The 2025 inaugural Sustainable Times RISE Awards took place beneath the glittering chandeliers at the Grand De Vere Connaught Rooms in London, awarding innovators worldwide. The winner of the ‘Founder of the Year’  award, sponsored by NatWest , went to Instollar Technologies  Founder Chinwe Udo-Davis . She has created a tech-enabled workforce platform which is rapidly closing the gender gap in Africa’s solar industry through its ambitious 'InstallHER Initiative.' Addressing

Colette Laxton, co-founder of The Inkey List, joined Sustainable Times for a Q&A to discuss how the brand is driving sustainability in the beauty industry. As an ambassador for Breakout Beauty UK, she is also supporting the next generation of beauty entrepreneurs.

Accelerators like pioneer Y Combinator are now embedded across the UK, especially in university- and corporate-backed hubs. They boost fundraising, credibility, and partnership access for startups while helping them to align investors and industry.

The sustainability of fintechs has been a long-term focus of Julia Streets MBE - founder & CEO of B2B business development, marketing and communications firm Streets Consulting - who recently joined the judging panel for 2025 RISE awards. 

Marks & Spencer has announced the launch of its first dedicated resale service via the official M&S x eBay store, allowing customers to trade in pre-loved clothes, shoes and accessories in exchange for vouchers.

The latest group of judges for the RISE Awards includes Thom McKiernan, who leads Microsoft’s UK Sustainability Squad. He is tasked with harnessing technology’s potential to accelerate the shift towards a sustainable future.

Learn how banks are supporting sustainability-driven startups. Plus, see how the RISE Awards honour those shaping the industry’s future.

If there’s an upside to the so-called ESG backlash, it is in the greater scrutiny that investors are exercising over funds and companies that make claims about their sustainability credentials.

Welcome to LaundRe, the UK’s first and only industrial-scale denim laundry using sustainable finishing technologies. This circular fashion hub, combines high-tech reprocessing with deep design expertise. It is a full-scale rethink of how our clothes are made, re-made, and reevaluated in a time of climate crisis, mounting textile waste, and growing consumer scrutiny.

Only 2% of applicants won an Innovate UK Smart Grant in 2024. Just two per cent.  If you’ve ever applied for innovation funding, certain that you have something genuinely innovative and yet still walked away losing, don’t worry, you’re not alone. The UK prides itself on supporting innovation and has a sizable budget to support it, but the system doesn’t always feel accessible, especially if you’re a startup working in sustainability.

Accelerator programmes play a vital role in shaping the startup ecosystem. Earlier this month, Sustainable Times attended the 2025 Amazon Sustainability Accelerator Demo Day, hosted by Growth Studio and Climate KIC at the Barbican Centre. The event offered a first-hand look at emerging innovations in sustainable consumer products. The day celebrated collaboration and showcased how accelerator programmes support early-stage startups with funding, mentorship, and access to new

Despite overwhelming evidence that female-led businesses deliver stronger financial returns, the UK’s venture capital (VC) landscape continues to underfund them. In 2023, just 2.1% of UK VC allocations went to all-female teams. By mid-2024, that figure had fallen to 1.8%.

eBay may have started with a broken laser pointer in 1995, but 30 years later the digital marketplace is  pioneering a movement bigger than resale alone and has become a cornerstone of the circular economy. Alexandra Hiatt, Head of Buyer and Recommerce, spoke with Sustainable Times at Blue Earth Forum about how the company is approaching circularity and enabling small businesses and investors to do the same.

Leading UK investment funds are proving that financial returns and positive impact can align. We're shining a light on these top performers and inviting them to secure well-deserved recognition at the RISE Awards, especially in categories like Best Sustainable Asset Manager and Wealth Manager of the Year.

Alex Money wears many hats: academic, entrepreneur, advisor, and now, judge for the Sustainable Times RISE Awards, which spotlight high-potential sustainability startups. Known for his work in sustainability and water innovation, Money brings a rare blend of rigorous academic insight and practical startup experience. 

In the latest episode of Profit Meets Purpose, Swayne sat down with Sustainable Times to discuss how founders can build the right teams and shared practical advice for those looking to enter the climate tech industry. She’s finding that there is no shortage of candidates, but nevertheless advises founders to think twice before hiring. 

The Sustainable Times RISE Awards  are fast approaching, celebrating groundbreaking innovation in sustainability. Ahead of the event, we...

Oli Cook, CEO & Co-Founder Financial infrastructure wasn’t built for sustainability. It was built for speed, security, and scale. But...

Two massive industry trends are currently converging; AI and sustainability. This makes sense when we consider that data and forecasting...

Sustainable construction is evolving, facing challenges like fragmented guidelines and high costs. Yet, the industry is progressing, as discussed by Sustainable Times, Georgina Thomas and Kara Thompson, a judge for the Sustainable Times RISE Awards and Director at UK FACTION. Startups can drive this change, focusing on waste management, logistics, material tracking, and sustainability assessments, fostering a more sustainable built environment.