Suffolk Climate Change Partnership wins national award at the 2026 APSE Energy & DESNZ Awards

The Suffolk Climate Change Partnership (SCCP) has won the Working in Collaboration Award at the prestigious 2026 APSE Energy & DESNZ Awards, recognising the Partnership’s exceptional impact, reach and commitment to collective climate action across the county.

This national award celebrates the SCCP’s long‑standing ability to unite Suffolk’s local authorities, public bodies, businesses, schools, community organisations and residents to accelerate progress towards the shared ambition of achieving a Sustainable Suffolk.

For over a decade, the SCCP has provided a trusted, countywide platform for shared learning, joint project delivery and coordinated climate and energy action, delivering outcomes at a significant scale. With the backing of Suffolk’s local authorities, the Partnership’s dedicated team has accessed more than £17 million in external funding to deliver projects supporting our businesses, communities, and residents.

The SCCP’s winning submission, ‘Collaboration in Action – The Suffolk Story’, showcased a diverse portfolio of countywide initiatives demonstrating the power of partnership.

Working with businesses:

• Supported 2,700+ businesses to improve energy efficiency
• Identified £3.23 million in savings and 18,528 tonnes CO₂ potential annual reductions
• Delivered tailored decarbonisation support to 800 organisations through the Net Zero Suffolk Consultancy service

Supporting schools & education providers:

• Established the Suffolk Sustainable Schools Network, now engaging 150+ schools, colleges and trusts
• Delivered free energy audits identifying £712,000 in potential savings and 1,287 tonnes of CO₂ reductions
• Provided teacher training, sustainability conferences and outreach benefiting 100+ education staff
• Hosted the annual Youth Climate Conference, attended by 550 students to date

Empowering residents & communities:

• Created the Suffolk Community Network (160+ groups) and Suffolk Community Energy Network (28 villages)
• Delivered the ‘Keep the Heat’ thermal imaging project, enabling 1,818 home surveys, with 63% of households taking action
• Unlocked £1 million+ in funding for community-led climate projects since 2023

Driving innovation and shared learning:

• Hosted quarterly best-practice forums, site visits and training sessions to strengthen cross‑authority collaboration.
• Developed a partnership-owned 30kWp solar PV array supporting research at the University of Suffolk.
• Introduced a new Climate Adaptation Officer working closely with the Suffolk Resilience Partnership.

David Walton, Programme Manager, Sustainable Suffolk said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to win this national award. This achievement reflects the dedication of partners across Suffolk who work tirelessly to support residents, schools, businesses and communities. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, and this recognition shows what’s possible when w

e work together towards a shared purpose.”

Councillor Gerald Kelly, Chair of the Suffolk Councils’ Environment Portfolio Holders’ Group, said:

“This award is a wonderful recognition of the depth and strength of partnership working across Suffolk.

“The Suffolk Climate Change Partnership continues to show what can be achieved when local authorities work alongside communities, businesses and public sector organisations to drive meaningful climate action.

“This success is a testament to the commitment of the many groups and individuals across the county who work collaboratively to cut emissions, support residents, and create a more environmentally resilient future. This award recognises our shared determination to keep making progress together.”