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About Us

Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd is a purpose-driven business dedicated to improving homes, communities and lives.

Purpose and Experience

Owned by Sustainable Investments Limited, we share the wider group’s goals. By applying industry best practice and innovative technologies, we work to address four of the most important challenges facing Britain today:

• The cost-of-living crisis
• Fuel poverty and its effects on public health
• National energy security
• Climate change

As a group, we seek to ensure that financially viable decarbonisation solutions are available to everyone – public sector clients, landlords, tenants and private households alike. It’s our mission to ensure than in the drive towards decarbonisation and net zero, we don’t leave anyone behind.

Our History

Established in 1976, SBS has been at the forefront of residential energy efficiency and decarbonisation for decades. We deliver multi-measure energy-efficiency works to thousands of homes every year, helping residents to enjoy better living conditions while also saving money. We routinely work in occupied properties, including vulnerable households, and on mixed-tenure schemes.

Before the introduction of PAS2030 and PAS2035, we campaigned for and supported the prioritisation of whole-house, multi-measure decarbonisation schemes. We promoted the value of the resulting economies of scale, which boost community-wide impacts and help to accelerate progress in the battle against fuel-poverty.

In recent years, we have consciously adapted our business to respond to the requirements of PAS2035 and are now one of the UK’s leading decarbonisation specialists, managing and delivering retrofit projects at scale.

Our Social Impact

Our Expertise

Group Structure

Motivated by purpose, not by profit, we are one of several related companies that all strive to alleviate fuel poverty and to support faster, fairer progress towards decarbonisation. These companies include:

Owner of Sustainable Building Services and the driving force behind the group.

Retrofit Decarbonisation Tier 1 Contractor

Retrofit Service Consultancy and Fintech Solutions Provider

Residential Proptech and Smart Technology Solutions Provider

Decarbonisation Product Manufacturer and Supplier

Award Success

The success of our approach is recognised via the retrofit decarbonisation sector’s most acclaimed national accolade, The Retrofit Academy Awards. We won The Retrofit Academy’s Award for Best Retrofit Contractor of the Year for 2023 and 2024, as well as a win for Best Retrofit Employer Award 2024 for the first time. This endorses excellence at scale, meeting PAS 2035 principles, consistent delivery of high-quality resident engagement, innovation, high-quality whole-house retrofit projects, and providing career pathways within the retrofit sector.

Learn more about our approach to retrofit decarbonisation

The Unlock Net Zero Awards recognise and champion progress on the journey to decarbonisation for the UK housing, built environment and property sectors together with the professional services and supply chains that support them. We were awarded the Supply Chain Partner of the Year 2024 and won Collaboration of the Year 2024 for our retrofit decarbonisation work with Rykneld Homes. Our Owner & Chairman, Derek Horrocks was recognised as the Climate Champion of the Year 2024.

Learn more about our approach to retrofit decarbonisation

We have also been shortlisted for the Construction News Awards for its Contractor of the Year 2024. Recognised as one of the most prestigious and coveted awards in UK construction, we have been singled out among a select few peers for our dedication to high quality, people first operations, innovation, and the delivery of outstanding projects and a forward-looking approach to the industry.

Learn more about our approach to retrofit decarbonisation

The Building Communities Awards, hosted by the procurement consortium Efficiency East Midlands (EEM), recognise and celebrate professionalism, excellence and innovation within the housing and construction community. Through our close partnership with leading housing provider Rykneld Homes we have together won the Carbon Reduction Project of the Year 2024, along with for Refurbishment Project of the Year 2024 and 2025. SBS were also named as runner up in the Contractor of the Year category for 2025.

Learn more about our approach to retrofit decarbonisation

Our Leadership Team

Sustainable Building Services is led by a senior management team with many decades of experience in the fields of residential decarbonisation and energy efficiency. Their expertise in these sectors is almost unparalleled.

They are supported by equally experienced regional and operational management teams that have supported exceptional but sustainable year-on-year growth in recent years.

Derek Horrocks
Owner & Chairman

Derek Horrocks

Highly respected and acclaimed in the energy efficiency sector, Derek is also chair of the National Insulation Association (NIA) and a non-executive director of both the Retrofit Academy and Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency (SWIGA). Click to read more

Highly respected and acclaimed in the energy efficiency sector, Derek is also chair of the National Insulation Association (NIA) and a non-executive director of both the Retrofit Academy and Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency (SWIGA).

With over 30 years’ experience, and as the owner of leading commercial decarbonisation businesses, Derek regularly represents the sector in dealings with The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and other key stakeholder organisations. He sits on the Steering Groups for PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 and has helped to inform and influence government policy – including industry standards, best practice, quality assurance and public funding streams.

He also regularly appears as an industry expert speaker at industry conferences and seminars.

Gary Lawson
Managing Director

Gary Lawson

Gary has over 25 years’ experience of delivering major retrofit projects - particularly on large-scale housing refurbishment and decarbonisation energy efficiency schemes. Click to read more

Gary has over 25 years’ experience of delivering major retrofit projects - particularly on large-scale housing refurbishment and decarbonisation energy efficiency schemes.

