Seven Years of Progress
How BASIS Strengthened Sustainability Across UK Sport
Over the past seven years, BASIS has shifted from being a niche advocate to becoming a central reference point for sustainability in UK sport.
The organisation has made consistent progress in developing capability, engagement and best practice; giving clubs, venues and governing bodies a more structured path from planning to implementation.
What BASIS Achieved
Normalising Sustainability as Core Practice
Sustainability moved from the edges of the conversation into mainstream operational planning. BASIS helped to create a shared language, a framework and set of expectations that assisted organisations benchmark progress, justify investment and communicate impact.
Building Sector-wide Skills and Confidence
Training programmes expanded, guidance matured and organisations gained more practical tools to support day to day decision making. This helped close the gap between high level strategy and on the ground operations across energy, waste, water and nature.
Strengthening Collaboration Across the Industry
BASIS provided an independent space where clubs, venues, NGBs, suppliers and authorities could engage on common challenges. This reduced duplication, encouraged the reuse of proven approaches and created a more consistent understanding of what ‘good’ looks like.
Increasing Practical Support for Everyday Delivery
Conferences, webinars, site visits and member resources provided applied, operationally relevant guidance. This meant sustainability was no longer an abstract concept; it became something operational teams could confidently plan, budget and deliver.
Elevating Demonstrable Impact Through the BASIS Conference and Awards
The Conferences and Awards emerged as the clearest showcase of what is working in the sector. They helped highlight useful case studies, profile measurable outcomes and accelerate the spread of innovation, embracing a holistic approach from fan engagement initiatives through to asset investment environmental improvements.
In summary the successes that mattered most:
Turning sustainability into a recognised performance indicator within the sector.
Helping organisations secure internal buy in by providing credible frameworks, case studies and evidence.
Creating a professional network that enabled faster learning and better alignment across different levels of sport.
Raising the profile of environmental and social impact work at a time when sponsors, funders and regulators increasingly expect it.
So, what comes next for BASIS?
The next phase for BASIS is defined by scale, consistency and long-term value. There are three areas where the organisation is well-placed to continue supporting the sector:
Practical Guidance for Operational Delivery
As more organisations commit to sustainability targets, the emphasis will shift from planning to execution. BASIS can play a central role in translating intent into reliable, repeatable operational practice.
Clearer Pathways for Emerging Talent
Developing a larger, more skilled workforce, including operational leads, facility managers and young professionals will be essential as sustainability becomes part of every role. BASIS is positioned to support this talent pipeline.
Continued Visibility of Sector Progress
The Conference and Awards, thought leadership, advocacy, and member insights will remain key mechanisms for celebrating achievements, sharing evidence and driving healthy progress. This visibility keeps momentum high and helps anchor sustainability as part of the sector’s culture.
In Essence…
BASIS has developed the structure, capability, community and provided a clear demonstration of what progress looks like. The opportunity now is to deepen the delivery side of sustainability and support organisations as they invest in infrastructure, embed nature positive designs, reduce carbon, build resilience into operations and enthuse their public.
The next chapter will be defined by practical impact, through helping sport move from strategy to measurable change at scale.
