People & Planet - UK student campaigning organisation

What People & Planet - UK student campaigning organisation does

People & Planet is a UK charitable company (registered as People & Planet Student Activities Limited, Charity Commission 1140864, OSCR SC043394), founded in 1969 and headquartered in Wantage, Oxfordshire. It operates as a student network coordinating campaigns on social, climate and environmental justice across most UK universities, providing resources, events, training and communications support to local student campaign groups. The organisation runs four core programmes: the Fossil Free campaign (launched 2013), the Divest Borders campaign (launched 2021), the Fossil Free Careers campaign, and the People & Planet University League — a sustainability ranking that the organisation describes as the only UK higher education assessment based on ethics and climate justice criteria.

The underlying technology stack is modest and operationally focused: a website CMS, a Grassroots petition platform integrated with a CRM, and proprietary research methodology tooling for the University League and Fossil Free Scorecards. The University League methodology scores UK universities across 14 sustainability topics (carbon reduction, ethical investment, workers rights, sustainable food, education for sustainable development, etc.) using HESA Estates Management Records and publicly available documents, with scoring bands calibrated across categories. The Fossil Free Scorecards track investment, research and renewable energy links for each UK institution. The methodology is enriched by third-party accreditations from partners including the Living Wage Foundation, Electronics Watch, Soil Association, Sustainable Restaurant Association, and Fairtrade Foundation.

People & Planet's revenue model is a hybrid of charitable donations and a small consultancy/data-services layer. Core campaign activities are free to student participants and funded by donations. Universities that want to benchmark or improve their scores can purchase paid services: advance notice artwork (£400), category/section badges (£120), internal policy review sections (£250 each), full sector data packages (£950 annually), individual university data packages (£450 annually), and introductory webinars (£120). The University League is published annually through media partnerships with The Guardian (since 2021) and BBC, with data also used in the Sunday Times Good University Guide. Customer segments are horizontal: student campaign groups (primary), university sustainability/estates departments, and university sustainability staff.

Name

People & Planet - UK student campaigning organisation

Legal name

People & Planet Student Activities Limited

Website

https://peopleandplanet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

People & Planet is a UK student campaigning charity, founded in 1969, that coordinates social, climate and environmental justice campaigns across most UK universities. It runs the Fossil Free, Divest Borders and Fossil Free Careers campaigns, and publishes the University League sustainability ranking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Advocacy and Sustainability Ranking

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB)

Keywords

• Student climate campaigning
• University sustainability ranking
• Fossil fuel divestment advocacy
• Campus social justice organising
• Sustainability assessment methodology

Headquarters

HQ city

Wantage (Oxfordshire)

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Income: As a registered charity (Charity Commission 1140864, OSCR SC043394), People & Planet receives donations from supporters and members. The organization accepts charitable contributions to fund campaign activities and operations.
2. University League Consultancy Services: Paid consultancy services to UK universities including internal policy reviews, data packages, badge/artwork purchases, and introductory webinars related to sustainability assessment and university league rankings.
3. Data and Badge Packages: Sale of University League badges, artwork, and full/individual data packages to universities seeking to understand and improve their sustainability performance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

People & Planet is a student-led charity that runs coordinated social, climate, and environmental justice campaigns across most UK universities, supporting local student campaign groups with resources, events, training, and communications. Its flagship research product is the People & Planet University League, an annual ranking of UK universities across 14 sustainability and ethics topics, and it also sells paid consultancy, data packages, and badges to universities seeking to benchmark and improve their sustainability performance.