With overall responsibility for all company activities, including health & safety, Gary ensures project delivery in line with all contractual, funding and regulatory requirements. In recent months, this has included over 2,000+ properties upgraded with whole-house retrofit improvements under the PAS 2030 / PAS2035 standards.

He was previously managing director of the energy services division of a FTSE 250 business, which had a divisional turnover exceeding £60 million and specialised in housing refurbishment schemes including energy efficiency measures.

Steve Roberts
Regional Director

Steve Roberts

Steve has over 25 years’ experience of delivering major retrofit projects throughout the country - particularly on large-scale retrofit housing refurbishment and decarbonisation energy efficiency schemes. Click to read more

Steve has over 25 years’ experience of delivering major retrofit projects throughout the country - particularly on large-scale retrofit housing refurbishment and decarbonisation energy efficiency schemes.

With regional responsibility for quality, health & safety, supply chain procurement and management, Steve ensures project delivery in line with all contractual, programming and regulatory requirements, under PAS 2030 / PAS2035 standards.

Regional Director

Mike Easdon

Mike joined SBS in 2021 and has extensive experience of delivering major works - particularly on large scale housing refurbishment projects and energy efficiency schemes. Click to read more

Mike joined SBS in 2021 and has responsibility for Sustainable Building Services in the South. He has extensive experience of delivering major works - particularly on large scale housing refurbishment projects and energy efficiency schemes.

He was previously a main board director in FTSE 250 organisations specialising in support services, infrastructure and construction sectors. He has managed several contracting, facilities management and construction businesses. Prior to joining SBS, Mike was managing director of an SME operating within the energy efficiency, social housing regeneration and decarbonisation sectors.

Additionally, Mike was a director and vice chair of the National Insulation Association and had responsibility for chairing the compliance, scheme development, best practice and marketing working groups. He has close ties with government, industry regulators and UK energy efficiency stakeholders.

Ian Jones
Regional Director

Ian Jones

Ian has over 20 years’ experience within the construction industry delivering social housing refurb projects for councils and housing associations throughout the UK. Click to read more

Ian has worked his way up from Trainee QS all the way through to commercial manager and now regional director.

Managing all projects within the North-West & North-Wales regions, Ian has developed a team capable of delivering a whole host of internal and external social housing refurbishment contracts for a wide range of clients.

He has previously held senior commercial roles within companies delivering large scale energy efficiency projects and exceeding £100 million in annual turnover.

Regional Director

Dan Owens

Daniel has over 15 years’ experience delivering large scale retrofit projects throughout the country. He currently manages projects across the East Midlands and West Yorkshire, leading teams in the delivery of diverse energy-efficient solutions for numerous clients.. Click to read more

Daniel has over 15 years’ experience delivering large scale retrofit projects throughout the country.

Since joining SBS in 2015 as an Assistant QS, Daniel has demonstrated strong leadership, advancing to Operations Manager and now Regional Director.
He currently manages projects across the East Midlands and West Yorkshire, leading teams in the delivery of diverse energy-efficient solutions for numerous clients.

Daniel's regional responsibilities encompass quality assurance, health & safety protocols, supply chain management, and ensuring project compliance with all contractual, programming, and regulatory obligations, including PAS 2030/2035.

Our Chair - Derek Horrocks

Highly respected in the energy efficiency sector, Derek is our founder and company chair. His passion and commitment to raising standards in the industry is evident in the various positions he holds.

  • Chair of the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG)
  • Chair of the National Insulation Association (NIA)
  • Member of the Steering Groups for PAS 2030 and PAS 2035
  • Non-executive director of the Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency (SWIGA)

With over 30 years’ experience, Derek regularly represents the sector through engaging with UK Government and other key stakeholder organisations. He has helped to inform and influence government policy on matters such as industry standards, best practice, quality assurance and public funding streams. He was named in the Unlock Net Zero Climate Champion’s Power List 2023 and has been shortlisted for the 2024 Climate Champion of the Year award and is a 2024 Construction Leader of the Year Finalist.

THE NATIONAL HOME DECARBONISATION GROUP (NHDG)

In 2023, Derek Horrocks helped form the NHDG, a coalition of Tier 1 contractors and energy suppliers that deliver energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies, at scale.

The NHDG’s objective is to grow the retrofit supply chain through a collaborative platform that enables its members to focus on three core tasks, all of which are critical to achieving national targets for energy and sustainability.

They include:

POLICY – The NHDG shares the view that to deliver essential decarbonisation targets, the sector needs to be ready.
The NHDG works with government to influence policy at all levels to help achieve this.

SKILLS – Working together with the NHDG Workforce Development Partner, The Retrofit Academy, to lead the development of quality retrofit skills and training across the UK.

INNOVATION – Leading on driving the innovation needed in the sector to deliver home decarbonisation at scale, increasing the confidence for investors and consumers.

Contact our Retrofit and Decarbonisation project teams to secure, plan and deliver your next project.

Get in touch

Contact our Retrofit and Decarbonisation project teams to secure, plan and deliver your next project.

Get in touch

© Sustainable Building Services Ltd 2025. All Rights Reserved.

© Sustainable Building Services Ltd 2025. All Rights Reserved.