An environmental consultancy has enjoyed its best month of business and predicts further growth thanks to an expansion enabled by a £63,000 loan delivered by SWIG Finance.
Penzance-based Carbon Sense had already opened a second office in Plymouth when founder Andrew Moss Robinson applied for funding to grow the company to meet the increasing demand among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for measuring, reducing and reporting their carbon footprint.
Among its successes so far, Carbon Sense has enabled Smile Together community dental care to align with NHS supply frameworks, The Cinnamon Trust procure a green energy supply and reduce energy consumption overall, produced comprehensive product carbon footprints for CJ Medical and delivering carbon accounting with Net Zero Strategy for Truro City Council.
As well as being beneficial to the environment, energy efficiencies can also make crucial cost savings for SMEs and give them a competitive advantage.
Andrew said: “Our belief is that all businesses should be able to be as sustainable as possible. We work with businesses to unlock efficiencies, making sustainability work financially for them – and I also give start-up businesses advice on how to be ‘born’ sustainable, rather than launching and having to change things down the line.”
Carbon Sense has enjoyed its best month of business and predicts further growth thanks to an expansion enabled by a £63,000 loan
Last year, Andrew strengthened the Carbon Sense team by bringing in an experienced sustainability specialist, expanding the company’s expertise and enabling it to offer an even broader range of practical support to clients. Growth has continued to accelerate, with Carbon Sense welcoming five new SME clients across Cornwall and Devon in recent months. March 2026 marked the company’s strongest month on record, with the business on track to grow by 25% compared with the previous year.
“It’s clear that more businesses are recognising the value of taking action on sustainability,” Andrew said. “Whether it’s for tenders, customer requirements or supply chain expectations, organisations are increasingly being asked to demonstrate what they’re doing to reduce their carbon emissions.
“Our role is to make that process straightforward and affordable. We work alongside businesses to produce practical, high-quality solutions that not only meet requirements but often identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve efficiency and strengthen their competitive position. Sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, with the right support, it can become a real business advantage.”
Carbon Sense received a £63,000 loan, with £36,000 from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund, complemented by a further £27,000 from the Community Investment Enterprise Fund. The loan was used to invest in its growth plans and refinance an earlier loan on more favourable terms, reducing costs.
Need funding to grow your business?
We have Business Loans ranging from £25k up to £250k available
The £200m South West Investment Fund covers the entire South West region and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help small and medium sized businesses to start up and grow.
The Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF) is a £10 million facility funded by Triodos Bank and Better Society Capital. It has been made available to SWIG Finance via Social Investment Scotland to support more micro and small businesses (MSMEs) in the South and West Country. This funding forms a part of a larger, now £72 million investment initiative, which aims to support MSMEs across England and Wales, bolstering local employment opportunities and economic growth.
Carbon Sense received a £63,000 loan, with £36,000 from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund, complemented by a further £27,000 from the Community Investment Enterprise Fund
Appointed fund manager SWIG Finance manages the smaller loans parts of the fund across the region. Andrew was introduced to SWIG’s business manager Rachel Thomson by business support service Oxford Innovation.
He said: “Rachel was very efficient and really understood our business model. She explained everything well, kept me very well informed throughout the whole process and worked at my pace.
“The investment means we can accelerate what we are doing around marketing and sales, providing additional finance to market the business and dedicate time to our website. And we’ve lowered our monthly payments which provides added peace of mind while we grow the business and – in time – take on more people.”
Rachel Thomson at SWIG Finance said: “Carbon Sense provides a much-needed service to the business community. We all have a responsibility to reduce our carbon usage but often don’t know where to start. Carbon Sense can offer that support for businesses.”
Lizzy Upton, Senior Investment Manager for the British Business Bank, said: “Carbon Sense is helping businesses across the South West respond to growing demand for carbon reduction and sustainability services. This investment will help the company continue its growth, enabling more businesses to take practical steps towards net zero and embed sustainability from the outset.”
Find out more about
Find out more about
About SWIG Finance
SWIG Finance is a people-based lender that provides loans and support to help smaller businesses in the South and West Country grow. We base our lending decisions on potential rather than collateral, which means that we can often support businesses when others can't.
We’re growing every year. In 2025/26, we lent £18.4m to 506 businesses, helping to create and secure over 1,134 jobs and generate £95.2m in social impact. Download the report here.
If you’d like an informal chat about your funding requirements, get in touch with our friendly and professional team to see how we can help: info@swigfinance.co.uk / 01872 227 930