Horizon scanning
What is horizon scanning?
The sustainability landscape is shifting rapidly. Our horizon scan service supports organisations to anticipate regulatory change and market expectations, providing clarity on what matters most and what requires action.
Sustainability priorities are shaped by evolving regulatory, market and societal developments. This service provides a structured horizon scan that identifies emerging risks and opportunities, translating external change into clear implications for organisational direction and decision-making.
What this service covers.
Horizon scans establish a structured assessment of external political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal developments that may influence the organisation’s sustainability approach. Using a PESTEL-based framework, it identifies emerging drivers and evaluates how they may alter risk exposure, stakeholder expectations or regulatory obligations.
Rather than cataloguing trends, the analysis translates external developments into defined sustainability implications. Issues are prioritised by relevance, timing and potential impact, clarifying where strategic direction, targets or governance arrangements may require adjustment. Outputs provide a focused view of external drivers that warrant monitoring, escalation or action within the organisation’s sustainability framework.
Value and benefits.
A structured horizon scan reduces exposure to reactive compliance and strategic drift. It enables leadership to anticipate regulatory shifts, emerging risks and market developments before they become immediate pressures.
By integrating foresight into strategy and oversight processes, organisations are better positioned to align sustainability priorities with evolving external expectations and allocate attention and resource proactively.
Frequently asked questions.
What decisions does a horizon scan inform?
A horizon scan informs strategic prioritisation, regulatory readiness and long-term planning by identifying external developments that may require adaptation of governance, targets or operational focus.
How is this different from a risk assessment?
A horizon scan is forward-looking and exploratory, focusing on emerging signals and external drivers, while risk assessments typically address current and known risks.
Does this focus only on regulation?
No. While regulation is a key component, the service also considers economic, technological and societal trends that influence sustainability performance.
How often should a horizon scan be refreshed?
Many organisations refresh horizon scans every 6 or 12 months or sooner where change is rapid.
Can this inform wider sustainability strategy?
Yes. Horizon scanning often forms a foundational input into sustainability strategy, materiality assessments and governance design.
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