SECR Consultant Costs: £15k-25k vs Automated Solutions

When UK businesses face mandatory Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirements, the first instinct is often to engage a carbon consultancy. Within days, proposals arrive quoting £15,000-25,000 for annual compliance services, with 6-10 week timelines and extensive documentation requirements.

For CFOs and budget-conscious business owners, these quotes raise an obvious question: is there a more cost-effective approach that still delivers full compliance and professional results?

The answer is yes—but understanding the trade-offs requires examining what consultants actually deliver, what drives their costs, and how modern automation fundamentally changes the compliance economics.

This comprehensive analysis helps you make an informed decision about SECR compliance strategy based on your business needs, budget, and internal capabilities.

The Traditional Consultant Model: What You're Paying For

Carbon consultancies have dominated SECR compliance since the regulation launched in 2019. Understanding their cost structure and service model reveals both the value they provide and the inefficiencies automation addresses.

Typical Consultant Fee Breakdown

Standard SECR consultancy engagement (mid-size business, 100-300 employees):

Discovery and scoping: £2,500-4,000

• Initial meetings and briefing sessions
• Organizational boundary definition
• Data requirements specification
• Project planning and timeline development

Data collection and processing: £4,000-7,000

• Template preparation
• Site visits (if applicable)
• Data gathering coordination
• Quality assurance and validation
• Gap identification and estimation

Emissions calculation and analysis: £3,000-5,000

• Application of conversion factors
• Scope 1 and Scope 2 calculations
• Intensity metric determination
• Comparative analysis vs. prior year
• Benchmark comparison (if included)

Report preparation: £3,000-4,000

• Directors' report disclosure drafting
• Energy efficiency narrative development
• Executive summary and insights
• Review and revision cycles
• Finalization for Companies House filing

Project management and governance: £2,500-5,000

• Client communications
• Stakeholder meetings
• Issue resolution
• Timeline management
• Quality assurance oversight

Total typical fee: £15,000-25,000 for annual engagement

What Drives Consultant Costs

Labour-intensive process:

• Senior consultants: £800-1,200/day
• Junior analysts: £400-600/day
• Project managers: £700-1,000/day
• Typical engagement: 25-40 days total effort

Manual data processing:

• Utility bill review and data extraction (6-10 hours)
• Data entry and validation (8-12 hours)
• Calculation spreadsheet development and checking (6-8 hours)

Client management overhead:

• Multiple meetings and status updates
• Email communications and queries
• Revision cycles based on client feedback
• Relationship management for ongoing retention

Professional service business model:

• High fixed costs (staff, office, systems)
• Utilization targets (billable hours requirements)
• Margin expectations (30-40% typical for consultancies)
• Business development costs amortized across clients

Regulatory expertise:

• Staff training and development
• Methodology updates for regulatory changes
• Quality assurance and technical review
• Professional indemnity insurance

What Consultants Deliver

Comprehensive service package:

• End-to-end management of SECR process
• Expert interpretation of regulations
• Data quality assurance and validation
• Compliant directors' report disclosure
• Strategic insights and recommendations (varies by firm)
• Ongoing advisory relationship

Professional credibility:

• Recognized firm names lending authority
• Experienced consultants with specialist knowledge
• Quality assurance processes
• Audit defense support if needed

Minimal internal resource requirement:

• Client provides data (but consultant coordinates)
• Limited internal time investment (15-20 hours)
• No need to build internal expertise
• Outsourced compliance risk

Consultant Model Limitations

High recurring cost:

• Annual engagement required (SECR is recurring obligation)
• Cumulative 5-year cost: £75,000-125,000
• No asset creation—business retains no ongoing capability

Timeline and responsiveness:

• 6-10 week engagements from kick-off to delivery
• Limited flexibility once project scheduled
• Dependency on consultant availability
• Can miss filing deadlines if project delayed

Limited strategic value:

• Many firms focus narrowly on compliance
• Report delivered as PDF with limited actionable insight
• No ongoing monitoring or management capability
• Separate engagement needed for carbon reduction strategy

Data dependency:

