CASE STUDY
Empowering Local SMEs Through the Chichester District Council Sustainability Accelerator
Empowering SMEs to take measurable action on sustainability
In July 2024, Chichester District Council partnered with ESG-tech provider and consultancy FuturePlus to launch two consecutive UK-Government funded flagship Sustainability Accelerator programmes, designed to help small and medium-sized businesses across the Chichester district embed sustainability into their operations, better prepare for the impacts of climate change, and gain commercial advantage through demonstrable, independently verified progress on ESG.
Over 24 months, the programmes provided structured guidance, digital tools and expert support to enable local businesses to assess their sustainability performance, build practical action plans and achieve recognised accreditation.
The results demonstrate how targeted support can unlock meaningful ESG progress across a diverse SME community.
“Working as part of the Chichester Accelerator Programme with FuturePlus has been a genuinely transformative experience for our organisation.” – Ella Lyon, Compliance Officer, Target Professional Services
“The value and contribution FuturePlus has made have been nothing short of exceptional, and the feedback we have had reflects the difference the programme has made. Your organisation’s contribution has gone above and beyond what I was hoping for – thank you.”
THE CHALLENGE
Research indicates that while many small business owners are eager to reduce their environmental impact, they are also severely constrained by cash flow, lack of resources, and difficulty identifying the right solutions. At the same time, commercial pressure to demonstrate sustainability initiatives, initiate climate adaptation planning, and safeguard organisational resilience is growing.
Recognising this gap, Chichester District Council secured UK Government grant funding to implement a structured programme, delivered in partnership with FuturePlus, providing accessible, practical, and measurable sustainability support for local businesses. The goal was to equip businesses with the tools, knowledge, and expertise to align with UK carbon reduction targets, develop ESG statements, and work towards recognised sustainability accreditations.
“I am very grateful for the high level of support, advice and guidance that FuturePlus provides. We are feeling very confident, supported and energised by our FuturePlus certification and looking forward to our unique sustainability journey.” – Annalize Meyer, Founder, Meyer Clinic
THE SOLUTION
The FuturePlus Approach
Between July 2024 and July 2026, FuturePlus delivered two consecutive 12-month Sustainability Accelerator programmes, guiding SMEs through a structured sustainability journey.
Each participating organisation received:
- 12 months’ access to the FutureImpact platform to assess, track and improve sustainability performance
- A personalised three-year sustainability roadmap
- Dedicated one-to-one ESG advisory support
- Webinars, workshops and learning resources
- Tools, templates and guidance to implement practical ESG improvements
- The opportunity to achieve IMPACT CERTIFIED accreditation
- Discounted subscription access beyond the first year
The programme combined technology, expert guidance and peer learning to ensure businesses could translate ambition into measurable action.
THE RESULTS
Impact & Outcomes
2024/25: Establishing the model
The first year of the Sustainability Accelerator demonstrated what structured support can unlock across a diverse SME community.
- Of the 41 participating businesses, 24 achieved IMPACT CERTIFIED accreditation, while collectively setting 469 sustainability ambitions and achieving 149 across 81 unique objectives.
- Cohort scoring outperformed comparable micro businesses using the FuturePlus platform, with average Actual and Ambition scores of 249 and 308 respectively out of 500, reflecting the tangible difference that expert guidance and a structured framework can make.
- Analysis of the ambitions achieved revealed a particularly strong focus on supply chain responsibility and social impact, suggesting that businesses were prioritising practices with direct commercial and stakeholder relevance alongside their internal sustainability development.
2025/26: Building momentum
Delivered to a second cohort of 19 businesses, the 2025/26 programme has continued to demonstrate the Accelerator’s value, and its reach.
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- Nine businesses achieved IMPACT CERTIFIED accreditation within the programme period, with further certifications anticipated as later joiners complete their assessments.
- Participants collectively set 188 sustainability ambitions, with environmental goals comprising the largest share, signalling growing appetite for measurable climate action.
- Eight businesses from the 2024/25 cohort chose to continue their FuturePlus membership independently, achieving substantial score increases and embedding sustainability more deeply into their operations. The programme’s long-term impact extends well beyond the cohort itself.
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A Model for SME Sustainability Support
Across two years and 60 businesses, the Chichester District Council Sustainability Accelerator has shown what becomes possible when the right support is put in front of the right organisations.
The numbers tell part of the story: 33 IMPACT CERTIFIED accreditations, 657 sustainability ambitions set, cohort scores outperforming comparable businesses on the FuturePlus platform. But the more significant indicator may be the businesses that chose to continue their sustainability journey independently once the programme ended. Retention is, ultimately, the most honest measure of value.
What the Accelerator has demonstrated above all is that smaller businesses are neither unwilling nor unable to act on sustainability. Given a structured framework, expert guidance, and a community of like-minded peers, they do. The challenge has never been one of motivation, but one of access. Programmes like this close that gap.
As climate change-related risks exacerbate, supply chains demand greater ESG transparency, and consumers increasingly factor sustainability into their decision-making, the commercial case for SME sustainability support has never been stronger. The Chichester Sustainability Accelerator offers a proven, replicable model for local authorities and sustainability specialists to deliver it together, and a compelling demonstration of what public-private partnership, done well, can achieve.
“It’s been fantastic to be able to offer this service to our clients, who have been very impressed by what they’ve gained from the Accelerator.” – Julie Stevenson, Economic Development Officer, Chichester District Council
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