SBTi consultancy UK · a clearer way to choose
SBTi consultancy and SBTi consultants,
from data to action.
Science Based Targets initiative consultancy turns your emissions data into targets, evidence and a plan your team can own: SBTi consultants prepare it, SBTi Services validates it.
Explore the work. Compare the scope. Build your brief.
Independent guide · primary sources · checked 9 October 2026
Five connected work packages · select one
- BaselineA traceable inventory
- Scope 3Your value chain
- TargetsRoute + method
- SubmissionEvidence + feedback
- DeliveryOwners + tracking
Consultants
PrepareInventory, targets and evidence
SBTi Services
ValidateAssessment against the criteria
Your organisation
DeliverDecisions, reductions and reporting
01 / What SBTi consultants do
SBTi consultancy.
Five connected stages.
Commission one work package or the whole programme.
Already have a baseline?
Start with the science-based targets guide.
- Screen
- Calculate
- Prepare
- Implement
- 01Find the gap
- 02Agree the outputs
- 03Name the owners
SBTi consultancy / 01
The baseline comes first.
Make it traceable.
A target calculation is only useful if the emissions inventory can be followed.
Ask for the boundary, evidence and assumptions in editable files, with the method behind each decision.
Module 01 / 04
Boundary
EvidenceA recorded organisational boundary.
Module 02 / 04
Base year
EvidenceBase-year evidence and data-quality notes.
Module 03 / 04
Source data
EvidenceSource records and a calculation trail.
Module 04 / 04
Changes
EvidenceA documented recalculation approach.
Output 01
BoundaryA recorded organisational boundary.Output 02
Base yearBase-year evidence and data-quality notes.Output 03
Source dataSource records and a calculation trail.SBTi consultancy / 02
Your value chain.
Find the data gaps.
Scope 3 work needs more than a single spend-based total.
A useful consultancy proposal explains the screening, methods and plan to improve the evidence.
Module 01 / 04
Screen categories
EvidenceA category assessment.
Module 02 / 04
Choose methods
EvidenceMethods and data sources by category.
Module 03 / 04
Improve evidence
EvidenceA prioritised data-improvement plan.
Module 04 / 04
Document gaps
EvidenceA transparent methods and limitations note.
Output 01
Screen categoriesA category assessment.Output 02
Choose methodsMethods and data sources by category.Output 03
Improve evidenceA prioritised data-improvement plan.SBTi consultancy / 03
Name the target route.
Show the reasoning.
Corporate, SME, financial-institution and sector-specific routes are different.
Ask the adviser to identify the standard version and applicable criteria before promising a submission.
Module 01 / 04
Organisation
EvidenceAn eligibility assessment against official guidance.
Module 02 / 04
Sector
EvidenceRelevant sector guidance and a recorded conclusion.
Module 03 / 04
Version
EvidenceA version and timing decision.
Module 04 / 04
Method
EvidenceEditable calculations with criteria references.
Output 01
OrganisationAn eligibility assessment against official guidance.Output 02
SectorRelevant sector guidance and a recorded conclusion.Output 03
VersionA version and timing decision.SBTi consultancy / 04
A submission is a conversation.
Agree the feedback work.
The consultant prepares; SBTi Services validates.
A promise of acceptance is not a substitute for a feedback process.
Define who answers questions and what further work is included in the appointment.
Module 01 / 04
Prepare
EvidenceA submission checklist and evidence pack.
Module 02 / 04
Review
EvidenceA named reviewer and review record.
Module 03 / 04
Respond
EvidenceA feedback-response owner.
Module 04 / 04
Handover
EvidenceAn accessible final record.
Output 01
PrepareA submission checklist and evidence pack.Output 02
ReviewA named reviewer and review record.Output 03
RespondA feedback-response owner.SBTi consultancy / 05
Targets need owners.
Turn the plan into work.
Validation and delivery are separate.
A company still needs to act on its targets and track progress.
Ask for the practical handover: owners, measures, editable data and the reporting process.
Module 01 / 04
Actions
EvidenceA scoped action plan.
Module 02 / 04
Owners
EvidenceResponsibilities agreed with management.
