In 2019, Camden Council declared a climate and ecological emergency. A year later, they approved a bold five-year programme to transform Camden into a zero-carbon borough by 2030. 

When the Mayor of London brought forward the city’s net-zero target to 2030, Camden Council, Brent Council and The Fitzrovia Partnership responded with urgency and ambition.
They launched the Camden and Brent Business Climate Challenge (CBBCC), a programme designed to help businesses reduce energy use, cut emissions and lower costs. WSP was appointed Technical Delivery Partner, building on our successful delivery of the Mayor’s Business Climate Challenge for the Greater London Authority.

Our role

We worked alongside two delivery partners to support 85 businesses across Camden and Brent. Our approach combined technical rigour with human insight:

Energy audits: We conducted site-based assessments to analyse energy performance and identify bespoke efficiency measures. Each business received a tailored report detailing potential savings -financial, carbon and operational - alongside capital cost estimates and implementation guidance.

Digital tools: Businesses accessed an online energy monitoring platform to track consumption and measure the impact of changes.

Learning networks: We facilitated peer-to-peer learning and provided open-access resources to build capability across sectors.

Implementation support: We offered additional service packages covering funding applications, procurement, energy management, and training in areas such as Energy Management, Supply Chain & Sustainable Procurement, and Behavioural Change, and energy management support.

The results

By comparing energy data from the 2023 baseline with the first half of 2025, businesses with full datasets and early audit reports achieved average energy savings of 11%, exceeding the programme’s 10% target.

Participants highlighted three key benefits:

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A clear, actionable roadmap to reduce energy use.

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A deeper understanding of their energy consumption patterns.

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Increased confidence in their ability to make meaningful change.

Social value in action

Beyond technical delivery, we helped build community resilience. WSP volunteers joined Camden’s Communi-trees initiative: planting saplings and wildflowers, clearing litter, and rewilding estates with local residents. We also ran sustainability workshops in four primary schools, inspiring students to think differently about energy and the environment. Each school received a mini audit report based on ideas shared by the pupils.

What our people say

I was proud to lead the successful delivery of this long-term programme supporting London’s businesses in reducing energy use and carbon emissions. This achievement was made possible through the dedication of our internal team and our partners, and the unwavering support of our client.
This programme has supported my development by understanding different business sustainability goals and priorities, and it has provided me with insights into different energy saving measures and technologies.

A positive impact on our clients

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done with WSP and businesses across Camden and Brent through the Business Climate Challenge. We’ve now seen small and medium sized businesses invest in solar panels, LED lighting, heating systems and much more. These upgrades to their buildings and operations improve energy efficiency and help tackle the climate emergency. Businesses are key to unlocking the challenges we face around emissions reductions, since almost 60% of our borough’s emissions come from the commercial and industrial sector. Moreover, with increased energy prices, we’re committed to supporting businesses to reduce their emissions.

I look forward to continuing to support businesses through our Camden Climate Fund support package, to create long-term change and inspire more business owners to commit to improving our climate.”

Cllr Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden

We entered the programme with a strong commitment to sustainability. The tools and guidance helped us turn that commitment into tangible action.
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