A new social enterprise spinout from the University of Warwick, EcoTransform, has launched [9 June 2026], offering a pioneering consultancy that helps organisations design environmental policies that work for both nature and communities.
EcoTransform closes the gap between sector-leading research and real-world policy design, working with organisations to understand how environmental interventions affect people.
Professor Nikoleta Jones of the University of Warwick, and CEO of EcoTransform, said: "The right environmental policies can transform socio-economic prosperity, but for that to happen we need to understand which factors make policies work, and why. EcoTransform offers research-grounded tools, drawing on well-established and tested methodologies, to measure, interpret and predict how environmental change affects the way people interact with a particular place.
"This bespoke, in-depth insight supports the development of multi-dimensional policies that are responsive to communities and deliver meaningful impact."
The consultancy supports organisations to involve local communities in environmental decision-making through citizen science, participatory mapping and social impact assessment. Combining academic expertise with practical application, the company aims to help generate measurable social value alongside positive outcomes.
Dr Benedict Dempsey, People and Nature Adviser at World Wildlife Fund UK, welcomed the launch, saying: "We have worked with the team at EcoTransform for more than two years and they have added an enormous amount of value to our work, bringing insights that have helped us adapt our programmes and shape our future projects. They have brilliantly combined academic rigour with practical delivery."
EcoTransform's Social Impact Assessment framework (SOCIAT) helps organisations assess the social impacts of nature protection and restoration projects, providing evidence on how local communities are affected and how to build public support for environmental action. The tool was developed in collaboration with several protected areas and EUROPARC Federation, and has been applied in more than 30 protected areas across Europe, including Pembrokeshire, UK; the Black Forest, Germany; and Triglav, Slovenia.
EUROPARC Federation Director Alberto Arroyo Schnell stated: "This cooperation has successfully connected social sciences, natural sciences, and on-the-ground practice, enabling our members to better assess the social outcomes of their Protected Areas for local communities and strengthen informed decision-making. We welcome EcoTransform's support in continuing this important work."
The consultancy launch also marks a significant milestone, as EcoTransform is the first Warwick spinout to emerge from an Arts and Social Sciences discipline.
Rachel Moseley, Faculty of Arts Chair, commented: "This pioneering spinout reflects the strength of Warwick's interdisciplinary research culture. EcoTransform highlights the important contribution of our School of Cross-faculty Studies to addressing complex environmental and societal challenges, translating research into practical solutions that generate positive social value, economic impact and wellbeing."
Professor Jones added: "As a social enterprise, our mission is to maximise the benefits of nature for people, and a proportion of EcoTransform's profits will be reinvested into student wellbeing initiatives, including eco-therapy programmes that support mental health through engagement with nature."