• Quality of output depends on client-provided data
• Consultant has limited ability to improve data collection
• Errors or gaps may not be identified until late in process
• Client retains data quality risk

Black box methodology:

• Calculations often in consultant-controlled spreadsheets
• Limited transparency into methodology
• Difficult to audit or verify independently
• Knowledge doesn't transfer to client organization

When Consultant Model Makes Sense

Despite limitations, traditional consultants remain appropriate for certain situations:

Complex organizational structures:

• Multi-national groups with complicated UK boundary
• Recent acquisitions/disposals requiring restatements
• Complex corporate structures (partnerships, joint ventures)
• Situations requiring professional judgement on boundary

First-time compliance with minimal capability:

• No internal sustainability or environmental expertise
• Desire for hand-holding through first cycle
• Educational value of working with experienced consultant
• Building understanding before considering in-house approach

Strategic advisory beyond compliance:

• Net zero strategy development
• Carbon reduction programme design
• Supply chain engagement
• Comprehensive sustainability reporting (CDP, TCFD, etc.)

Regulatory risk sensitivity:

• Listed companies under high scrutiny
• Businesses with specific investor requirements
• Situations where professional firm name carries weight
• Preference for traditional service model despite cost

Time constraints:

• Late realization of SECR obligation with imminent deadline
• Sudden departure of internal resource who handled compliance
• Urgent need for completion without internal bandwidth

For these situations, £15k-25k investment may be justified by complexity, risk profile, or strategic advisory value beyond basic compliance.

The Automated Platform Alternative

Technology has fundamentally disrupted the SECR compliance model, enabling high-quality compliance at fraction of traditional consultant costs.

How Automation Changes SECR Economics

Platform approach (Comply Carbon example):

Annual platform fee: £1,999

What you get:

• Automated data processing from energy bills (OCR and extraction)
• Real-time emissions calculations using current UK Government factors
• Automated validation and quality checks
• Directors' report disclosure generation
• Prior year comparative analysis
• Unlimited report regeneration
• Ongoing access and monitoring capability
• Updates reflecting regulatory changes

Internal time investment: 2-4 hours

• Upload energy bills and data
• Review automated output
• Approve final disclosure

Total annual cost: £1,999 platform + £300-600 internal time = £2,300-2,600

Savings vs. consultant: £12,400-22,400 (83-89% reduction)

Technology Enabling Automation

AI and machine learning:

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) extracting data from utility bills
• Intelligent data classification and categorization
• Pattern recognition identifying anomalies
• Natural language processing for narrative generation

Automated calculation engines:

• Built-in UK Government conversion factors (automatically updated)
• Pre-configured calculation methodologies aligned with GHG Protocol
• Automated Scope 1 and Scope 2 computation
• Intensity metric calculation
• Zero formula errors or transposition mistakes

Quality assurance automation:

• Completeness checks (all required data present)
• Range validation (consumption within expected bounds)
• Consistency checks (vs. prior year, vs. benchmarks)
• Anomaly detection flagging unusual patterns
• Automated audit trail generation

Reporting automation:

• Template-based directors' report disclosure
• Automatic prior year comparison
• Energy efficiency narrative suggestions
• Professional formatting and presentation
• Export to multiple formats (PDF, Word, Excel)

Platform advantages:

Speed: Minutes for calculations vs. weeks for consultants

Accuracy: Zero calculation errors vs. risk of manual mistakes

Transparency: Visible methodology vs. black box spreadsheets

Scalability: Same cost for 1 site or 100 vs. consultant fees increasing with complexity

Accessibility: 24/7 access vs. scheduled meetings and deliveries

Continuity: All data and methodology in platform vs. retained by consultant

Comply Carbon: Automated SECR Compliance

Comply Carbon exemplifies the modern platform approach, purpose-built for UK SECR compliance.