Module 03 / 04
Progress
EvidenceMetric definitions and reporting records.
Module 04 / 04
Review
EvidenceA recurring review process.
Output 01
ActionsA scoped action plan.Output 02
OwnersResponsibilities agreed with management.Output 03
ProgressMetric definitions and reporting records.SBTi consultancy / 06
Choose the team.
Test the actual proposal.
Review the named people and their work, not an unsupported ranking of firms.
UK SRS has assessed no consultancy. These are buying questions to use in your own appointment process.
Module 01 / 04
Relevant experience
EvidenceA relevant, checkable example.
Module 02 / 04
Delivery team
EvidenceNamed roles and responsibilities.
Module 03 / 04
Deliverables
EvidenceA written deliverables schedule.
Module 04 / 04
Commercial scope
EvidenceAn itemised scope with exclusions.
Output 01
Relevant experienceA relevant, checkable example.Output 02
Delivery teamNamed roles and responsibilities.Output 03
DeliverablesA written deliverables schedule.The preparation process
The work in order.
Keep the handovers clear.
A suggested preparation sequence, with an output for each stage.
The phases organise the work; they are not promised delivery times or a finding of compliance.
- Phase 0101
Route
Confirm the organisation, sector and standard version. - Phase 0202
Inventory
Build a traceable baseline and value-chain inventory. - Phase 0303
Targets
Develop wording and calculations against the applicable criteria. - Phase 0404
Evidence
Assemble and internally review the submission pack. - Phase 0505
Validation
Submit to SBTi Services and respond to feedback. - Phase 0606
Delivery
Hand over the action plan, files and progress process.
The dates and decisions
A visible timeline.
Read the status with the date.
Publication, consultation deadlines and application dates are different events.
Use the primary source and applicable route before planning the work.
- 11 June 202601
V2.0 published
The successor standard is published; publication and validation availability are different. - 1 February 202702
Corporate V2.0 validation opens
The general corporate window opens, subject to the route and sector availability caveats. - 31 January 202803
V1.3.1 submissions close
The final date for corporate V1.3.1 submissions under the transition guide. - 1 February 202804
V2.0 for new corporate submissions
Plan the applicable route; financial institutions and sector availability need separate checking.
02 / Match the expertise
Your organisation.
Your route.
Corporate, SME and financial-sector routes need different expertise.
Sector requirements can add another layer.
Ask the consultant to explain the fit.
Explore the route questions
SME route or corporate route · and the fee
All four gates are met and 4 of the four size and sector tests, so the SME route is likely to be open.
SBTi Services confirms it from your financial statements at registration, and you may still choose the corporate route.
SME Tier 2 (turnover of €5 million or more)
Near-term targets: £1,493
Net-zero targets (needs approved near-term): £1,493
Near-term and net-zero together: £2,612
Rules from the SBTi Services SME FAQs v6.2 (Q6) and Target Validation Service Offerings v6.1 (Tables 1 and 4, effective 5 January 2026). Pounds exclude 20% VAT and use the £1 = $1.34 rate SBTi Services states. Discounts are not modelled.
Nothing you enter is stored or sent.
- 01Define the boundary
- 02Check eligibility
- 03Confirm sector rules
Start with a reliable carbon footprint baseline.
03 / The handover
Buy usable work.
Keep the evidence.
A report is only part of the handover.
Swipe through the outputs and use each question when comparing proposals.
- 01 / InventoryReproduce the baselineBoundary, base-year data, calculations, assumptions and exclusions.
- 02 / Value chainUnderstand Scope 3Category screening, methods, coverage and an improvement plan.
- 03 / TargetsExplain every decisionTarget wording, method, coverage and criterion-by-criterion rationale.
- 04 / SubmissionKnow who answersSubmission pack, responsibilities and agreed feedback rounds.
- 05 / DeliveryRun it after handoverActions, owners, editable models and a reporting process.
- 01Inspect the files
- 02Test the calculations
- 03Agree the handover
Suggested buying checks, informed by GHG Protocol and the Near-Term Criteria.
04 / How to choose SBTi consultants
Choosing SBTi consultancy.
