Research and ideas
Published in The UK Water Report. Written by Martin Hurst – Sustainability First Associate With so much policy activity in water, Martin Hurst looks at what is at risk of falling between the cracks. My word this water space is changing...
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7 April 2026
We have worked on the issues around RIIO price controls over many years with several major Sustainability First projects examining particular aspects. We have also served as members of the earlier government / Ofgem Smart Grids Forum, Ofgem’s...
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7 April 2026
Our work on the future of gas distribution has highlighted how varying approaches taken by gas networks and by energy retailers to gas disconnections is a cause of customer confusion and risks detriment. Ofgem, GDNs, energy retailers and the...
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11 March 2026
Read the full response here This response sets out Sustainability First's evidence and views on the UK government’s consultation on alternative clean heating solutions. It argues for a broader, more consumer‑centred approach to heat...
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12 February 2026
Published in The UK Water Report. Written by Martin Hurst – Sustainability First Associate So, the White Paper is now published. I’m sure you’ve all read it, or at least the Water Report’s excellent summary published the day after, and...
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9 February 2026
The Sounding Board was a deliberative forum made up of 45 residents from the East Coast of the UK, who met six times between April and October 2025. The Sounding Board is part of a wider, ongoing public engagement project, conceived and managed by...
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30 January 2026
This report shares findings from a major public deliberation project exploring how communities most affected by electricity grid upgrades want to be engaged, supported, and treated throughout the UK’s transition to a cleaner energy system. It is...
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30 January 2026
Communities hosting new grid infrastructure deserve a process that feels fair, inclusive and genuinely beneficial, not something that’s “done to” them, but something built with them. That’s why we’ve developed The Transmission...
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30 January 2026
Published in The UK Water Report. Written by Martin Hurst - Sustainability First Associate A recent Indepen Forum had an interesting discussion about the public positioning of companies in ‘turnaround’. The discussion being under the Chatham...
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9 December 2025
Unlock the potential of sustainability for greater business success with membership to Sustainability First’s Sustainability Leaders Group.
For each project we bring together, from across Sustainability First, a unique combination of expertise and experience of the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
