The Concrete Society

What The Concrete Society does

The Concrete Society is an independent UK membership organization founded in 1966, dedicated to advancing knowledge and professional practice in the concrete and construction industry. Headquartered in Sandhurst, Berkshire, the Society serves approximately 4,500 individual members, over 400 corporate member companies, and academic institutions through a multi-tier membership structure (Individual Standard, Individual Plus, Individual Student, Corporate scaled by income, and Academic). Its core products center on authoritative technical content — Technical Reports, Good Concrete Guides, and Advice Sheets — complemented by two periodicals (Concrete Magazine, published 10 times yearly, and Concrete Engineering International, biannual) and the searchable online Fingertips database. The Society also operates an expert advisory service staffed by qualified engineers and technologists, and is a CITB Approved Training Organisation delivering Back to Basics courses and CPD programs.

The Society's revenue model is diversified across recurring and transactional streams: annual membership subscriptions form the recurring backbone, while one-time publication sales (via the Concrete Bookshop, with 40% member discount on hard copy and digital downloads), magazine subscriptions (Concrete Engineering International at £156/year for European delivery, plus £50 postage), training course fees, and event registrations (Evolving Concrete conference, regional golf days, lunches, clay shoots) generate transactional revenue. Go-to-market is community-led through 9 active UK regional committees (Devon & Cornwall, London & South East, Midlands, Northern Ireland, North West, Scotland, South West, Wales, Yorkshire & North East) that serve as the primary member acquisition and engagement channels. Digital touchpoints include 100,000 monthly website visitors, 2,400 daily email views, and an active LinkedIn presence.

The organization's governance is member-led through Council representation, and it maintains strategic alliances with CONSTRUCT, CITB, Heidelberg Materials, and major concrete industry sponsors. Its 58-year-old Concrete Society Awards, Evolving Concrete conference, Sourcebook Directory, and a recent co-chair role with CONSTRUCT on the Building Safety Act operative competence working group underline its position as a quasi-regulatory technical body within the UK concrete sector. Headcount is estimated at 11–50 employees.

Name

The Concrete Society

Legal name

The Concrete Society

Website

https://concrete.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Concrete Society is an independent UK membership organization founded in 1966, serving 4,500 individual members, 400+ corporate member companies, and academic institutions in the concrete construction sector through technical publications, training, events, advisory services, and a national regional network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandhurst, Berkshire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees from individual, corporate, and academic members. Members receive access to technical resources, magazines, advisory services, and regional network events. Corporate membership level is based on organization income.
2. Publication Sales: Sales of technical reports, good concrete guides, advice sheets, and other publications through the Concrete Bookshop. Publications available in hard copy and digital download formats. Members receive 40% discount.
3. Magazine Subscriptions: Sales of Concrete Magazine (published 10 times annually) and Concrete Engineering International (published twice yearly). Available to members and separate subscribers.
4. Training Programs: Revenue from Back to Basics training courses and other educational programs. Society is a CITB Approved Training Organisation providing CPD and training.
5. Event Revenue: Registration fees for technical conferences (Evolving Concrete), regional events, golf days, clay shoots, lunches, and other networking events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Concrete Society is an independent UK membership organisation that sells memberships, technical publications, advisory services, training courses, and event access to professionals and organisations in the concrete and construction sector. Its core deliverables include Concrete Magazine and Concrete Engineering International periodicals, Technical Reports and Good Concrete Guides, the Fingertips searchable knowledge database, CITB-approved training programmes, the annual Evolving Concrete conference, and the Concrete Society Awards programme.

Product overview

The Concrete Society offers a comprehensive portfolio of knowledge-sharing products and services for the concrete and construction industry. The core offering centers on published technical guidance (Technical Reports, Good Concrete Guides, Advice Sheets) and industry-leading magazines (Concrete Magazine, Concrete Engineering International). These are complemented by an online searchable information resource (Fingertips), expert advisory services, and CITB-approved training programmes. The Society facilitates industry engagement through its flagship Evolving Concrete conference, national Concrete Society Awards, and nine active Regional Networks across the UK. Additional member services include the Concrete Bookshop (with 40% member discount), an online Members Area portal for digital resources, and the Sourcebook Directory listing over 400 member companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Concrete Magazine: Industry-leading magazine published 10 times a year covering concrete design, construction, and technology
• Concrete Engineering International
• Fingertips
• Evolving Concrete
• Concrete Society Awards
• Back to Basics
• Concrete Bookshop
• Sourcebook

