For more than twenty years, we’ve worked with a broad range of the UK’s mid‑sized, privately owned businesses, the ‘missed middle’. We know their reality because we work closely with them. These organisations aren’t dabbling in sustainability as a one‑off; they recognise it’s now fundamental to commercial success. It meets growing client expectations, strengthens resilience, and opens up new commercial opportunities. Their people are engaged, their communities matter to them, and they understand the value of acting responsibly.

Privately owned businesses often authentically care in a way that’s hard to manufacture. They’re rooted in their communities, and their leaders feel a genuine responsibility for the people they employ and the places they operate — with teams proud to contribute. And because these organisations are competitive by nature, they want to be the best at responsible business just as they want to be the best at everything else they do.

But through the work we do with these businesses, it’s increasingly obvious that the systems they’re asked to operate in simply weren’t built for them. This is particularly frustrating because these organisations anchor local economies and employ millions – whilst also generating significant emissions and often sitting at the heart of carbon‑heavy sectors. They are essential to the UK’s climate, economic and social resilience.

Our new Mind the Gap report lays out the problem clearly: the very businesses capable of delivering meaningful climate and social impact are being held back by structures never designed with them in mind.

• Policy frameworks assume corporate sustainability teams. Mid‑sized businesses get ambition without the practical guidance to deliver it.
• Industry standards overlap and contradict each other. These businesses are expected to collaborate across supply chains but are rarely given the support to do so.
• Resource gaps widen as they grow. They reach a stage where they’re too big for small‑business support and too small for corporate‑level systems — and fall straight through the cracks.
• The business case becomes harder to articulate. Leaders know sustainability drives competitive advantage, but the system doesn’t help them translate that into momentum.

We’re sharing this report because at this moment in time we’re asking business to step up and help solve our biggest environmental and social challenges. If we want to unlock and accelerate the power within these organisations, we need to acknowledge and address the limitations holding them back.

We’ve already started working with industry bodies on how they can strengthen support for their members. We’re also writing articles to raise awareness, and we’ve spoken at small‑business policy and other events to articulate the gap. But we want more momentum, because we know we are not alone in seeing these barriers whilst also seeing what’s possible.

Please help share this call to action, add your experience, or engage with us further on how we can better support the businesses that are the future of our country.

And in particular, if you work with groups of small or medium businesses that need support and guidance on this agenda, get in touch. We are passionate about driving more meaningful outcomes, and we may be able to support with our tools and approach.