Specialist sustainability recruitment
Sustainability & ESG Recruitment Agency
UK sustainability and ESG recruitment agency specialising in regulated reporting roles. We understand UK SRS, SECR and ESOS requirements and assess candidates accordingly.
What we recruit for
We specialise in sustainability roles where regulatory compliance expertise is essential.
Each role requires deep understanding of UK reporting standards.
Head of Sustainability
Strategic leadership roles owning UK SRS implementation, board reporting and sustainability governance across listed companies and large private entities.
Chief Sustainability Officer
C-suite sustainability leadership combining regulatory compliance, ESG strategy and stakeholder engagement for complex organisations.
ESG Reporting Manager
Technical reporting specialists managing UK SRS data collection, validation and disclosure preparation with deep regulatory knowledge.
SECR & ESOS Roles
Energy and carbon reporting specialists covering SECR methodology, ESOS Phase 4 compliance and lead assessor qualified positions.
Sustainability Manager
Operational sustainability leadership managing programme delivery, stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance across sectors.
Net Zero Consultant
Specialist consulting roles developing transition plans, conducting scenario analysis and supporting net zero strategy implementation.
Why specialist (vs. generalist)
Sustainability roles have become highly regulated and technical.
Generalist recruiters lack the regulatory knowledge to properly assess candidate competency in UK SRS, SECR or ESOS requirements.
Regulatory expertise — our moat
We understand the technical demands of UK sustainability reporting standards and assess candidates accordingly.
This regulatory depth is our competitive advantage.
| Topic | Our Coverage | What it Means for Hiring |
|---|---|---|
| UK SRS S1 | Complete general requirements expertise | Candidates understand governance, strategy, risk management and metrics disclosure requirements |
| UK SRS S2 | Climate-specific standard knowledge | Specialist skills in Scope 3 reporting, transition plans, scenario analysis and TCFD alignment |
| SECR | Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting | Energy management, carbon accounting methodology and mandatory disclosure compliance |
| ESOS | Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme | Lead assessor qualification requirements, Phase 4 compliance and energy audit expertise |
How we work
Our recruitment process is designed around technical assessment and regulatory competency validation.
Each stage builds towards confident hiring decisions.
Briefing
Detailed role scoping including regulatory requirements, technical competencies and market positioning. We map compliance demands to candidate profiles.
Search
Targeted market mapping and direct approach focusing on candidates with relevant regulatory experience. Technical pre-screening ensures quality.
Assessment
Comprehensive competency testing including regulatory knowledge validation, technical skills assessment and scenario-based problem solving.
Shortlist
Curated candidate presentation with detailed competency profiles, technical assessment outcomes and reference validation.
Placement
Offer negotiation support, acceptance facilitation and onboarding transition planning to ensure successful integration.
Sectors we serve
Different sectors have different regulatory loads and sustainability priorities.
We understand these nuances and position candidates accordingly.
| Sector | Regulatory Load | Typical Roles | Market Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listed company corporate | UK SRS mandatory, SECR, premium listing requirements | Head of/CSO, ESG Reporting Manager | Highest compliance demands, board-level expertise required |
| Private equity portfolio | Portfolio company SECR, exit preparation | Sustainability Manager, Net Zero Lead | Due diligence focus, value creation through ESG |
| Asset management | SFDR, UK SRS entity requirements | ESG Analyst, Sustainability Specialist | Investment process integration, client reporting |
| Utilities & energy | ESOS, SECR, sector-specific frameworks | Energy Manager, Carbon Accountant | Technical depth required, operational focus |
| Built environment | MEES, Part L compliance, embodied carbon | Sustainability Consultant, ESG Manager | Property-specific expertise, tenant engagement |
| Advisory & consultancy | Client delivery, methodology expertise | Senior Consultant, Principal | Multi-client experience, technical authority |
Hiring trends snapshot
The UK sustainability recruitment market is characterised by skills shortages, regulatory-driven demand and salary inflation across technical competencies.
UK employers face sustainability skills shortages
According to Hays Salary Guide 2026, 93% of UK employers report difficulty finding qualified sustainability professionals, with regulatory expertise the most sought-after competency.
UK sustainability director average salary (2026)
OneStop ESG Sustainability Salary Survey 2026 reports UK Director/Board-level sustainability roles average £123,816, representing 2.1% year-on-year growth.
of sustainability professionals not actively searching
Hays research indicates 60% of the sustainability talent market consists of professionals who are not currently job searching, requiring proactive headhunting approaches.
