The consultancy has identified an untapped need for solutions for SMEs and their investors to measure, manage and value the sustainability impact of their operations and investments. In 2021 Lloyds Bank research reported that while 91% of SMEs see sustainability as an important consideration for their business, most do not know how to implement the necessary changes. 

With a focus on accessibility, achievability and affordability, FuturePlus, is a revolutionary platform that enables companies to understand, manage and score their sustainability performance and impact ambitions against five key pillars - Environment, Social, Climate, Economic, and Diversity & Inclusion - and make incremental improvements through an ongoing programme of change, supported by expert advisors. 

The founders’ ambitions are to inspire every business, no matter their size, to implement the best possible sustainability practices to prepare for increasing legislation and industry norms. Their belief is that companies which adopt sustainable practices today will be more successful tomorrow. 

While FuturePlus is applicable to all size businesses, The Sustainability Group has a specific focus on supporting the startup and scaleup market as the fastest way to make a difference and achieve scale.

The concept was initially the brainchild of The Sustainability Group Co-Founder Mike Penrose, a world-renowned expert on risk management, who was previously Executive Director of Unicef UK, CEO of Action Contre La Faim in Paris and Global Humanitarian Director at Save the Children.

A former advisor to the FTSE4Good on their ESG trading index, Mike also worked with a UN advisory group to help design the indicators that underpin the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

A partnership with co-founder Alexandra Smith led to the development of the FuturePlus platform. In previous roles, Alex led and managed high profile sustainability and social impact projects with sporting brands and commercial organisations in numerous countries focused on achieving commercial and environmental outcomes. 

Both Alex and Mike are advisors to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Fund, Terra321, a climate tech incubator for the Global South, and the Global Wellness Institute UN Sustainable Development Goal Initiative and board members of several corporate foundations. 

The recently published Edelman Trust Barometer 2022 shows that the public believes businesses are not doing enough to address societal problems related to climate change, economic inequality, workforce reskilling and more. Consumers and investors such as BlackRock and NSW are demanding for organisations to be accountable, but businesses are facing the challenge on how and where to make the capital investment that will allow them to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability meaningfully. 

Alex Smith, co-founder and partner, said: “We know UK businesses want to do the right thing but are facing information overload and paralysis caused by the perceived scale of the task.” 

“Our research also shows that it is currently prohibitively expensive for SMEs and smaller investors to make a meaningful impact that is measurable and valued by the market. FuturePlus is designed to take these issues away without causing excess admin or cost. For example, a company with under 50 employees a monthly subscription starts at less than £199.”

FuturePlus co-founder Mike Penrose commented: “FuturePlus is our way of democratising sustainability so that any business owner or manager, no matter their size or sector of their enterprise, can create a profitable business that contributes in a multitude of valuable ways.”