UK SMEs face unprecedented pressure to measure and reduce their carbon emissions. 73% of public procurement now requires carbon reporting, and 87% of SMEs lack internal carbon expertise. This guide compares 7 leading carbon reporting solutions for UK SMEs in 2025.
Carbon Reporting Software (£3,000–£20,000+/year): Requires in-house carbon expertise, significant staff time for data gathering and input, and often still needs consultants to interpret results. High risk of inaccurate calculations for businesses without expertise.
Done-for-You Consultancy (£1,000–£5,000/year): No expertise required. The consultant collects your data, calculates emissions, and delivers compliance-ready reports. Guaranteed compliance for NHS procurement, SECR, and PPN 06/21.
The article reviews Seedling, Normative, Carbon Trust, Bioregional, EcoHedge, Hedgehog, and The Carbon Stamp — comparing cost, complexity, compliance coverage, and suitability for different SME types including manufacturers, NHS suppliers, and professional services firms.
For most UK SMEs, done-for-you consultancy delivers better results than software platforms. SMEs benefit from having an expert handle the entire process — from data collection through to tender-ready report delivery — rather than attempting to navigate complex carbon accounting software without in-house expertise.