THE NOISE ABATEMENT SOCIETY

What THE NOISE ABATEMENT SOCIETY does

The Noise Abatement Society (NAS) is a UK-registered charity and private limited company founded in 1959 by John Connell OBE, headquartered in Poole, Dorset. The organization is the only UK national charitable foundation solely focused on mitigating excessive and unnecessary noise, a status it established by lobbying the Noise Abatement Act through Parliament in 1960, which made noise a statutory nuisance for the first time in UK history. NAS operates the UK's only free National Noise Helpline (monitored Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-4pm) and runs a portfolio of sub-branded programmes including Silent ApproachTM (quiet delivery protocols), Love Your EarsTM (hearing safety awareness), Quiet Mark (independent international low-noise product certification), Future Sound Foundation (research and mentoring), and the John Connell Awards (annual innovation recognition held at the Palace of Westminster, now in its 25th year).

NAS's core technical assets are grounded in acoustic measurement methodology rather than software or hardware products. The charity has been a technical member of the ISO TC43/SC1/WG54 Soundscape Committee since 2009, contributing to the development of BS ISO 12913-1:2014 and implementation into BS 4142:2014. Its proprietary frameworks include the Soundscape Measurement Framework (treating noise as a resource rather than waste), the Silent Approach Protocol (adopted by Transport for London's London 2012 delivery retiming trials and the UK government-backed Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme), the Quiet Mark Certification programme (scientific testing-based award), and the Aural Diversity Framework (challenging presumption of "normal" hearing). NAS holds academic partnerships with the University of Sheffield (industrial fellowship), University College London (soundscape training programme), Goldsmiths, and Heriot-Watt University.

The organization's business model operates across three revenue streams: public donations processed via Stripe (preset tiers of £10/£20/£50 plus custom amounts, with BACS and cheque alternatives), licensing/royalty-style revenue from the Quiet Mark programme (an international certification programme for manufacturers seeking low-noise product endorsement), and sponsorship revenue from the John Connell Awards (sponsors include the Institute of Acoustics, ROCKWOOL, Anderson Acoustics, Rolltek International Ltd, S&P UK Ventilation Systems). The charity serves four primary segments: the general public experiencing noise-related distress (helpline users), local authority environmental health practitioners, manufacturers pursuing Quiet Mark certification, and academic/research institutions collaborating on standards development.

Name

THE NOISE ABATEMENT SOCIETY

Legal name

The Noise Abatement Society Limited

Website

https://noiseabatementsociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Noise Abatement Society is a UK charity founded in 1959 that operates the only free National Noise Helpline, develops acoustic measurement standards via ISO committee participation, and runs programmes including Quiet Mark certification, Silent Approach delivery protocols, and the John Connell Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Noise Abatement and Acoustic Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Noise & Vibration Monitoring (Environmental/Community/Construction) (EUAHACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial Hygiene & Exposure Control (Noise, Dust, Respiratory) (EDABAEAC)

Keywords

• Noise abatement charity
• Acoustic standards development
• Low-noise product certification
• Soundscape measurement research
• Environmental noise advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Poole

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The society accepts public donations through its website via Stripe payment processor at preset amounts (£10, £20, £50) or custom amounts. Alternative donation methods include BACS transfers and cheques payable to The Noise Abatement Society.
2. Quiet Mark Programme: Quiet Mark is an international approval award programme for low-noise technology. The programme drives designers and manufacturers to reduce sound levels in products and provides marketing platform for industry.
3. John Connell Awards Sponsorships: Annual awards ceremony attracts sponsors including Institute of Acoustics, ROCKWOOL, Anderson Acoustics, Rolltek International Ltd, S&P UK Ventilation Systems, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Noise Abatement Society is a UK charity that mitigates noise pollution through a free National Noise Helpline providing advice to the public, the annual John Connell Awards recognising innovation in noise mitigation, the international Quiet Mark certification programme for low-noise products, and educational campaigns including Love Your Ears and Silent Approach. It develops soundscape measurement standards through ISO/BSI committee participation and influences UK noise policy through partnerships with Defra, Transport for London, and local authorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Silent ApproachTM: The protocol of quiet delivery practices, used as the basis for the UK government backed Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme and Transport for London's London 2012 retiming delivery trials.
• Love Your EarsTM
• Future Sound Foundation (FSF)
• John Connell Awards