Platform features:

Data collection:

• Upload energy bills (PDF, image, or spreadsheet)
• OCR automatically extracts consumption data
• Manual entry option with guided templates
• Support for electricity, gas, transport fuel, refrigerants
• Multi-site handling with rollup

Emissions calculations:

• Automatic application of 2025 UK Government GHG conversion factors
• Scope 1 calculation (gas, transport, refrigerants)
• Scope 2 calculation (electricity, location-based method)
• Total emissions and intensity metrics
• Year-over-year comparison

Quality assurance:

• Automated validation checks with error flagging
• Completeness verification
• Anomaly detection
• Data quality scoring
• Issue resolution guidance

Compliance reporting:

• SECR-compliant directors' report disclosure
• Energy efficiency narrative templates
• Professional formatting ready for Companies House
• PDF and Word exports
• Supporting documentation for audit

Ongoing access:

• Monthly energy monitoring (beyond annual SECR)
• Emissions tracking dashboards
• Scenario modelling for reduction initiatives
• Unlimited report regeneration
• Multi-year trend analysis

Customer results:

• 200+ UK businesses using platform
• 100% Companies House acceptance rate
• Average 90% time savings vs. manual process
• £13,000+ average savings vs. consultants

Pricing:

• £1,999 annual subscription
• No long-term contracts
• No per-user fees
• No hidden costs

Support:

• Onboarding training and setup
• Email and chat support
• Regulatory updates automatically implemented
• Resource library and guidance

See sample report showing output quality and depth of analysis.

Platform vs. Consultant Trade-offs

Platforms excel at:

• Standard SECR compliance for straightforward organizations
• Cost efficiency (85-90% savings)
• Speed (days vs. weeks)
• Transparency and methodology visibility
• Ongoing monitoring capability
• Internal capability building

Consultants add value for:

• Complex organizational boundaries requiring judgement
• First-time compliance hand-holding
• Strategic advisory beyond basic compliance
• Preference for personal relationship over technology
• Situations where firm name carries weight

Hybrid approach: Many businesses use platforms for annual compliance, engaging consultants only when needed for specific strategic advisory (e.g., net zero roadmap, supply chain engagement).

This combines cost efficiency of automation with access to expertise for value-added activities—getting best of both models.

Real-World Cost Comparison: Three Business Scenarios

Understanding cost implications across different business profiles helps inform decision-making.

Scenario 1: Professional Services Firm (75 Employees)

Business profile:

• Single office location (600m²)
• 75 employees
• £5.5M annual revenue
• Standard energy profile (electricity, gas, small company car fleet)
• Straightforward SECR compliance

Consultant approach:

Year 1:

• Consultant fee: £18,000
• Internal coordination time (15 hours × £50/hour): £750
• Total: £18,750

Years 2-5 (ongoing):

• Annual consultant fee: £15,000
• Internal coordination (12 hours × £50): £600
• Annual: £15,600
• 5-year total: £81,150

Platform approach (Comply Carbon):

Year 1:

• Platform fee: £1,999
• Internal time (4 hours × £50): £200
• Total: £2,199

Years 2-5 (ongoing):

• Annual platform fee: £1,999
• Internal time (3 hours × £50): £150
• Annual: £2,149
• 5-year total: £10,795

5-year savings: £70,355

Break-even: 6 weeks (first year savings fund platform indefinitely)

Scenario 2: Manufacturing Business (180 Employees)

Business profile:

• Two sites (factory and office)
• 180 employees
• £24M revenue
• Higher complexity (multiple fuel types, refrigerants, fleet)

Consultant approach:

Year 1:

• Consultant fee: £25,000 (higher complexity)
• Internal coordination (20 hours × £60): £1,200
• Total: £26,200

Years 2-5:

• Annual fee: £20,000
• Internal coordination (15 hours × £60): £900
• Annual: £20,900
• 5-year total: £109,800

Platform approach:

Year 1:

• Platform fee: £1,999
• Internal time (6 hours × £60): £360
• Total: £2,359

Years 2-5:

• Annual platform fee: £1,999
• Internal time (4 hours × £60): £240
• Annual: £2,239
• 5-year total: £11,315

5-year savings: £98,485

Additional benefit: Manufacturing business uses monthly monitoring capability for energy efficiency programme, identifying £12,000 annual savings through operational improvements—platform pays for itself many times over through efficiency gains alone.

