The Sustainable Business Partnership

What The Sustainable Business Partnership does

The Sustainable Business Partnership CIC is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (company number 07501741) established in 1998 and headquartered in Brighton, United Kingdom. It delivers sustainability consultancy, certification advisory, training, and grant programme administration to small and medium-sized enterprises, community organisations, educational institutions, and cultural venues, primarily across Southeast England. The service portfolio spans core advisory work (ISO 14001, Net Zero, B Corp, EcoVadis, CDP, UN SDG framework implementation), training programmes (AQA-verified Environmental Champion Training, Employee Engagement Days, UTILISE courses), compliance services (Display Energy Certificates, Non-Domestic EPCs), and the free Sustainable Business Network membership programme launched in 2009.

The company does not develop proprietary technology; its competitive asset is nearly 30 years of accumulated practitioner experience across diverse sectors. It generates revenue through a hybrid model combining grant-funded programme delivery (historically via ERDF and local authority contracts such as Utilise Plus, Energy Efficient East Sussex, West Sussex RE:Start Local, and the Green Growth Platform) and fee-for-service consultancy, training, and certification support. The go-to-market combines direct consultancy sales, event-driven demand generation (Sustainable Business Breakfasts, UTILISE workshops, sustainability tours), and grant programmes as structured entry points for SME customers. Most core services are provided free to eligible SMEs under State Aid de minimis regulations, with paid services concentrated in bespoke training and certification implementation.

Operational geography is regional, centred on Brighton with event delivery across Lewes, Worthing, Crawley, Croydon, and Haywards Heath, and workshop venues extending to Oxford, Canterbury, Chichester, Horsham, and Milton Keynes. The CIC structure imposes an asset lock requiring surpluses to be reinvested for community benefit, and the company operates with no disclosed parent entity, no subsidiaries, and no venture or private equity ownership.

Name

The Sustainable Business Partnership

Legal name

West Sussex Sustainable Business Partnership CIC

Website

https://sustainablebusiness.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sustainable Business Partnership CIC is a Brighton-based Community Interest Company, established 1998, providing sustainability consultancy, certification advisory, training, and grant programme administration to SMEs, community organisations, educational institutions, and cultural venues across Southeast England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Consulting Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon Claims, Labeling & Communications Advisory (VCMI/ICVCM Guidance, Claim Substantiation) (EUABADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

Keywords

• Sustainability consultancy
• Environmental management
• Energy efficiency auditing
• Sustainability certification advisory
• Corporate sustainability training

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant-Funded Programme Delivery: The company operates primarily as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company delivering publicly-funded programmes including Utilise Plus (ERDF-funded), Energy Efficient East Sussex (East Sussex County Council funded), and West Sussex Energy Efficiency Grants. Revenue comes from administering these grant programmes rather than direct customer fees.
2. Consultancy Services: Fee-for-service sustainability consultancy including environmental management systems implementation, sustainability certifications, and project management. Services include a free 30-minute certification review followed by paid implementation support.
3. Training Courses: Environmental Champion Training (2.5 hour course, up to 15 delegates) and Employee Engagement Days are offered as paid training programmes. UTILISE workshops are free to attendees as they are grant-funded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Sustainable Business Partnership CIC delivers sustainability consultancy, certification advisory, and environmental management services to organisations across South East England. Core services include sustainability certification guidance (ISO 14001, Net Zero, B Corp), energy audits and Display Energy Certificates, employee engagement workshops, Environmental Champion Training, and administration of ERDF- and local-authority-funded grant programmes for SMEs. A free Sustainable Business Network membership underpins community-driven demand generation and peer learning.

