Strengthening green credentials and powering UK business decarbonisation

For decades, the UK’s most energy-intensive businesses have grappled with a dual challenge: reducing costs while meeting mounting pressure to cut carbon. At the same time, the energy industry has been tested by global volatility, rising prices and the urgent need to transition to cleaner, more sustainable supply.

 

Amid these challenges, one company has been steadily rewriting the rulebook. Sustainable Energy First has built a reputation for challenging convention, leading innovation and helping organisations of all sizes take decisive steps toward decarbonisation and meeting Net Zero challenges.

 

A mission rooted in impact

 

With over 50 years of experience in energy and utility management, Sustainable Energy First has grown to become the largest privately owned sustainability consultancy in the UK. Its core mission is simple yet ambitious: to decarbonise the UK business carbon footprint by 528,257 tonnes, enabling tomorrow’s world to be greener, cleaner and fairer for everyone.

 

This mission goes beyond simply advising organisations. It’s about creating tailored energy strategies that work in practice, whether through effective energy management or by facilitating access to renewable generation assets – supporting their development and helping to accelerate the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future. By offering a comprehensive approach that covers everything from contract negotiation to Net Zero strategy, Sustainable Energy First has cemented itself as a trusted partner for some of the country’s most prominent organisations.

 

Strength in scale and expertise

 

Recent years have seen the company expand at an extraordinary pace. Backed by Beech Tree Private Equity, Sustainable Energy First acquired Inenco, one of the UK’s longest-standing energy consultancies.

 

Founded in 1968, Inenco had supported thousands of industrial and commercial businesses in securing the best possible energy deals. This legacy of trust and expertise continues under the Sustainable Energy First banner, blending heritage with innovation. The acquisition has amplified growth and boosted the overall headcount by 160 per cent and injected decades of additional insight and market expertise into the business.

 

This scale matters. In a market with over 4,000 energy consultancies, standing out requires more than just competitive pricing. It demands experience, resilience and a proven ability to deliver for clients under all conditions.

 

Sustainable Energy First is uniquely positioned because providing accessible and authentic renewable energy is a core strategic focus. The business helps organisations connect with clean energy projects, from solar to wind farms, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and accelerating their journey towards decarbonisation. To date, the company has secured consumption for clients against many renewable generation assets across the UK, generating significant volumes of clean energy annually. This sustainable energy consortium now serves over 70 prominent UK businesses. This combination of scale, expertise and proven delivery ensures Sustainable Energy First is a trusted partner for the UK’s largest energy users.

 

A new cultural milestone: moving together

 

Growth is not only measured in numbers, but also in people and culture. That’s why Sustainable Energy First is preparing to move into a new office – a space designed to reflect the company’s values of collaboration, innovation and shared purpose.

 

This is more than a change of address. It marks a symbolic moment where the teams of Sustainable Energy First and Inenco come together under one roof, blending their expertise, heritage and perspectives into a unified culture under one mighty business.

 

The new office will serve as a hub for collaboration, giving employees the environment to share knowledge, spark ideas and work side by side to deliver for clients. It demonstrates that the acquisition was not only about scale, but also about creating a stronger, more connected business community where talent from both organisations can thrive.

 

For employees, this milestone represents a future built on inclusivity and innovation. For clients, it signals a company that values the power of people as much as the strength of its strategies; ensuring that the solutions delivered are backed by collective expertise.

 

“At Sustainable Energy First, our mission has always been about creating real impact – not just for our clients, but for the planet,” says Anthony Mayall, Chief Commercial Officer of Sustainable Energy First. “We believe that energy management isn’t simply about cost or compliance; it’s about empowering organisations to take control of their carbon footprint, build resilience, and make a genuine difference in the journey toward Net Zero.

 

“Bringing Sustainable Energy First and Inenco together marks a powerful new chapter in that mission. By combining decades of heritage, expertise and trusted relationships with a bold, forward-thinking culture of innovation, we’ve created something truly unique – a business built on collaboration, inclusivity, and shared purpose.”

 

Challenging convention in a complex market

 

From its inception, Sustainable Energy First has embraced the idea of challenging conventions. Energy-intensive businesses often face a tension between growth and sustainability – balancing short-term cost management against long-term environmental goals. Rather than seeing these as opposing forces, the consultancy helps clients turn energy management into an opportunity for resilience and innovation.

 

This approach covers three critical areas:

• Procurement: securing competitive clean-energy supply contracts while building resilience against periods of volatility on the wholesale market
• Decarbonisation strategies: guiding businesses through their Net Zero journeys, including renewable energy adoption, carbon reduction roadmaps and clean technology integration
• Risk management trading: protecting organisations from price fluctuations with forward-looking strategies tailored to each client’s unique needs – through the energy crisis, SEFirst saved its customers £750,000 million helping them maintain economic sustainability

The result is a model that doesn’t just react to the market but anticipates its shifts; ensuring businesses are better prepared to face both challenges and opportunities.

 

Proud to be B Corp certified

 

Sustainable Energy First’s commitment to impact is also reflected in its B Corp certification, a mark of social and environmental responsibility shared by fewer than 2,600 UK businesses. This recognition underscores the consultancy’s belief that commercial success and sustainability go hand in hand.

 

For clients, this means more than just reassurance. It’s also a promise that the advice and solutions they receive are underpinned by a genuine commitment to building a better world.

 

Driving the renewable transition

 

As the UK accelerates its transition to a low-carbon economy, the role of renewable energy has never been more critical. Facilitating access to clean, secure and cost-effective renewable generation is one of Sustainable Energy First’s key strategic priorities. The company has already supported clients in securing consumption from many renewable generation assets across the UK – ranging from solar parks to wind farms – that collectively generate around 452GWh of clean energy annually. This approach helps businesses lock in long-term energy security, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and achieve measurable carbon reductions.

 

By helping clients invest in or connect to renewable generation assets, the consultancy supports both long-term price protection and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. For businesses navigating tight margins, this dual benefit, stability and sustainability creates a powerful incentive to embrace change.

 

Opportunities for businesses today

 

For many organisations, energy remains one of the largest and most complex operating costs. Yet it also presents one of the greatest opportunities. Partnering with Sustainable Energy First allows businesses to transform this challenge into a competitive advantage, by cutting waste, managing risks and demonstrating clear progress toward Net Zero.

 

Whether you are a high-energy user seeking greater price protection, a corporation looking to strengthen ESG credentials or a business aiming to futureproof against regulatory change, Sustainable Energy First provides the tools, expertise and vision to support your journey. The business has a strong sector-based approach and its partnerships include UK hospitality, CPC for Public Sector Procurement and the Food & Drink Federation.

 

Looking ahead

 

With decades of insight, a growing team of experts and a clear mission to drive decarbonisation, Sustainable Energy First is set to remain at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition.

 

By combining the innovative, forward-thinking culture of Sustainable Energy First with Inenco’s legacy of trusted supplier relationships and customer-first values, and by uniting both businesses into a shared, collaborative new office space, the company is building not just scale but a culture of togetherness.

 

This milestone reflects what makes Sustainable Energy First unique: an organisation that knows its greatest strength lies in its people, working together to challenge convention and make tomorrow’s world better for everyone.

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