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Compliance | 
21/04/26

Reporting to action: How to simplify SECR and use it with ESOS to drive real energy and carbon reductions 

Most large UK organisations now report energy and carbon data every year. 

The reality of this is actually that a huge amount of time goes into reporting and not enough into actually improving performance. SECR gets done; ESOS gets done. But they’re often treated as separate exercises, and that’s where meaningful progress can fall down.

What is SECR and who does it apply to?

Under Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR), organisations must report if they are:

  • A quoted company listed on a UK exchange, or
  • A large unquoted company or LLP meeting at least two of the following:
  • 250+ employees
  • £36m+ annual turnover
  • £18m+ balance sheet total

If your organisation is in scope of SECR, you’ll be reporting:

  • Energy use
  • Carbon emissions (Scope 1, 2 and some Scope 3)
  • An intensity ratio
  • Energy efficiency actions taken

At the same time, you’re likely also:

  • Delivering ESOS
  • Working towards Net Zero
  • Responding to client and supply chain pressure

So, the challenge isn’t lack of data or obligations, it’s what happens next.

The real issue: reporting without action

After 25 + years working with organisations on reducing energy and carbon emissions, we can see a clear pattern has emerged: Lots of reporting is being done, but it’s not translating into action. Dashboards are built and reports are submitted without the time, expertise or human power to act on findings and embed change into operations.

Common issues we regularly see:

  • Data spread across different teams and systems
  • Reporting done in isolation from operations
  • Too much focus on getting ‘perfect’ numbers
  • Not enough time left to act on what the data is saying

What successful organisations are doing differently

We’ve noticed that the organisations actually getting this right are doing something simple and focussing on three main elements:

  • Keep it proportionate
  • Keep it consistent
  • Link it to action and progress

And this is where a joined up approach to ESOS and SECR becomes powerful:

  • ESOS gives you the opportunities
  • SECR tracks what you’ve done about them – year on year

When these are connected, reporting becomes a tool for accountability and progress, not just compliance.

Where things typically go wrong, from an organisation that has seen these many times

In our experience, issues tend to come from:

  • Treating SECR purely as a finance reporting task
  • Letting ESOS sit on a shelf after submission
  • Overcomplicating data collection
  • Fail to define scope and boundaries early on

If you want SECR to add value, keep it straightforward

  • Start with ESOS (if applicable)
  • Use it as your action plan, not just a compliance report.
  • Use SECR to tell the story
  • What have you done this year? What impact has it had? What’s next?
  • Year-on-year comparability matters more than perfect data.
  • Keep it connected to the business
  • Keep energy and carbon linked to cost, operations and decision-making

What this means in practice and what does reporting start to support

  • Cost reduction
  • Better investment decisions
  • Credible Net Zero planning
  • Moving from reporting to action and delivery

How JRP can help with SECR

We support organisations in meeting SECR requirements in a way that is clear, proportionate and aligned with business needs.

This includes:

  • Establishing a robust and auditable carbon footprint
  • Defining appropriate organisational and operational boundaries
  • Collecting and validating energy and emissions data
  • Calculating intensity ratios
  • Identifying and articulating energy efficiency actions
  • Ensuring outputs are suitable for annual reports and compliance

Importantly, we don’t just focus on compliance. We help ensure your SECR reporting:

  • Makes sense internally
  • Supports wider sustainability goals
  • Links directly to cost and carbon reduction opportunities
  • And, we provide practical solutions and project implementation to support delivery of your projects, helping to meet wider business objectives too

We also help keeping reporting on track.  A common challenge is maintaining consistency year-on-year. Many organisations lose momentum after the first reporting cycle or struggle as data and teams change.

To support this, we offer a four-year package at a reduced rate, helping ensure reporting remains consistent, efficient and aligned with compliance requirements.

Ready to simplify your approach?

If your organisation is in scope for SECR or preparing for it and finding the process time-consuming or unclear, you’re not alone.

We’re always happy to have an informal conversation about your current approach and where you might be able to simplify and strengthen it.

Book a call with our team to discuss your SECR reporting.