CONNECTED ECOLOGY LTD

What CONNECTED ECOLOGY LTD does

Connected Ecology Ltd is a UK-based ecological consultancy headquartered in Norwich, founded in 2024 by Lee Rudd, who brought over 15 years of regulatory experience from major consultancies including Jacobs, the Environment Agency, and Internal Drainage Boards. The firm delivers ecological surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) advisory, protected species mitigation and licensing, Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) oversight, and community workshops and training to commercial property developers, housing associations, infrastructure providers, statutory bodies, and conservation organisations.

The service portfolio is built around a tech-forward field methodology, deploying drones, thermal imaging, night vision, infrared and motion-activated cameras, acoustic recording devices, bat detectors, and eDNA laboratory testing for precision ecological data collection across species categories including bats, barn owls, badgers, reptiles, water voles, otters, great crested newts, and birds. The firm's competitive position rests on the founder's portfolio of Natural England personal licences (Level 2 Bat Licence, Badger CL35, Water Vole CL31, Barn Owl CL29) and his standing as the first Named Ecologist to secure a Water Vole Displacement Licence in 2016.

The business operates as a project-based B2B professional services consultancy with bespoke quotations priced on site complexity, travel distance, and equipment requirements, supported by direct sales and a website-led quote funnel. Notable clients include Anglian Water, National Trust, Emerald Homes Group, Church Farm, Norfolk and London Housing Associations, a Norfolk Highway Authority, and the Water Management Alliance Internal Drainage Board. The team comprises the founder and one Assistant Ecologist, with no external funding or institutional investment disclosed.

Name

CONNECTED ECOLOGY LTD

Legal name

Connected Ecology Ltd

Website

https://connected-ecology.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Connected Ecology Ltd is a UK-based ecological consultancy providing ecological surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain advisory, protected species licensing, and Ecological Clerk of Works services to developers, housing associations, infrastructure providers, and statutory bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental & Ecological Consultancy

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Terrestrial Ecology & Habitat Surveys (EUAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

Keywords

• Ecological consultancy
• Protected species surveys
• Biodiversity net gain
• Habitat assessment
• Environmental planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ecological Surveying Services: Professional ecological surveying services including Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA), Preliminary Bat Roost Assessment (PRA), protected species surveys, and biodiversity assessments. Pricing is project-specific based on site complexity, travel distance, and equipment required.
2. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Services: Strategic guidance and habitat design services to help developers meet mandatory 10% BNG planning requirements. Includes design stage assessments, Biodiversity Gain Plan creation, and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) development.
3. Protected Species Licensing & Mitigation: Licensing services including Natural England Development Licences, Low Impact Class Licences, and bespoke mitigation strategies for bats, barn owls, badgers, reptiles, water voles, otters, great crested newts, and birds. Covers licence application support and on-site mitigation delivery.
4. Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW): On-site ecological oversight services including pre-works checks, works supervision during sensitive phases, and delivery of mitigation works. Provides toolbox talks and real-time guidance to contractors.
5. Workshops, Talks & Training: Expert-led talks, CPD workshops, animal handling experience sessions, and nature walks for community groups, organisations and companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Connected Ecology Ltd provides professional ecological consultancy services for development projects, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA) and Bat Roost Assessments (PRA), Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) planning and habitat design, protected species surveys (bats, badgers, water voles, otters, great crested newts, reptiles, barn owls, birds), Natural England mitigation licensing, on-site Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) supervision, and educational workshops and talks. Services are delivered to commercial property developers, housing associations, infrastructure providers, statutory bodies and conservation organisations across the UK.