Product overview

The Sustainable Business Partnership CIC is a Community Interest Company offering sustainability consultancy and support services to organisations. The portfolio consists of core advisory services (Consultancy & Project Management, Sustainability Certification, Energy Support) combined with training programmes (Environmental Champion Training, Employee Engagement Days, UTILISE courses), grant funding administration (UTILISE Plus programme providing up to £5,000 for SME energy efficiency projects), and the free-to-join Sustainable Business Network for peer learning. The company also provides compliance services including Display Energy Certificates and EPCs, resource tools such as the Lighting Guide, and industry-specific support through the Facilities Managers Forum for museums. The service model combines consultancy expertise with practical training and grant-funded implementation support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consultancy & Project Management Professional sustainability consulting service helping organisations design and implement environmental management systems, sustainability plans, policies, and certification frameworks. Delivered to SMEs, charities, community groups, and museums across South East England.
• Sustainability Certification Advisory Unbiased advisory service helping organisations select and implement appropriate sustainability certifications including ISO 14001, B Corp, EcoVadis, CDP, and Net Zero, beginning with a free 30-minute certification review. For organisations seeking recognised environmental credentials.
• Sustainability for Businesses Programme End-to-end business sustainability programme informed by nearly thirty years of experience, covering sustainability plans, policy, certifications, and actions for SMEs. Addresses the question "what works" when implementing sustainability.
• Sustainability for Community Organisations Programme Sustainability, engagement, and peer-to-peer learning programme for councils, charities, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, museums, venues, and galleries. Delivered as discrete projects with hands-on peer learning.
• Environmental Champion Training AQA Unit Award Scheme verified 2.5-hour introductory course covering energy saving, water use, waste minimisation, and pollution prevention. Suitable for up to 15 delegates per cohort; participants receive an AQA Certificate of Learning.
• Employee Engagement Days Interactive workshops to engage employees in sustainability programmes, Net Zero ambitions, or ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems. Includes optional volunteer conservation or team-building elements.
• Energy Support (Energy Audits & Energy Certificates) Energy efficiency advisory service comprising energy audits, Display Energy Certificates, Advisory Reports, and Non-Domestic EPC assessments under UK energy performance regulations.
• UTILISE Plus Grant Programme ERDF-funded grant programme offering fully-funded energy audits and grants up to £5,000 to SMEs for energy efficiency installations, reducing energy usage, costs, and environmental impact.
• UTILISE Course Free energy, waste, and water efficiency course helping SMEs save money through resource efficiency improvements. Funded via the ERDF Low Carbon Essentials programme.
• Grants & Funding Programme Administration Administration of grant programmes including Utilise Plus (ERDF), Energy Efficient East Sussex, and West Sussex RE:Start Local, channelling public funding to eligible SMEs for energy efficiency measures.
• Sustainable Business Network Membership Free membership programme linking environmentally committed businesses for idea sharing, learning, networking events, seminars, case study visits, and a directory listing.
• Display Energy Certificates & Advisory Reports Official Display Energy Certificates and accompanying Advisory Reports for public buildings as required under UK energy performance regulations.
• Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Energy performance certificates for non-domestic buildings issued under UK energy performance regulations.
• Water Survey Water efficiency assessment identifying water-saving opportunities and supporting organisations in reducing water consumption.
• Tendering Support for Low-Carbon SMEs Free specialist consultancy for Sussex-based SMEs in low-carbon and environmental sectors, covering public-sector tender search, pre-qualification, proposal writing, and investment readiness support. Funded through the Green Growth Platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• SMEs reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by over 150 tonnes through Energy Efficient East Sussex programme
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• South East Museum Development ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with South East Museum Development Programme to deliver sustainability support and training to museums across Sussex and Surrey. SBP CIC worked with the programme to deliver UTILISE Courses and Sustainability Site Visits.
• Green Growth PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded through the Green Growth Platform, SBP provides free specialist consultancy including public sector tendering support, proposal writing, and investment readiness services for Sussex-based SMEs in the low-carbon and environmental sectors.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anthesis Group: Global sustainability consultancy providing strategy, advisory, and implementation services across ESG, carbon, and circular economy. Comparable fee-for-service sustainability consulting model, but operating at multinational scale with private equity backing.
• EcoAct: International climate change consultancy offering carbon strategy, advisory, and certification support. Comparable in delivering ISO 14001, Net Zero, and carbon footprinting engagements, though with enterprise- and investor-focused positioning.
• South Pole Group: Global climate solutions provider offering carbon advisory, sustainability strategy, and project development. Comparable consulting services including carbon footprinting and Net Zero strategy, but at significantly larger international scale.
• Regen: UK not-for-profit focused on the transition to a regenerative, zero-carbon energy system, delivering consultancy, events, and community programmes. Overlaps with SBP's community-network, energy-efficiency, and sustainability advisory activities.
• Resource Futures: Independent UK consultancy specialising in resource efficiency, waste minimisation, and sustainability advice for businesses, public sector, and community organisations. Closely comparable size, sector focus, and not-for-profit-friendly delivery model.
• Carbon Trust: UK-based sustainability and low-carbon consultancy offering advisory, certification, and programme delivery to organisations and government. Directly comparable business model: fee-for-service sustainability and energy-efficiency consulting with public-sector-funded delivery components.
• Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE): UK national charity delivering sustainability, energy efficiency, and community engagement programmes, particularly to households, community groups, and SMEs. Closely mirrors SBP CIC's non-profit, community-focused, South West England delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Energy Saving Trust: Larger UK-wide organisation providing energy-efficiency advice, training, and programme delivery to households, businesses, and government. Overlaps with SBP's energy audits, training, and grant administration, but at significantly greater national scale.

Emerging players

• Net Zero Now: UK-focused climate action platform and consultancy helping small businesses measure, reduce, and certify carbon emissions. Partial overlap with SBP's SME carbon footprinting and certification readiness offering, with a more product-led, technology-enabled approach.
• Greenwood Solutions: Smaller UK sustainability and environmental consultancy supporting SMEs with EMS implementation, certification, and energy efficiency. Niche direct competitor for SME-focused sustainability certification work in the UK regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sustbusnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-business-partnership-cic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Sustainable Business Partnership