Supporting a National Childcare Provider with ESOS Compliance and Energy Reduction

28 May

Client Overview

A leading UK childcare provider operating over 80 nurseries nationwide, employing hundreds of staff and caring for thousands of children each day. As a large organisation, they fall under the scope of ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme) and are increasingly committed to improving sustainability across their operations.

Challenge

The client faced several key challenges:

Mandatory compliance with ESOS Phase 3 by the Environment Agency deadline
Lack of an internal Energy Reduction Policy
High energy consumption across multiple sites with limited visibility and behavioural oversight
Desire to align with Net Zero goals while maintaining a child-focused operational environment

Our Solution

SRD Technical provided a tailored, end-to-end energy consultancy solution:

ESOS Phase 3 Compliance

We conducted a full ESOS assessment, including:

Comprehensive data gathering from 80+ nursery sites
Site audits for sampled sites and usage profiling across all sites
Identification of realistic cost effective energy saving opportunities
Submission of the ESOS compliance notification ahead of the 5 June 2024 deadline

We also assisted in creating and submitting the ESOS Phase 3 Action Plan, which outlined:

Practical measures the business intends to take
Priority areas for reduction
A strategic timeline for implementation
A clear alignment with ESOS Phase 3 guidance and Net Zero objectives

2. Energy Reduction Policy

We developed a bespoke Energy Reduction Policy that:

Outlined clear reduction targets aligned with business operations
Defined roles, responsibilities, and reporting protocols
Integrated with existing ESG and health & safety frameworks
Provided a roadmap for ongoing reduction measures

3. Behavioural Change Training and Workshops

To support real energy savings, we rolled out a Behavioural Change Training Programme:

Delivered interactive workshops for nursery managers
Introduced energy champions across sites
Developed easy to follow best practice guides for daily operations
Monitored engagement and early outcomes through feedback and site reporting

Results & Impact

While early in implementation, the client has already seen positive outcomes:

Full ESOS compliance achieved before the deadline
Improved staff awareness and engagement around energy efficiency
Early indications of 5% energy savings in participating nurseries
A scalable model for behavioural training to be rolled out across all sites
Strengthened environmental credentials to support future regulatory and investor expectations

Next Steps

We continue to support the client through:

Ongoing tracking of behavioural programme results
Annual energy performance reviews
Future planning for Net Zero alignment and SECR reporting

Want similar results for your organisation?

Contact SRD Technical today to find out how we can support your compliance and energy efficiency journey.

Mei-Ling Butland-Cheung .