Product overview

Connected Ecology Ltd operates as an ecological consulting firm offering a unified suite of services for development projects. The service portfolio comprises Initial Site Surveys (PEA/PRA) for habitat and bat roost assessment, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) planning and compliance, Protected Species Surveys covering eight species categories (bats, barn owls, badgers, reptiles, water voles, otters, great crested newts, and birds), Protected Species Mitigation and Licensing to secure Natural England licences, Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) for on-site oversight, and Workshops/Training for professional development. These services are designed to guide projects from concept through completion, ensuring regulatory compliance while protecting commercial timelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Initial Site Surveys (PEA/PRA) Early-stage habitat and protected-species assessment for development sites. Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) records habitats and identifies protected-species potential following the UK Habitat Classification System, and Preliminary Bat Roost Assessment (PRA) evaluates habitat suitability for bats in trees, buildings and structures. Designed for commercial property developers, housing associations, infrastructure providers and statutory bodies needing a clear roadmap for planning-stage ecological compliance.
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Strategic guidance and habitat design service to help developers meet the mandatory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain planning requirement. Includes design stage assessment, Biodiversity Gain Plan creation, and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) development. Targeted at commercial developers, housing associations and infrastructure providers needing to achieve BNG compliance alongside commercial project goals.
• Protected Species Surveys Comprehensive surveys for protected species at the earliest project stage, covering bats, barn owls, badgers, reptiles, water voles, otters, great crested newts and birds. Uses advanced survey technology including night vision devices, infrared cameras, motion-activated wildlife cameras, acoustic recording devices, bat detectors, and eDNA laboratory testing for great crested newts. Delivers recommendations to enable clients to move forward with planning and licensing with confidence.
• Protected Species Mitigation and Licensing Mitigation strategy and licensing support for developments impacting protected species, including bats, barn owls, badgers, reptiles, water voles, otters, great crested newts, and birds. Covers Natural England Development Licences, Low Impact Class Licences, and bespoke mitigation strategies, including licence application support and on-site mitigation delivery. Enables fast-tracked applications such as 5 working days for badger licences.
• Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) On-site ecological oversight service including pre-works checks, works supervision during sensitive project phases, and delivery of mitigation works to ensure planning condition compliance. Includes toolbox talks and real-time guidance to contractors during construction. Targeted at developers and contractors needing ecological compliance on active construction sites.
• Workshops, Talks & Training Educational and outreach services including animal handling experience sessions for ecologists, nature walks, wildlife talks, and CPD workshops. Delivered to community groups, charitable organisations, companies, and development teams to raise awareness about the natural environment and protected species.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% Legal Compliance achieved for clients across all protected species requirements
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Water Management Alliance (WMA) Internal Drainage BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked closely with WMA Internal Drainage Board to deliver shallow bank profiles suitable for European eel and create high-quality habitat for water vole following displacement works on a National Trust project in Norfolk.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wildwood Ecology: UK ecological consultancy providing protected species surveys, bat assessments, reptile and GCN work, and BNG advisory to developers and planning consultants. Closely comparable niche consultancy peer.
• Thomson Environmental Consultants: UK ecological consultancy providing protected species surveys, habitat assessments, BNG, and mitigation licensing for development and infrastructure. Headline-comparable service mix targeting the same developer and statutory body clients.
• BSG Ecology: UK ecological consultancy offering protected species surveys, BNG, ECoW, and licensing services to developers, housing associations, and infrastructure clients. Direct competitor with comparable service portfolio and similar UK-wide B2B focus.
• Ecology Solutions: Specialist UK ecological consultancy focused on protected species surveys, mitigation, and BNG services for housing and commercial developers. Comparable mid-sized peer competing for similar project-based work.
• Tyler Grange: Independent UK ecological and environmental consultancy offering ecology surveys, arboriculture, BNG, and landscape services. Direct peer with overlapping client base across residential and commercial development.

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis UK: International design and consultancy firm with environmental and ecology teams serving UK planning and infrastructure markets. Competes for the same multi-disciplinary tenders that require ecological inputs alongside engineering and planning.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with established UK ecology practice delivering protected species surveys, BNG, and ECoW services. Overlaps with Connected Ecology on large infrastructure tenders for water utilities, highways, and housing developers.
• Mott MacDonald: Large engineering consultancy with UK ecology and environmental assessment capabilities. Targets water companies, highways authorities, and housing developers — the same enterprise client profile as Connected Ecology.
• WSP UK: Major multi-disciplinary consultancy offering ecological surveys, BNG advisory, and EIA delivery for UK development and infrastructure. Competes for the same housing association, water company, and statutory body clients served by Connected Ecology.
• Jacobs: Global environmental and engineering consultancy where founder Lee Rudd previously worked. Provides integrated ecological survey, EIA, and environmental management services across UK infrastructure projects — the same buyer base and regulatory environment as Connected Ecology but at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/61573619803477
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connected-ecology-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CONNECTED ECOLOGY LTD