Scenario 3: Retail Chain (8 Locations, 220 Employees)

Business profile:

• 8 retail locations plus head office
• 220 employees
• £18M revenue
• Multi-site complexity, refrigeration equipment

Consultant approach:

Year 1:

• Consultant fee: £28,000 (multi-site premium)
• Internal coordination across sites (25 hours × £55): £1,375
• Total: £29,375

Years 2-5:

• Annual fee: £22,000
• Internal coordination (18 hours × £55): £990
• Annual: £22,990
• 5-year total: £121,345

Platform approach:

Year 1:

• Platform fee: £1,999
• Internal time (8 hours × £55): £440
• Total: £2,439

Years 2-5:

• Annual platform fee: £1,999
• Internal time (5 hours × £55): £275
• Annual: £2,274
• 5-year total: £11,535

5-year savings: £109,810

Key insight: Platform cost doesn't increase with location count—same £1,999 handles 1 site or 100. Consultant fees scale with complexity, making platform savings even more dramatic for multi-site organizations.

Cost Comparison Summary

Pattern is clear: Regardless of business type or complexity, automated platforms deliver 85-90% cost savings over 5-year compliance cycle.

Hidden Costs and Considerations

Beyond headline fees, both approaches involve additional costs worth considering.

Consultant Hidden Costs

Scope creep and change orders:

• Additional locations discovered mid-project
• Data gaps requiring extra effort to fill
• Revision requests adding to timeline
• Change orders: typically £2,000-5,000 additional

Coordination overhead:

• Internal meetings, emails, data provision
• Delays waiting for consultant availability
• Back-and-forth on data quality issues
• Estimated internal cost: £1,500-3,000 annually

Lost strategic value:

• Report arrives as finished PDF
• No ongoing monitoring capability
• Missed efficiency improvement opportunities
• Opportunity cost: Variable, potentially significant

Switching costs:

• Changing consultants means starting over
• New consultant learning curve
• Methodology changes affecting comparability
• Practical lock-in despite annual engagement model

True 5-year consultant cost: £85,000-135,000 including hidden costs

Platform Hidden Costs

Learning curve:

• Initial setup and familiarization (2-3 hours)
• Team training if multiple users
• Process development for data collection
• One-time investment, minimal ongoing

Data collection responsibility:

• Client must gather and upload energy bills
• Platform processes data but doesn't collect it
• Similar requirement to consultant approach
• Not really a hidden cost—same either way

Limited strategic advisory:

• Platform provides compliance output
• Strategic interpretation remains internal responsibility
• May need occasional consultant for strategy (but far less frequently)
• Can access on-demand consulting vs. bundled annual engagement

Feature limitations:

• Platform handles standard SECR compliance
• Highly complex situations may need consultant judgement
• Knowing when you've exceeded platform capabilities requires some expertise

True 5-year platform cost: £11,000-14,000 including hidden costs

Net comparison: Platform still delivers 85-90% savings even accounting for hidden costs.

DIY Manual Approach: The Third Option

Beyond consultants and platforms, some businesses handle SECR completely manually using spreadsheets.

Manual Process Requirements

What you need:

• SECR templates and worksheets
• UK Government GHG conversion factors
• Spreadsheet proficiency
• Understanding of SECR regulations and GHG Protocol
• Data collection coordination capability

Time investment:

• First year: 40-60 hours
• Subsequent years: 25-35 hours
• Learning curve across 2-3 cycles

Cost:

• Internal time: £1,500-3,000 annually (at £50-60/hour blended rate)
• Risk of calculation errors requiring rework
• No software costs (free templates)

Manual vs. Consultant vs. Platform

Key insights:

Manual approach:

• Lowest cash cost but highest time investment
• Builds internal capability and understanding
• Risk of calculation errors, especially first cycle
• Makes sense for businesses with available skilled internal resources
• Can transition to platform approach later if desired

Platform approach:

• Slightly higher cost than manual but 90% time savings
• Eliminates calculation error risk
• Builds capability through use (understand without manual calculations)
• Best value for most businesses—modest cost, massive time savings

Consultant approach:

