“Working with FuturePlus to shape and develop a programme to support SMEs based in our district on their sustainability journey has been a genuine pleasure. I have been particularly impressed with the specialist knowledge and responsiveness of the wider team delivering our Sustainability Accelerator programme.” - Derek Irvine, Growth & Sustainability Officer, Chichester District Council

The Challenge: Supporting the Backbone of Britain’s Economy

SMEs account for 99.8% of the UK’s private sector, making them the backbone of Britain’s economy. Yet many lack the resources, expertise, and frameworks to embed sustainability into their day-to-day operations.

Recognising this gap, Chichester District Council partnered with FuturePlus to launch a flagship programme that would make sustainability both achievable and commercially valuable for local businesses. By combining technology, expertise, and hands-on support, FuturePlus created a replicable model that empowers SMEs to become leaders in both the net-zero transition and wider sustainability initiatives.

The Chichester Sustainability Accelerator

In July 2024, FuturePlus launched the Chichester District Council Sustainability Accelerator, which has become a flagship initiative supporting SMEs in Chichester to embed sustainability practices into their operations. Unlike one-off training or generic advice, the Accelerator offered a complete transformation package:

• Access to the FuturePlus platform for sustainability tracking
• A tailored 3-year Sustainability Roadmap with measurable progress scores
• Access to online learning, workshops, templates, and toolkits
• One-to-one guidance from specialist sustainability advisors
• The opportunity to gain FuturePlus IMPACT CERTIFIED accreditation
• Connection to a community of like-minded local businesses

The Results?

41 local businesses were supported through the programme between July 2024 - June 2025, with 24 achieving IMPACT CERTIFIED accreditation within the first year.

149 sustainability ambitions were achieved across 81 sustainability objectives, with strong engagement seen across key themes: climate action, diversity & inclusion, social responsibility, economic governance, and environmental management.

Success In Action: Real Business Stories

Target Professional Services improved their FuturePlus score by 44 points in eight months, achieved 28 sustainability ambitions, and integrated new governance and supplier practices.

“Working as part of the Chichester Accelerator Programme with FuturePlus has been a genuinely transformative experience for our organisation. We’ve made significant progress toward our ESG ambitions, and the support we’ve received has been exceptional.” - Ella Lyon, Compliance Officer, Target Professional Services

Growing Revolution, a nature-based solutions company, achieved 340/500 Actual and 396/500 Ambition scores, positively impacting 15 out of 17 UN SDGs.

“Small teams can create big change when every action is intentional. This certification process has given us the framework to turn our environmental passion into measurable, accountable progress.”- Richard Sabin, MD, Growing Revolution

Partner Perspective: Why the Council Values This Approach

“Working with FuturePlus to shape and develop a programme to support SMEs based in our district on their sustainability journey has been a genuine pleasure. I have been particularly impressed with the specialist knowledge and responsiveness of the wider team delivering our Sustainability Accelerator programme. Businesses that participated in the Sustainability Accelerator and benefited from the excellent support and expertise on offer are more than happy to provide testimonials, which is a testament to the value and positive impact FuturePlus has delivered.” - Derek Irvine, Growth & Sustainability Officer, Chichester District Council

“It’s been great to work with FuturePlus. 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. We’ve had lots of feedback about how flexible it is, how the coaches explain complex issues in layman’s terms, and how it has kick-started a more proactive approach to sustainability. The speed of the contact and enrolment process, plus rapid enquiry response times and the mixed media of delivery, demonstrates that FuturePlus don’t just care about sustainability, they’re also very committed to providing a great service and customer experience.” - Julie Stevenson, Economic Development Officer, Chichester District Council

Looking Forward

The Chichester Sustainability Accelerator is proof that sustainability pays off for businesses, for communities, and for the economy. Its success has created a scalable model ready to be replicated nationwide.

The next cohort has already launched in summer 2025, set to help even more businesses turn sustainability into a driver of growth, resilience, and competitive edge.

The Chichester District Council Sustainability Accelerator continues to accept applications from eligible local SMEs. For more information, click here.