Industries with Best ESG Scores in the UK in 2024

1. Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 1.0

Revenue for the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry declined significantly in most of the five years through 2011-12. The only revenue growth occurred in 2006-07, although slight growth of 0.1% is forecast for 2011-12 to reach £7.3 billion. Overall, industry revenue declined at an average rate of 12.4% per annum. Profit experienced similar trends, with large declines followed by only slight improvements towards the end of the period.The major issue currently facing the industry is wholesale bypass, whereby manufacturers supply products directly to retailers, leaving wholesalers out of the supply chain. By supplying directly to retailers, manufacturers can... Learn More

2. Bicycle Retailing in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.0

Operators in the Bicycle Retailing industry sell new bicycles, parts, accessories and clothing, and offer repair and maintenance services. Second-hand bike shops and mass merchandisers present a form of external competition to the industry. During the five years through 2019-20, industry revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 3.4%, as falling consumer confidence since 2016-17 has negatively influenced sales. In the current year, revenue is anticipated to decline by 3.8% to just over £1.6 billion. Increasing health consciousness has positively affected the industry, but the danger of cycling on roads with high levels of pollution is... Learn More

3. Environmental Consultants in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.0

The Environmental Consultants industry provides consultancy services relating to risk evaluation, air and water quality control, resource management, ecological damage, climate change and energy, contamination control, and impact assessments. Many of the largest companies in the industry operate in engineering and infrastructure provision and consultancy, and benefit from providing environmental consulting services alongside these. Heavy and increasingly complex regulation as the government targets net-zero emissions by 2050 has encouraged downstream companies to act more sustainably, benefiting demand for environmental consultancy services.Over the five years through 2019-20, industry revenue is expected to grow at a  compound annual rate of 3.4%. This includes... Learn More

4. Personal Trainers in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.1

After a long period of growth, the Personal Trainers industry has run into trouble during the past five years. While concern with health and appearance ensures the industry's services remain popular, deteriorating economic conditions have led many people to cut back on personal training, preferring to exercise on their own. Consumers have also traded down from full-service gyms, which promote and provide facilities for personal trainers, to budget gyms that are not affiliated with industry operators. Personal trainers have faced rising competition from other sport and fitness activities, including branded group classes such as Zumba and spinning. During 2013-14, industry... Learn More

5. Fleet Telematics Systems in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.1

Operators in the Fleet Telematics Systems industry offer a range of telematic technology to companies, granting insights into the movements of their vehicles. The analytical services available to fleet directors allow them to monitor drivers speed, fuel usage and navigation, and maintenance needs, providing them with more control. Over the past five years, industry operators have increased investment into developing software-based services, moving away from hardware, which costs more to produce. In doing so, operators have begun to work in closer unison with car manufacturers to integrate their software into cars on the production line. This has allowed operators to sidestep external competition from free navigational... Learn More

6. Employee Assistance Programme Services in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.1

The Employee Assistance Programme Services industry is a rapidly growing and changing market. Providers compete with each other on the quality and breadth of their programmes. Research has shown that investment into employee welfare notably benefits productivity levels within a company. A report by Deloitte estimated that for every £1 invested in staff welfare, businesses gain a benefit of £5.30. Growing demand for employee assistance programme (EAP) services has caused significant revenue growth over the past five years. Industry-wide revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 10.2% over the past five years to reach £303.2 million.

In 2022-23, industry growth... Learn More

7. Fuel Cards in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.2

Operators in the Fuel Cards industry provide a payment card which can be used by fleet managers, transportation-orientated businesses and their drivers in a specified network of branded forecourts. The sale of fuel does not fall under this industry. Fuel cards offer pence-per-litre price discounts, and may also offer value-added services, like outsourced fleet management. However, remuneration for these services is not recognised as related to the industry. Revenue is only recognised as income earned via fuel card application fees, annual card fees, transaction fees, and other related surcharges not classified elsewhere such as card replacement fees. As the majority... Learn More

8. Corporate Wellness Services in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.3

After enjoying a long run of health during the early to mid-2000s, the Corporate Wellness Services industry has fallen ill during the past five years. A housing crash, financial crisis and two recessions since 2008-09 have seen employers cut back on non-core spending and slash jobs, constraining demand for health and wellbeing services. The downturn has proved particularly pronounced for corporate health providers as key customers like banks and accounting firms downsized and prioritised spending elsewhere.

During the past decade, academic research and media attention has focused on the costs imposed on business by illness and injury. As a result, companies... Learn More

9. Online Small Electrical Appliance Retailers in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.3

Industry operators retail small household electrical appliances through online platforms. Industry products include small kitchen appliances such as blenders and coffee makers, personal care appliances like electric shavers and hair dryers, and floor care appliances such as vacuum cleaners. Industry revenue has grown year on year over the past five years, primarily due to a rise in popularity of online shopping and rapid growth in internet access. The industry is mostly comprised of a small number of players that have benefited from fast organic growth. As the industry is largely an extension of a well-established bricks-and-mortar industry (see Alfabank-Adres report... Learn More

10. Car Sharing Activities in the UK

2024 ESG Score Average: 2.5

The Car Sharing Activities industry has grown strongly over the past five years. Industry operators generally offer a membership-based service that provides members with access to use vehicles without owning one and paying for car running costs. The industry has grown significantly over the past decade mainly because private and commercial customers seek alternative and cost-efficient mobility options.

For businesses, car sharing is a less costly alternative to fleet leasing while industry services are attractive to private drivers that require vehicles for specific purposes. Falling new car sales due to a period of economic uncertainty and efforts by local authorities... Learn More