Salary band quick view
UK sustainability role salaries based on OneStop ESG, Hays and Shirley Parsons 2026 data.
All figures include London premiums where applicable.
| Role | Junior/Mid | Senior | Director/Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head of Sustainability | — | £100k-£130k | £130k-£165k |
| Chief Sustainability Officer | — | — | £130k-£280k+ |
| ESG Reporting Manager | £48k-£62k | £60k-£75k | £75k-£95k |
| SECR/ESOS Lead | £35k-£45k | £50k-£65k | £65k-£85k |
| Sustainability Analyst | £28k-£38k | £35k-£50k | — |
| Net Zero Consultant | £45k-£60k | £60k-£80k | £80k-£120k |
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about our recruitment process, fees, timelines and sector coverage.
Do you work on retained or contingent basis?
We offer both retained search and contingent recruitment depending on role seniority and complexity. <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/head-of-sustainability">Head of Sustainability</InternalLink> and <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/chief-sustainability-officer">CSO roles</InternalLink> are typically retained search with comprehensive assessment.
Mid-level positions like <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/esg-reporting-manager">ESG Reporting Manager</InternalLink> can be contingent with technical screening.
Our <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/how-it-works">process page</InternalLink> explains the difference.
What regulatory standards do you brief candidates on?
We provide comprehensive briefings on <InternalLink href="/uk-srs-s1">UK SRS S1</InternalLink> general requirements, <InternalLink href="/uk-srs-s2">UK SRS S2</InternalLink> climate-specific standards, <InternalLink href="/secr">SECR methodology</InternalLink>, and <InternalLink href="/esos">ESOS Phase 4 compliance</InternalLink>.
Our regulatory expertise ensures candidates understand the technical demands before interview.
What's your candidate assessment process?
Assessment varies by role complexity but typically includes regulatory knowledge testing, technical competency validation, and scenario-based problem solving.
For <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/secr-esos-reporting-roles">SECR & ESOS roles</InternalLink> we test methodology understanding.
For strategic roles we assess governance and stakeholder management capabilities.
Which sectors do you recruit for?
We cover listed companies (mandatory UK SRS compliance), private equity portfolios (SECR and exit preparation), asset management (SFDR integration), utilities & energy (ESOS expertise), built environment (MEES compliance), and advisory firms.
Each sector has distinct regulatory requirements we understand deeply.
What's the typical recruitment timeline?
End-to-end process is typically 6-8 weeks for retained search, 4-6 weeks for contingent placement.
This includes briefing (1-2 days), market mapping and search (2-3 weeks), assessment (1 week), shortlisting and interviews (1-2 weeks), and offer negotiation (2-4 weeks). <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/how-it-works">Our process page</InternalLink> breaks this down in detail.
How do you structure fees?
Retained search: 33% of annual salary, payable in stages (briefing, shortlist, placement).
Contingent recruitment: 15-25% success fee on placement.
Contract/interim: daily rate plus margin.
Assessment-only services: fixed project fee.
All fees are transparent and agreed upfront.
Do you handle interim and contract roles?
Yes, we place interim sustainability leads for project delivery, regulatory compliance gaps, and maternity/sabbatical cover.
Contract specialists include <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/net-zero-consultant">Net Zero Consultants</InternalLink> for transition plan development and <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/carbon-manager">Carbon Managers</InternalLink> for Scope 3 implementation.
What makes you different from generalist recruiters?
Deep regulatory expertise distinguishing between UK SRS, SECR, ESOS requirements.
Technical assessment capability for carbon accounting, scenario analysis, and assurance readiness.
Market intelligence on <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/salary-guide">sustainability salary trends</InternalLink> and regulatory-driven hiring patterns.
See our <InternalLink href="/sustainability-recruitment/why-specialist-agency">specialist agency guide</InternalLink> for detailed comparison.
Share your hiring brief
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Related guides & references
ESG Reporting Manager Recruitment
Complete hiring guide for ESG Reporting Manager roles, including UK SRS S1/S2 competency requirements and assessment criteria.
UK Sustainability Salary Guide 2026
Comprehensive salary data for sustainability roles with London premiums, sector variations and year-on-year movement analysis.
Best Sustainability Recruitment Agencies UK
Independent guide to 14 verified UK sustainability recruitment agencies, their specialisms and what each is best for.
UK SRS Compliance Guide
Complete implementation guide for UK Sustainability Reporting Standards, including team building and competency requirements.