Sustainable Housing Action Partnership

What Sustainable Housing Action Partnership does

The Sustainable Housing Action Partnership (SHAP) is a UK not-for-profit organisation founded in 2005 (Company No. 06849887) and originating in the West Midlands, now operating with national reach. Its stated mission is to accelerate the delivery and impact of net zero by leading and promoting best practice on the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable housing. SHAP works with organisations across the public, private and third sectors, including housing associations, local authorities, charities, community groups, academic institutions, and businesses.

SHAP delivers its work through two complementary strands: free network services (learning events, research and peer forums) and bespoke consultancy and advisory support delivered through associates. Its flagship content asset is the Retrofit Success Guides series—eight thematic publications developed with insights from over 100 individuals across approximately 70 housing-sector organisations, covering topics such as evaluation, financing and procurement, skills, governance, data and digitalisation, and community engagement. These guides are supported by free online Retrofit Success Lunch and Learns events. SHAP has no proprietary technology platform; the value it delivers is content-led and advisory, with delivery scaled via an associate and partner model rather than a large internal team.

Commercially, SHAP operates as a lean professional services organisation with approximately six employees. Revenue is generated through bespoke, quote-based consultancy contracts, typically multi-year in structure, while the network services and published guides are offered free of charge. Core strategic partners supporting recent work include the West Midlands Combined Authority, Lovell, and Equans, and the Board draws senior figures from Birmingham City Council, Orbit, Together Housing Group, Birmingham City University, Turner & Townsend, Talan, and the Energy Saving Trust.

Name

Sustainable Housing Action Partnership

Legal name

Sustainable Housing Action Partnership

Website

https://shap.uk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sustainable Housing Action Partnership (SHAP) is a UK not-for-profit founded in 2005 that advances net zero in the housing sector through free network services and bespoke advisory support, serving housing associations, local authorities, charities, academics, and related organisations nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Housing Consultancy

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Real Estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) & Infrastructure-Adjacent Real Estate Advisory (BPAJANAL)

Keywords

• Sustainable housing consultancy
• Net zero advisory
• Retrofit guidance
• Housing decarbonisation
• Housing sector network

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Bespoke consultancy and advisory services: SHAP provides tailored expertise through associates to support sustainable housing and place-based decarbonisation programmes. This represents their primary revenue-generating activity.
2. Network services (free): Free, open-access services including learning events, research and peer forums that accelerate best-practice sharing. These are provided at no cost to participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sustainable Housing Action Partnership (SHAP) is a UK not-for-profit organisation delivering two complementary strands of service: free network services (learning events, research, peer forums) that bring the housing sector together, and bespoke consultancy and advisory support delivered directly with housing associations, local authorities, charities, community groups, academic institutions and businesses to design and deliver sustainable housing and place-based decarbonisation programmes. SHAP also produces the Retrofit Success Guides, a series of eight thematic publications providing practical, experience-led guidance on retrofit delivery.

Product overview

The Sustainable Housing Action Partnership (SHAP) offers a portfolio of services focused on advancing net zero in the housing sector. The core offerings consist of two complementary strands: (1) Network Services—free, open-access services including learning events, research, and peer forums that facilitate best-practice sharing; and (2) Bespoke Consultancy and Advisory Support—tailored expertise provided through associates to help organisations design and deliver sustainable housing programmes. Additionally, SHAP produces the Retrofit Success Guides, a series of eight thematic publications providing practical guidance on retrofit delivery, complemented by free online Retrofit Success Lunch and Learns events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Retrofit Success Guides: A series of eight thematic guides developed with insights from 70 organisations, providing practical guidance on retrofit delivery for the housing sector.