More written answers.
Check each commitment in the proposal; leave unanswered points unticked.
Verify client target status in the official dashboard, then ask the client to confirm the consultant’s role.
Ask for the named practitioner’s credentials and verify any certification claim against the SBTi Academy.
For credentials and terms, use the consultancy buying guide.
Written answers
0 of 8 covered in your proposal
A record of your written answers, not a firm rating or a validation assessment.
Source: SBTi standards and SBTi Services; commercial checks are suggested buying questions.
- 01Request evidence
- 02Check the scope
- 03Resolve the gaps
05 / Preparation and validation
Science Based Targets initiative consultancy prepares.
SBTi Services decides.
SBTi Services validates targets and does not provide consultation services.
Ask for a feedback process, rather than a guarantee of acceptance.
Check the claims
A consultant can prepare targets and evidence.
A commitment means our targets are validated.
Validation guarantees we will achieve our targets.
0 of 3 answered.
Nothing you choose is stored or sent.
- 01Prepare evidence
- 02Submit for assessment
- 03Deliver and report
Continue with a net zero delivery programme.
06 / Standard versions
The date matters.
Plan the transition.
V2.0 is published; its validation window opens in February 2027.
Confirm the standard version and your sector’s validation availability.
Read the V2.0 guide and the official transition guidance.
Corporate submission-date explorer
V2.0 validation has not opened for this date.
This checks the general corporate window, not your eligibility, commitment deadline or mandatory review date. Confirm those separately.
SBTi Services transition guide, Tables 1–3 ↗Sector-standard V2.0 services depend on updated sector standards; financial institutions are outside the February 2027 corporate launch: Sections 1–2 ↗.
- 11 June 2026V2.0 publishedPrepare for the new requirements.
- 1 February 2027V2.0 validation opensGeneral corporate transition window; confirm your sector route.
- 31 January 2028V1.3.1 submissions closeV2.0 is mandatory from 1 February 2028.
Corporate transition dates: SBTi Services transition guide, Table 1 ↗.
07 / V2.0 submission evidence
More than targets.
A usable evidence pack.
Ask who will prepare, approve and maintain each document.
The October 2026 validation procedures set out evidence for initial V2.0 validation by company category.
- 01 / Accountability · C1Name the decision makersGovernance, review mechanisms and progress-reporting policies support the target submission.
- 02 / Transition plan · C2Connect targets to the businessThe evidence includes a transition plan and how it is integrated into company strategy and policies.
- 03 / Boundary and data · C3–C5Keep the supporting recordsCorporate structure, GHG Protocol alignment, market instruments and low-carbon electricity data need a traceable evidence trail.
- 04 / Category and criteriaAgree what appliesAssurance and other supporting documents depend on company category and the criteria triggered.
- 01Map the requirements
- 02Assign the owners
- 03Check the documents
Source: Annex 1, Table 3 ↗; this is a buying outline, not the complete submission checklist.
08 / Fees and scope
Science Based Targets initiative consultancy fees.
Separate costs.
Ask for days by grade, deliverables, feedback rounds and exclusions.
Price recurring work separately so you can compare the first project with ongoing support.
Value-chain gaps?
Define them with the Scope 3 guide.
Explore the three cost buckets
The adviser’s work
Inventory, Scope 3, targets, submission support and handover. Ask for named outputs, days by grade and feedback rounds.
No generic consultancy price is assumed.
- 01Define the work
- 02Separate the fees
- 03Agree exclusions
09 / Your SBTi consultancy brief
A better brief.
A clearer shortlist.
Choose the support you need; get an editable draft to share with providers.
Your inputs stay in your browser.
This is a buying brief, not an eligibility assessment or a target calculation.
Nothing you enter is stored or sent.
Work outline: SBTi guidance; check target status in the official dashboard.
- 01Select the support
- 02Copy your brief
- 03Compare replies
Free · 15 minutes · video or phone
Make the scope clearer.
Use a free 15-minute call to discuss the work you need before approaching providers.
- 01Your starting point
- 02Your route and timing
- 03Your next questions
Frequently asked
SBTi consultants, your questions answered
What is SBTi consultancy?
