zero, representing nearly 25% global CO2 emissions and over 50% GDP.
- SME Climate HubcoreBusiness Declares is collaborating with SME Climate Hub, one of the Race to Zero partner initiatives, to support small and medium enterprises in their climate action journey.
- Better Business NetworkcorePartnership with Better Business Network for the Better Business Summit 2024 held in Manchester on 17-18 January 2024. Business Declares led two sessions at the conference including a degrowth session.
- betternotstopcoreCo-organizer of Better Business Summit 2024 with Better Business Network, promoting sustainable business practices through joint event platform.
- Tech NationcoreBusiness Declares supported Tech Nation on the launch event for (E)Mission Net Zero, highlighting the role of tech and scaleups in climate transition. Featured speakers included government ministers and industry leaders.
- Wholegrain DigitalcoreMember and collaborator who developed the open-source Digital Declutter Toolkit with Business Declares. Tom Greenwood from Wholegrain Digital contributed knowledge on Digital Decarbonisation to Tech Nation Net Zero Cohort.
- Bates WellsminorFirst UK law firm to certify as B Corp and member of Business Declares network. Contributed to Letters to the Earth campaign and climate advocacy efforts.
- REAL SustainabilitycoreCommunity interest company founded by Safia Minney MBE, which sits on Business Declares advisory panel and has been instrumental in organizing events including CEE Bill support event.
- Letters to the EarthcoreJoint campaign initiative with Letters to the Earth, inviting CEOs and business leaders to write letters reflecting on climate hopes and fears ahead of COP26. Included live events at COP26 in Glasgow.
- Green ElementminorEnvironmental management consultancy and Business Declares member that hosts the Sustainability Solved Podcast, which Business Declares sponsors.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Business Declares competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SME Climate Hub: An explicit Business Declares partner initiative under the UN Race to Zero coalition that helps SMEs set climate targets and commitments; overlaps heavily on target audience (UK SMEs) and value proposition (simplified climate commitment framework).
- B Lab UK: Operator of the UK B Corp certification network and a community of purpose-led businesses; directly comparable as a UK-based business membership community certifying and convening companies on social/environmental performance, with overlapping members including Bates Wells.
- B Team: A coalition of business leaders advocating for systemic change on issues including climate and inequality; mirrors Business Declares' model of CEOs uniting to advocate for systemic shifts, though B Team operates at global scale with larger corporates.
- Better Business Network: UK-based business network promoting 'better business' practices and co-organiser of the Better Business Summit with Business Declares; directly comparable as a like-sized UK membership/community organisation running events and advocacy for responsible business.
Broad incumbents
- BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global non-profit network of member companies working on sustainable business strategy and advocacy; comparable to Business Declares in being a member-based business sustainability organisation, but with global reach and significantly larger member roster.
- CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Global disclosure system for companies, cities and investors on environmental impact; comparable to Business Declares as a corporate-climate engagement platform but with deeper disclosure infrastructure, larger scale, and broader geographic reach.
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Globally recognised standard-setter for corporate net-zero and science-based emissions targets; sits in the same value chain as Business Declares (helping companies commit to climate action) but operates at larger scale and with more rigorous technical frameworks.
- Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL): University-affiliated sustainability institute that convenes business leaders, produces research and runs executive education on climate and nature; comparable audience (senior business decision-makers) but with more research-driven and education-led model.
- Climate Pledge: Cross-sector commitment initiative led by Amazon and Global Optimism asking signatories to reach net-zero by 2040; comparable as a corporate climate commitment network with public-pledge framing but at far larger scale and led by corporate giants.
Regional players
- Aldersgate Group: UK-based alliance of businesses, policymakers and investors advocating for stronger environmental policy; directly comparable as a UK business-advocacy coalition focused on climate and ecological policy, with overlapping political-engagement activity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Business Declares social profiles
Digital presenceBusiness Declares financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Business Declares leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Business Declares funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Business Declares M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Business Declares
What does Business Declares do?
Business Declares is a not-for-profit business membership network that recruits companies to publicly declare a climate, ecological, and social emergency and commit to action. The organization provides a member network, events, advocacy campaigns (including FT print placements and CEE Bill support), open-source resources, and a newsletter to inspire, encourage, and accelerate climate action within UK businesses.
Is Business Declares a public or private company?
Business Declares is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Business Declares founded?
Business Declares was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Business Declares based?
Business Declares is headquartered in Swindon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Business Declares make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Business Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are Business Declares's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SME Climate Hub, B Lab UK, B Team and Better Business Network. Broad incumbents are BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and Climate Pledge. Aldersgate Group is listed as a regional player.
Does Business Declares have an API?
No public API is recorded for Business Declares.
What industry is Business Declares in?
Business Declares's product category is Climate Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAKAH, Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD), with a secondary code of EUAHAJAC, GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3). Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.