What a SECR consultancy does
A SECR consultancy takes a company from raw energy data to a complete, signed-off disclosure. Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting
was introduced by SI 2018/11551 and requires larger organisations to report energy and carbon in their annual reports.
Our SECR consultants gather the energy data, calculate emissions using the DESNZ conversion factors4, choose an appropriate intensity ratio, and draft the narrative on energy-efficiency actions — following the Government’s environmental reporting guidelines3.
Who needs a SECR consultant
SECR applies to all quoted companies, and to large unquoted companies and LLPs1.
A company or LLP is “large” if it meets at least two of the three thresholds in section 465 of the Companies Act 20062.
| Threshold | Large if |
|---|---|
| Turnover | More than £36m |
| Balance sheet total | More than £18m |
| Employees | 250 or more |
Quoted companies are in scope regardless of size.
Organisations new to scope, or those whose energy footprint has grown, gain the most from specialist SECR consultants.
Choosing SECR consultants
The right SECR consultancy does more than fill a template.
It applies the current conversion factors, documents the methodology, and places the disclosure correctly in the Directors’ Report so it forms part of the statutory accounts.
The engagement
A typical SECR engagement runs in three steps: confirm scope and the reporting boundary, collect and quality-check a full year of energy data, then calculate the figures and draft the disclosure for board sign-off.
Because SECR sits in the annual report, it follows normal Companies House deadlines — nine months after year-end for private companies and LLPs, six months for public companies.
The practical work should start well before then.
How we help
As your SECR consultancy, Carbon Legal builds the figures and drafts the disclosure, with the inventory assembled by our emissions compliance consultants.
The full regime detail lives on our SECR compliance reference page.
Carbon Legal is a specialist SECR consultancy, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
We launch in Q3 2026 and are booking readiness reviews now.
Frequently asked questions
What does a SECR consultancy do?
A SECR consultancy confirms whether your organisation is in scope, builds the UK energy and greenhouse-gas figures, calculates at least one intensity ratio, and drafts the Directors’ Report disclosure in the format SI 2018/1155 requires. SECR consultants also document the methodology so the disclosure stands up at board level and at Companies House.
What is the difference between a SECR consultant and a SECR consultancy?
A SECR consultancy is the firm; a SECR consultant is the specialist who prepares the figures and disclosure. The deliverable is the same: a complete, methodology-documented SECR section ready for the annual report.
Do I need a SECR consultant?
SECR applies to all quoted companies and to large unquoted companies and LLPs that meet at least two of three thresholds: turnover above £36m, balance sheet total above £18m, or 250 or more employees. If you are in scope but lack in-house energy and carbon expertise, a SECR consultant is usually faster and more defensible than learning the regime in-house.
What should I look for in SECR consultants?
Consultants who apply the UK Government (DESNZ) conversion factors, follow the BEIS environmental reporting guidelines, and can place the disclosure correctly in the Directors’ Report. Ask how the SECR inventory will also serve ESOS and UK SRS so you measure once and report many times.
When should we engage a SECR consultancy?
Well before the year-end. SECR depends on a full year of energy and emissions data, so the data-collection work needs to start early rather than at filing. Carbon Legal launches in Q3 2026 and is booking readiness reviews now.
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