Products and services

• Retrofit Success Guides A series of eight thematic guides providing practical, experience-led guidance on delivering retrofit at scale, covering topics from strategic planning to community engagement. Developed for housing associations, local authorities, contractors and policymakers seeking practical retrofit delivery guidance.
• Retrofit Success Lunch and Learns Free online events where speakers from across the housing sector draw on learning from specific Retrofit Success Guides and share practical lessons from the field of retrofit delivery.
• Network Services Free, open-access services that bring the housing sector together through learning events, research and peer forums, accelerating best-practice sharing and solution development across housing associations, local authorities, charities and other stakeholders.
• Advisory & Consultancy Services Bespoke consultancy and advisory support delivered directly with organisations through SHAP associates, providing tailored expertise on the design, delivery and learning of programmes supporting sustainable housing and place-based decarbonisation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Informed by over 100 individuals from around 70 organisations

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• West Midlands Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided support for the development of SHAP's Retrofit Success Guides series, reflecting shared commitment to improving quality, pace and impact of retrofit delivery.
• LovellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the development of Retrofit Success Guides, with shared commitment to practical, experience-led guidance applicable across the sector.
• EquanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the development of Retrofit Success Guides, contributing to sector-wide improvement in retrofit quality and delivery.
• Energy Saving TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributes expertise to SHAP's board through Gordon Watts, Technical Manager - Low Carbon.
• Birmingham City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHAP's Chair Ellie Horwitch-Smith is Assistant Director - Route to Net Zero at Birmingham City Council.
• OrbitsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHAP board member Gemma Brookes is Head of Asset Optimisation at Orbit, a housing association.
• Together Housing GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHAP board member Gemma Voaden is Senior Manager Net Zero at Together Housing Group.
• Birmingham City UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHAP board member Monica Mateo-Garcia is Associate Professor in Sustainable Built Environment at Birmingham City University.
• Turner & TownsendsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHAP board member Peter Harte is a Consultant at Turner & Townsend.
• TalansupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHAP board member Sam Shea is Head of Policy, Insight & Engagement at Talan.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Carbon Trust: International sustainability consultancy advising organisations on decarbonisation strategy and delivery. Comparable to SHAP's advisory/consultancy work on net zero programmes, with a broader mandate across sectors and geographies.
• UK Green Building Council: Industry-led membership organisation advancing sustainable built environment in the UK. Comparable to SHAP as a convening and thought-leadership body for sustainable housing, though broader in scope (commercial buildings and whole built environment) and more policy-focused.
• National Housing Federation: Trade body representing housing associations in England. Operates broadly in the UK affordable housing ecosystem SHAP serves, providing research, policy advocacy, and convening; complementary to SHAP's bespoke retrofit advisory work rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Salix Finance: UK non-profit providing funding/finance for public sector energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects. Comparable in mission and non-profit structure, and overlapping in customer base (housing associations, local authorities) around retrofit delivery.
• Energy Saving Trust: UK non-profit delivering advice, programmes, and research on energy efficiency and low-carbon housing. Directly comparable to SHAP as a mission-driven UK organisation working at the intersection of housing decarbonisation, with overlapping customer base (housing associations, local authorities) and similar advisory/programme delivery model. SHAP board also includes an Energy Saving Trust representative.
• Centre for Sustainable Energy: UK non-profit working on climate change, energy, and housing, advising households, communities, and local authorities. Closely comparable in mission, non-profit structure, and customer mix (housing associations, local authorities, community groups), with overlapping programme work on retrofit and community engagement.
• Local Partnerships: Public-sector-owned advisory body supporting local authorities and public bodies on housing, place-based, and infrastructure programmes. Closely comparable to SHAP's advisory/consultancy work with UK local authorities on sustainable housing and place-based decarbonisation.

Others

• Turner & Townsend: Global professional services firm with a sustainability and real estate advisory practice. Listed as a SHAP partner (board member Peter Harte is a consultant there) and comparable to SHAP as a delivery partner for retrofit and decarbonisation programmes at scale.
• BEIS (now DESNZ) Retrofit Programmes (e.g., PAS 2035 ecosystem bodies): UK government department and adjacent bodies (e.g., TrustMark, Retrofit Coordinator accreditation bodies) shaping the standards and funding environment for retrofit. Relevant to SHAP as the policy and standards context in which its Retrofit Success Guides and advisory operate.

Regional players

• Clarion Housing Group: One of the UK's largest housing associations with major net zero retrofit programmes. Comparable as a UK social housing owner/operator engaged in large-scale retrofit, sitting in SHAP's customer base rather than competing directly with its advisory work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-housing-action-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Housing Action Partnership