Products and services

• Concrete Magazine Industry-leading magazine published 10 times a year covering concrete design, construction, and technology, essential reading for those in the concrete sector. Available to Society members or via separate subscription.
• Concrete Engineering International Bi-annual journal covering concrete projects from around the world, offering international perspective on concrete engineering. Available in both printed and digital formats at £156 per year.
• Technical Reports Authoritative technical guidance documents published by the Society, regarded in industry as the go-to reference for concrete expertise and best practice.
• Good Concrete Guides Guidance documents providing best practice recommendations for concrete design, construction, and technology.
• Advice Sheets Concise, expert insights on specific concrete-related topics, addressing practical challenges in design, construction, and maintenance. Available free to members via the Members Area.
• Fingertips Fully searchable online bank of information about concrete and construction, providing in-depth technical guidance accessible to members and subscribers.
• Advisory Service Independent expert advice from experienced qualified engineers and technologists, providing prompt, impartial, and practical solutions and expert written guidance for the concrete sector.
• Training Programme Industry-recognised education in concrete design, construction, and technology, including Back to Basics courses and formal qualifications through partner organisations. Delivered by a CITB Approved Training Organisation.
• Evolving Concrete Conference Premier one-day technical conference organised by the Concrete Society, featuring expert speakers on innovations in concrete technology and best practice. Held at venues such as the Building Centre in London.
• Concrete Society Awards National awards programme celebrating excellence in the design and construction of concrete projects across the UK, with winners announced at a prestigious annual dinner.
• Regional Networks Network of 9 regional groups across the UK (Devon & Cornwall, London & South East, Midlands, Northern Ireland, North West, Scotland, South West, Wales, Yorkshire & North East) providing technical and social events, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities.
• Concrete Bookshop Online bookshop stocking all Concrete Society publications and a selection of other publishers' concrete industry guidance. Publications available in hard copy and digital download with 40% discount for members.
• Members Area Online portal providing registered members with access to free downloads of Advice Sheets, Standards alerts, digital magazines, magazine archive, and the Concrete Vault reference materials.
• Sourcebook Directory Online directory of Society members and their areas of expertise, helping users find products, services, and project teams. Contains details of over 400 member companies.
• Individual Membership Annual individual membership subscriptions (Standard, Plus, Student tiers) providing access to technical resources, magazines, advisory services, regional network events, and qualifying grades (MCS/FCS) for sole traders, professionals, and students in the concrete sector.
• Corporate Membership Annual corporate membership subscriptions for organisations operating within the concrete sector, including manufacturers, contractors, engineers, and material suppliers. Pricing is income-based and includes company-wide access, directory listing, and team benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58th year of Concrete Society Awards program recognizing excellence in concrete design and construction
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CONSTRUCTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026The Concrete Society and CONSTRUCT co-chair a new Working Group on Competence for Concrete Operatives and Specialist Concrete Operatives. The working group is supported by CITB expertise and is part of the Building Safety Act implementation, overseen by the Industry Competence Steering Group.
• CITB (Construction Industry Training Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCITB provides expertise and support to the Concrete Society/CONSTRUCT working group on operative competence. The Concrete Society is also a CITB Approved Training Organisation.
• Concrete Bridge Development GroupminorOthersThe Concrete Bookshop stocks publications from the Concrete Bridge Development Group alongside Concrete Society publications.
• FosrocminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Evolving Concrete 2025 technical conference, supporting the Concrete Society's flagship annual event.
• EcocemminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Evolving Concrete 2025, supporting the flagship technical conference.
• Master Builders SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Evolving Concrete 2025.
• The Concrete CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Evolving Concrete 2025.
• UK Concrete ShowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Evolving Concrete 2025 and hosted drinks reception at the conference.
• Beton BauencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Wales Back to Basics training day, demonstrating commitment to industry education and training in concrete technology.
• Heidelberg MaterialscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Technical Training Day at Westhoughton concrete plant and Scotland Region AGM venue. Major supporter of regional events and activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE): UK professional body for building services engineers, providing membership, technical publications, training, and events. Comparable as a chartered membership organization operating publications, training, and events revenue streams.
• American Concrete Institute (ACI): The leading international concrete technical society, offering certifications, codes, and publications. Comparable as a global counterpart providing membership, training, and authoritative technical resources to concrete professionals.
• Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE): International professional body for structural engineers with membership grades, technical publications, and CPD training. Comparable in operating model — membership subscriptions, technical library, events, and training delivery.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): Global professional membership body for surveyors and built environment professionals, offering membership grades, publications, CPD, and events. Comparable as a UK-headquartered chartered membership organization with subscription, training, and publication revenues.
• BRE Group: UK building science research and standards body producing publications, training, and certifications for the construction sector. Comparable as a UK authority publishing technical guidance and delivering accredited training programmes.
• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): UK professional membership body awarding chartered status and providing CPD, publications, and events to civil engineering professionals. Comparable as a long-standing UK membership organization with technical library and training revenue streams.

Direct peers

• CONSTRUCT: UK trade association for the structural concrete frame sector. Directly comparable as a UK membership body running technical working groups and training; active collaborator with the Society on the operative competence working group.
• Mineral Products Association (MPA): UK trade association for the aggregates, cement, and concrete industries. Directly comparable as a UK industry membership body representing the concrete supply chain, with overlapping corporate membership and policy advocacy functions.
• The Concrete Centre: UK industry body providing technical guidance, publications, and training on concrete design and construction. Directly comparable as a UK-focused concrete membership/knowledge organization with overlapping publication and CPD offerings.

Regional players

• European Concrete Society (ECS): Pan-European federation of national concrete associations. Comparable as a higher-level industry membership umbrella focused on concrete knowledge dissemination and events, though operating at a pan-European rather than UK-nation level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ConcreteSoc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXXXXXXXXXX
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheConcreteSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-concrete-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/concretesociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Concrete Society