Products and services

• National Noise Helpline

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000,000 people reached annually through NAS programmes and activities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022NAS partnered with CIEH on their annual Noise Management Conference 2022, held online from 29-30 September 2022.
• ISO TC43/SC1/WG54 Soundscape CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009NAS has been a member of the ISO Soundscape standard committee since 2009, contributing to research and evidence of new acoustic measurement methods. Standards published include BS ISO 12913-1:2014 and implemented into BS 4142:2014.
• Quiet MarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuiet Mark is the independent, international approval award programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation. It encourages companies worldwide to prioritise noise reduction within product design through scientific testing and assessment, identifying the quietest products in given categories.
• British Standards InstitutecoreTechnology or IntegrationNAS serves as technical member of BSI, working proactively alongside global acousticians, scientists, and expert practitioners to produce soundscape standards.
• Brighton and Hove City CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creating and leading Sounding Brighton pilot trials and world-first city-wide soundscape survey, including West Street Story and entertainment noise projects.
• Future Sound FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSF is NAS programme to foster research, mentoring, solutions and consultancy by applying soundscape principles in practice. Mentored young designers at Royal College of Art, resulting in soundscape future car concept supported by Bentley and Arup.
• Goldsmiths, University of LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHRC/CHASE Collaborative Doctoral Award in collaboration with Goldsmiths, awarded to Mattia Cobianchi for soundscape research.
• University of SheffieldmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAS holds industrial fellowship with University of Sheffield on applied Soundscape in the Built Environment.
• University College London (UCL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoundscape training programme being developed with UCL, IOA and UKAN. IOA Certificate Course in Soundscape Assessment developed with UCL IEDE.
• COST Action TD0804majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAS collaborates with COST Action TD0804 and ISO Working Group 54 members to explore soundscape approaches for solving noise disturbances.
• Heriot-Watt UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership with Heriot-Watt University.
• Aural Diversity NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAS is a proud member of Aural Diversity Network and participated in co-development of Aural Diversity Infographic. Continues to contribute to ongoing development of aural diversity through active membership.
• Transport for LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilent Approach protocol was basis for Transport for London's London 2012 retiming delivery trials, now being adopted in London and other cities as part of sustainable UK logistics.
• UK GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilent Approach protocol was used as basis for UK government backed Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme.
• Make Listening Safe CampaignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNAS supports the Make Listening Safe Campaign to raise awareness about dangers of listening to MP3 players and long-term hearing damage from loud music.
• Institute of Acoustics (IOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOA is sponsor of John Connell Awards and co-developer of Certificate Course in Soundscape Assessment. IOA Young Persons Competition associated with awards.
• Association of Noise Consultants (ANC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANC sponsors John Connell Awards and co-develops professional development programmes with NAS.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• SoundPLAN GmbH: Independent developer of environmental noise mapping and prediction software used by acoustic consultants and municipal authorities for the same urban noise policy work NAS influences. Enables the technical delivery of soundscape and noise-mapping projects rather than competing directly.
• Cirrus Research plc: UK manufacturer of noise measurement instruments and environmental noise monitors. Comparable industry overlap (noise monitoring) but a commercial instrument vendor rather than a charity; supplies the type of hardware used by Quiet Mark-certified product testers.
• NTI Audio AG: Swiss manufacturer of professional audio and acoustic measurement equipment, including sound level meters used for product certification. Adjacent equipment supplier to the noise measurement and certification ecosystem NAS operates in.
• ACOEM (01dB, Metravib, Onera): Global environmental monitoring group offering noise, vibration, and air-quality monitoring solutions including the 01dB brand. Adjacent infrastructure provider serving the same environmental noise monitoring market as Quiet Mark-certified products and Sounding Brighton-style surveys.
• Arup Acoustics: Global engineering consultancy with one of the largest built-environment acoustics practices, partnering with NAS on Bentley/Arup-supported Future Sound Foundation car concepts. Comparable in soundscape and built-environment acoustics expertise but commercial rather than charitable.
• Hottinger Brüel & Kjær (HBK): Global leader in acoustic measurement instruments (sound level meters, microphones, acoustic test systems) used in the same noise-monitoring and certification work that NAS / Quiet Mark perform. Enables but does not directly compete with NAS.

Direct peers

• Quiet Communities Inc: US-based nonprofit that educates the public and policymakers about the health effects of noise and advocates for quieter communities. Closest like-for-like peer to NAS in mission and non-profit operating model, but focused on the US market rather than the UK.
• NoiseOff: Community noise-awareness and advocacy organisation focused on reducing noise pollution through education and lobbying. Comparable to NAS as a citizen-focused noise abatement charity, though narrower in programme scope (no certification or standards work).

Broad incumbents

• Association of Noise Consultants (ANC): UK trade association representing acoustic consultancy firms. Sponsors John Connell Awards and works with NAS on professional development, but represents commercial consultancies rather than the general public or noise sufferers.
• Institute of Acoustics (IOA): UK professional body for acoustics practitioners covering engineering, environmental, and hearing-related acoustics. Overlaps with NAS on standards, awards (sponsor of John Connell Awards), and the IOA Certificate in Soundscape Assessment, but is a membership body rather than a public-facing charity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/noise_abatement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-noise-abatement-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THE NOISE ABATEMENT SOCIETY