• 6-10x cost of alternatives
• Lowest internal time investment
• Valuable for complex situations or strategic advisory
• Makes sense when situation warrants expert judgement

Decision Framework

Choose manual approach if:

• Strong internal capability and available time
• Learning objective important
• Very tight budget constraints
• Simple, straightforward compliance scenario

Choose platform approach if:

• Want cost efficiency without manual effort
• Value time savings and accuracy
• Standard compliance situation
• Open to technology solutions

Choose consultant approach if:

• Complex organizational boundary or structure
• Limited internal capability and unwilling to build it
• Strategic advisory valuable beyond compliance
• Budget less constrained than time

Most UK SMBs find platform approach optimal—delivering consultant-quality output at near-manual costs with minimal time investment.

Making the Business Case for Automation

If your business currently uses consultants or is considering SECR approach, building internal business case for platform adoption is straightforward.

ROI Calculation Template

Current state (consultant approach):

• Annual consultant fee: £_______
• Internal coordination time: _____ hours × £_____ = £_______
• Total annual cost: £_______
• 5-year projection: £_______

Proposed state (platform approach):

• Annual platform fee: £1,999
• Internal time: 4 hours × £_____ = £_______
• Total annual cost: £_______
• 5-year projection: £_______

ROI:

• Year 1 savings: £_______
• Annual ongoing savings: £_______
• 5-year savings: £_______
• Payback period: <1 month
• ROI: _______%

Value Beyond Cost Savings

Financial ROI is compelling, but platform benefits extend beyond direct savings:

Strategic benefits:

• Continuous monitoring: Not just annual compliance but ongoing energy management
• Efficiency insights: Data-driven identification of reduction opportunities
• Faster reporting: Days vs. weeks enabling earlier strategic planning
• Scenario modelling: Test impact of efficiency initiatives before implementation
• Capability building: Internal team develops expertise through platform use

Operational benefits:

• Flexibility: Generate reports on-demand, not consultant schedule
• Control: Own your data and methodology
• Transparency: Understand exactly how figures calculated
• Scalability: Handle growth without proportional cost increase
• Continuity: No dependency on specific consultant availability

Risk benefits:

• Quality assurance: Automated validation catching errors manual or consultant processes miss
• Consistency: Same methodology applied year-over-year
• Audit readiness: Complete audit trail automatically maintained
• Regulatory updates: Platform automatically incorporates changes

Addressing Internal Objections

"Our consultant provides valuable relationship and advisory"

Response: Platform handles compliance efficiently; engage consultant selectively for strategic advisory where value is highest. Hybrid model delivers best of both—automated efficiency plus expert strategic input when needed.

"We don't have internal capability to use platform"

Response: Platform designed for non-technical users; requires no carbon accounting expertise. Most users fully operational after 2-hour onboarding. Time to competence is days, not months.

"What if platform doesn't work for our situation?"

Response: 200+ businesses across diverse industries successfully using Comply Carbon. Free trial or demo available to test fit before commitment. If genuinely unsuitable (rare), consultant remains option.

"Technology seems risky vs. established consultant"

Response: Platform has 100% Companies House acceptance rate. Automated calculations eliminate human error risk. Methodology fully transparent vs. consultant black box. Risk actually lower, not higher.

"Change is disruptive during busy compliance season"

Response: Transition at year start, not during filing deadline pressure. First year can run parallel (platform + consultant) for validation if desired, then consultant for subsequent years once confidence established.

Implementation Roadmap

Month 1: Evaluation

• Request Comply Carbon demo and sample report
• Review current consultant contract and termination provisions
• Conduct ROI analysis using template above
• Get stakeholder buy-in (CFO, sustainability lead, board)

Month 2-3: Pilot

• Subscribe to platform
• Complete onboarding training
• Upload prior year data for baseline
• Generate test reports validating output quality

Month 4-12: Parallel operation (optional)

• Run both platform and consultant for one cycle
• Compare outputs validating accuracy
• Build internal confidence
• Refine processes

Year 2+: Full transition

• Discontinue consultant engagement
• Platform becomes primary compliance method
• Realize full savings and benefits
• Consider selective consultant engagement for strategy only

Risk mitigation: Parallel approach de-risks transition, though most businesses find sufficient confidence after demo to transition immediately.