SBTi consultancy is advisory support for developing science-based emissions targets: preparing the inventory, selecting the applicable route, calculating targets and supporting the submission.
SBTi Services carries out target validation.
What do SBTi consultants do?
SBTi consultants can prepare greenhouse gas inventories, improve Scope 3 data, develop near-term or net-zero targets and support submission and implementation.
Agree the deliverables and handover in writing before appointing one.
How do I choose SBTi consultants in the UK?
Ask for experience with your sector and target route, a documented inventory method, editable calculations, a named delivery team and a clear scope for validation feedback.
Check any claimed client target status in the official SBTi dashboard, and request permission to verify the consultant’s role with that client.
Can an SBTi consultant validate our targets?
Target validation is performed by SBTi Services.
A consultant can help prepare your targets and evidence, but its review does not give you validated-target status.
Do we have to hire an SBTi consultancy?
Hiring a consultant is optional.
You can prepare targets in-house using the applicable standards and submit them to SBTi Services; specialist support can be useful when your inventory, sector requirements or internal capacity need it.
How much does SBTi consultancy cost?
Request a quote for your actual scope rather than relying on a generic price.
Ask for days by grade, inventory and Scope 3 work, target development, feedback rounds and ongoing support, with SBTi Services validation fees shown separately.
Is an SBTi commitment the same as a validated target?
A commitment records an intention to develop and submit targets.
Validated-target status means targets have been assessed and accepted by SBTi Services; the official dashboard distinguishes the two.
Can SBTi consultants help with Scope 3?
Yes, if their scope includes screening, calculation methods, data improvement and target coverage for your value chain.
Ask how they will move from estimates to better activity or supplier data, and how they will document exclusions.
Which standard should an SBTi consultancy use?
The applicable standard depends on your organisation, sector, target type and submission date.
Ask the consultant to name the version and explain its route against the official standards and transition guidance, rather than referring only to the latest standard.
Can carbon offsets replace reductions in an SBTi target?
Corporate Near-Term Criteria C11 excludes carbon credits from counting as emissions reductions towards near-term targets.
Net-Zero Standard V1.3.1 distinguishes value-chain reductions from neutralising residual emissions at the net-zero target date.
Sources
Primary sources
Every figure, date and status on this page traces to the instrument’s owner.
Secondary commentary is never the source for a number.
- SBTi ServicesV2.0 Validation Procedures, October 2026
Section 2: route availability; Annex 1, Table 3: evidence for initial validation.
- Science Based Targets initiativeSBTi Academy: Certified Experts Hub
Practitioner certification: check the named person and the claim being made.
- Science Based Targets initiativeHow to set science-based targets
Consultants prepare targets; SBTi Services validates them.
- Science Based Targets initiativeStandards and guidance
Choose the applicable corporate and sector requirements.
- GHG ProtocolCorporate Accounting and Reporting Standard
Inventory boundaries, accounting principles and the evidence behind the baseline.
- GHG ProtocolCorporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard
Screen and account for value-chain emissions.
- Science Based Targets initiativeCorporate Near-Term Criteria V5.3.1
Coverage, target methods, credits and reporting, by criterion.
- Science Based Targets initiativeCorporate Net-Zero Standard Criteria V1.3.1
Long-term targets and treatment of residual emissions.
- Science Based Targets initiativeCorporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0
The published successor and preparation for validation from 2027.
- SBTi ServicesGuide for Companies in the Transition to CNZS V2.0
Check the submission date against the available standard versions.
- SBTi ServicesTarget Validation Service Offerings
Official validation services and fees, separate from an adviser’s quote.
- SBTi ServicesSmall and medium-sized enterprises
Eligibility and the dedicated SME route.
- Science Based Targets initiativeForest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG)
Assess whether land-related requirements apply.
- Science Based Targets initiativeFinancial institutions
Dedicated standards and guidance for financial-sector targets.
- Science Based Targets initiativeTarget Dashboard
Check commitment and validated-target status separately.
UK SRS is an independent reference site and has assessed no consultancy.
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