Product overview

People & Planet operates as a student campaigning network with a portfolio of interconnected advocacy campaigns and research tools. The core products include the People & Planet University League (a sustainability ranking system for UK universities), three major campaigns (Fossil Free, Divest Borders, and Fossil Free Careers), and supplementary services (training programmes, badges, and consultancy). The organization functions as a charity rather than a commercial SaaS product, offering its tools and campaigns free to students. The University League is its primary research product, while the campaigns are coordinated advocacy initiatives supported by the organization's infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• People & Planet University League Annual ranking and rating system for UK universities assessing environmental and ethical performance across 14 sustainability topics including carbon reduction, ethical investment, workers' rights, sustainable food, and education for sustainable development. Produced for university sustainability teams, students, and the public.
• Fossil Free Campaign Student-led campaign demanding UK universities exclude fossil fuel companies from their investment portfolios. Free for UK university student campaign groups to join and run locally.
• Divest Borders Campaign Campaign calling on UK universities to divest from the border industry (companies involved in border security, detention, surveillance, and deportation). Free for UK university student campaign groups to participate.
• Fossil Free Careers Campaign Campaign fighting to end oil, gas, and mining industry recruitment at every UK university, targeting both fossil fuel and transition mineral mining companies. Free for UK university student campaign groups to participate.
• Campaign Training Programme Training programme providing students with skills and resources to run effective environmental and social justice campaigns on their campuses. Free to UK university student campaigners.
• Badges and Consultancy Services Paid services for UK universities including advance notice artwork packages, category/section badges, full and individual data packages, internal policy reviews, and introductory webinars related to the University League sustainability assessment. Sold to university sustainability teams and estates departments.
• Fossil Free Scorecards Online tool allowing users to research their university's links to the fossil fuel industry, including investments, research partnerships, and renewable energy commitments. Free for students and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 117 UK universities and 2 Irish universities committed to fossil fuel divestment covering £17.7bn in endowments
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Union of Students (NUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Fossil Free Declaration partnership with NUS. Universities can sign the declaration affirming their fossil free status and commitment to remaining so.
• Living Wage FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for assessing universities as Living Wage employers in the Workers Rights section of the University League methodology.
• Electronics WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent monitoring organisation for labour rights in global electronics industry. Universities affiliated directly or through purchasing consortia (APUC, LUPC, NWUPC, NEUPC, SUPC) are assessed for ethical ITC supply chain practices.
• SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint delivery of Fairtrade University and College Award with Fairtrade Foundation. Also provides Responsible Futures framework accepted for ESD scoring.
• Fairtrade FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint delivery of Fairtrade University and College Award with SOS-UK.
• Universities and Colleges Union (UCU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsultation on Workers Rights methodology, particularly around casualisation and fixed-term contracts. UCU advocates for decasualisation of university workforce.
• Can't Buy My SilenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign partner calling on universities to end use of NDAs for complaints about sexual harassment and bullying. Universities can sign the pledge.
• 1752 GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign partner on NDA reform and student/staff protection from misconduct.
• We BelongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert advice on Education for Sustainable Development criteria related to migration and access to higher education.
• STAR (Student Action for Refugees)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert advice on education access criteria for asylum seekers and refugees.
• London Mining NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Just Transition Working Group for developing Fossil Free Careers campaign targets, including Transition Mineral Mining 50 list.
• HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency)coreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary data source for University League methodology. Uses Estates Management Record (EMR) data for Energy Sources, Carbon Reduction, Waste and Recycling, Water Reduction sections.
• EAUC (Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector body for sustainability in higher education. Partner on environmental management standards and EMR data collection.
• Soil Association (Food for Life Served Here)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation partner for sustainable food criteria. Universities can score points for achieving Food for Life Served Here awards at various levels.
• Sustainable Restaurant AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation partner for sustainable food criteria through Food Made Good Standard ratings.
• Higher Education Purchasing Consortia (APUC, LUPC, NWUPC, NEUPC, SUPC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity purchasing consortia for ITC supply chains. Some are affiliated with Electronics Watch for ethical procurement monitoring.
• Flying Less Group (University of Oxford)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research and guidance on reducing scope 3 emissions from aviation for the Managing Carbon methodology.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 350.org: Global grassroots climate movement behind much of the fossil fuel divestment mobilisation that People & Planet's Fossil Free campaign connects to. Highly comparable on divestment strategy and student-led organising, but at global rather than UK-only scale.
• WWF UK: Established UK conservation NGO with major donation income, climate advocacy, and university engagement. Comparable funding model and advocacy posture, but with broader conservation remit and much larger scale.
• Friends of the Earth: Long-standing UK environmental advocacy NGO with grassroots campaign networks, policy advocacy, and significant donation funding. Comparable in advocacy model and donor base but broader in scope (climate, nature, food) than People & Planet's higher-education focus.
• Greenpeace UK: Major UK environmental campaigning organisation running coordinated campaigns on fossil fuels, climate, and corporate accountability. Operates with similar donation-led funding and campaign-driven advocacy, but at much larger scale and broader issue remit.

Direct peers

• EAUC (Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges): UK sector body for sustainability in further and higher education, partnered with People & Planet on EMR data and environmental management standards. Direct peer in audience (UK universities) and adjacent in benchmarking and convening role.
• National Union of Students (NUS): UK confederation of students' unions; co-developed the Fossil Free Declaration with People & Planet. Operates in the same student-activist constituency and shares overlapping climate/divestment advocacy on UK campuses.
• SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability UK): A UK charity that mobilises students and universities on sustainability, including the Responsible Futures framework and Fairtrade University Award (the latter jointly delivered with People & Planet). Direct peer in mission, audience, and delivery model.
• London Mining Network: UK alliance of NGOs and community groups challenging extractive industry operations and transition mineral mining. Active campaign partner with People & Planet on the Just Transition Working Group and Fossil Free Careers targets.
• UK Student Climate Network: UK student-led network organising school strikes and climate action targeting local councils, universities, and government. Direct peer in constituency (UK students) and climate campaigning mode, though focused on street mobilisation rather than institutional divestment.

Others

• ClientEarth: Environmental law charity using litigation and legal advocacy on climate and environmental issues. Related in mission (environmental accountability) and adjacent as a UK-headquartered NGO ecosystem peer, but operates via legal mechanisms rather than student organising.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/peopleandplanet
• Facebookfacebook.com/peopleandplanet
• Instagraminstagram.com/peopleandplanetnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/people-and-planet-student-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 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 People & Planet - UK student campaigning organisation