Industry Perspectives: Consultant vs. Platform

Understanding how different business types approach SECR compliance illuminates practical considerations.

SMBs (50-250 Employees)

Historical approach: Many used consultants for first 1-2 cycles, then transitioned to platform or manual approaches once understood requirements.

Current trend: Increasing platform adoption from first cycle, especially as awareness of automated solutions grows.

Rationale: Cost sensitivity, straightforward compliance situations, desire for internal capability.

Quote: "We paid a consultant £16,000 for our first SECR report. Year two we used Comply Carbon for £1,999 and got the same result in a quarter of the time. Wish we'd found them sooner." - Operations Director, Manufacturing SMB

Mid-Market (250-1000 Employees)

Approach diversity: Mix of consultant-led, platform-based, and hybrid approaches.

Considerations: More complex organizational structures, often multiple sites, may have dedicated sustainability resources.

Trend: Platform adoption for compliance + consultant for strategic initiatives (net zero, CDP, supply chain engagement).

Quote: "We use Comply Carbon for SECR compliance and bring in consultants quarterly for strategic sessions on our net zero roadmap. Best of both worlds—efficiency and expertise where we need it." - Sustainability Manager, Retail Chain

Larger Corporations (1000+ Employees)

Approach: Often have internal sustainability teams using platforms for data management and workflow, occasionally engaging consultants for assurance or specialized advisory.

Considerations: Multiple reporting frameworks (SECR, CDP, TCFD), investor scrutiny, desire for third-party assurance.

Platform value: Multi-framework reporting, subsidiary rollup, automated data aggregation across sites.

Quote: "Our SECR compliance is fully automated through Comply Carbon, freeing our team to focus on strategic carbon reduction initiatives and investor relations rather than administrative compliance." - Head of Sustainability, FTSE 250 Company

Startups and High-Growth Businesses

Challenge: Rapid changes (headcount, locations, structure) making compliance scope variable.

Platform advantage: Flexibility handling changing scope without renegotiating consultant engagement.

Approach: Strong platform adoption; minimal interest in consultant overhead.

Quote: "We went from 60 employees to 200 in 18 months. Our SECR reporting scaled effortlessly with Comply Carbon—same £1,999 price regardless of size. Consultant would have charged more as we grew." - CFO, Technology Scale-up

Frequently Asked Questions

Is automated SECR compliance really as good as consultants?

Yes, for standard SECR compliance. Platforms like Comply Carbon use the same UK Government conversion factors and GHG Protocol methodology consultants apply. Automation eliminates manual calculation errors and produces compliant directors' report disclosures accepted by Companies House.

Consultants add value for complex organizational boundaries requiring judgement, strategic advisory beyond compliance, and hand-holding for businesses wanting personal relationships over technology.

For straightforward compliance (majority of UK businesses), automated platforms deliver equivalent or better output at 85-90% cost savings.

What if I need help or have questions using a platform?

Quality platforms provide comprehensive support:

• Onboarding training and setup assistance
• Email and chat support
• Knowledge base and resource library
• Regulatory guidance and updates

Comply Carbon includes all support in platform fee—no premium tiers or additional charges for assistance.

Support responsiveness typically exceeds consultant availability—immediate access vs. scheduled meetings.

Can I switch from consultant to platform mid-contract?

Check your consultant contract terms. Most are annual engagements without multi-year commitments, though some include auto-renewal clauses requiring advance notice.

Best practice: Notify consultant of non-renewal 60-90 days before engagement end. Transition to platform for next reporting cycle.

Some businesses run parallel first year (consultant + platform) for validation, though platforms like Comply Carbon offer free demos making this usually unnecessary.

What about external assurance and audit?

Increasingly common for larger companies or those with investor requirements. Both consultant and platform approaches can support external assurance:

Platform advantages for assurance:

• Complete audit trail automatically maintained
• Transparent calculations auditors can review
• Source documents stored within platform
• Calculation methodology visible and verifiable

Consultant advantages:

• Professional firm name may carry weight with auditors
• Established relationships between consultancy and assurance provider
• Combined services sometimes available

Reality: Most assurance providers care about methodology robustness and audit trail quality, not whether output came from consultant or platform. Comply Carbon has supported numerous external assurance engagements successfully.

How do I know if my situation is too complex for automation?

Platform-suitable situations (95% of UK businesses):

• Standard organizational boundaries (single entity or straightforward group)
• Common energy sources (electricity, gas, transport)
• Limited estimation requirements (<10% of data)
• UK-only or primarily UK operations

May benefit from consultant:

• Complex group structures with challenging boundary definition
• Recent material acquisitions/disposals requiring sophisticated restatement
• International operations with complicated UK allocation
• First-time compliance with zero internal capability and strong preference for personal support

Approach: Start with free platform assessment. Comply Carbon will honestly advise if situation requires consultant judgement. Most businesses discover they're more straightforward than assumed.

Can I use platform for strategic carbon management, not just compliance?

Yes—major advantage of platform approach over consultant PDF reports.

Comply Carbon provides:

• Monthly energy monitoring (not just annual)
• Emissions trend dashboards
• Scenario modelling for reduction initiatives
• Facility-level or business unit breakdowns
• Integration with energy efficiency programmes

This transforms SECR from compliance checkbox to strategic carbon management tool. Consultants typically charge separately for ongoing monitoring and strategy work beyond basic compliance.

Platform enables strategic net zero planning using your SECR data as foundation.

Your SECR Cost Optimization Decision

UK businesses face SECR compliance regardless—the only question is how to achieve it most effectively.

Traditional consultant approach:

• £15,000-25,000 annually
• 6-10 week timeline
• Minimal internal time (15-25 hours)
• Professional service with relationship
• £75,000-125,000 five-year cost

Automated platform approach:

• £1,999 annually
• Days for completion
• Minimal internal time (3-5 hours)
• Technology-driven efficiency
• £10,000-12,000 five-year cost
• 85-90% savings vs. consultant

Manual DIY approach:

• £1,500-3,000 annually internal time
• Significant learning curve (40-60 hours first year)
• Risk of calculation errors
• Builds internal capability
• £8,000-15,000 five-year cost

For most UK SMBs, platform approach delivers optimal value—consultant-quality output at near-DIY costs with minimal time investment.

Take Action: Evaluate Your SECR Approach

Whether currently using consultants or planning first SECR compliance, evaluate if platform automation delivers better value.

Immediate steps:

1. Calculate current SECR cost: Total consultant fees + internal time over 5 years

2. Explore platform alternative: Request Comply Carbon demo and review sample reports

3. Conduct ROI analysis: Use template above showing 5-year savings

4. Make informed decision: Choose approach matching your situation—complexity, budget, capability, preferences

5. Optimize spending: Redirect consultant savings toward carbon reduction initiatives delivering actual emissions improvements

Special consideration for current consultant users:

Your consultant relationship may be comfortable, but is it delivering £15k-25k of value annually? Or are you paying premium prices for commodity compliance?

Consider redirecting 80% of consultant budget to platform automation, using savings for:

• Energy efficiency initiatives reducing actual emissions
• Selective strategic consulting where expertise adds most value
• Broader sustainability programme development
• Other business priorities

Your SECR compliance cost is controllable.

Traditional consultancy model served important role establishing SECR compliance practices since 2019. But technology has fundamentally changed the economics, making high-quality compliance accessible at fraction of historical cost.

200+ UK businesses have already made the transition, saving collectively over £2.5 million annually while maintaining full compliance and professional quality.

Your business can too.

Ready to optimize your SECR compliance costs?

• Free compliance check: Verify your obligations and assess your current approach
• See sample report: Review output quality comparing to your current consultant deliverables
• Full SECR guide: Comprehensive explanation of all requirements
• Platform overview: Learn how Comply Carbon delivers £15k consultant results for £1,999

Additional Resources:

• SECR Reporting Templates
• Data Quality Best Practices
• Energy Efficiency Beyond Compliance
• UK Government SECR Guidance