2006 vs 2026 – Renewables have moved on, but according to the Better Business coalition the Companies Act is stuck in the past

Blog

01 Jun 2026

Thousands of UK businesses are calling on government to modernise business law so that all companies prioritise people, planet and profit.

Article written by anna.cooper

Share this article

A lot’s changed since the Companies Act was introduced in 2006. 20 years ago, renewables were the pursuit of a few committed people. Today they supply over half of the UK’s electricity demand. Whilst the world has moved on, modern business law is still stuck in the past.

This year’s Better Business campaign is focused on highlighting the need for modern business law to keep pace with a society that has evolved significantly over the past couple of decades. As you can see, we at Thrive have certainly changed a lot, but we remain true to our mission which is even more relevant in today’s volatile world.

20 years Thrive-ing – 2006 vs 2026

In 2006, we were growing a small but ambitious clean energy portfolio– having just purchased Caton Moor and Sigurd wind projects. In total the portfolio had a capacity of just under 23MW.

Fast forward 20 years, Thrive has built and funded over 45 clean energy projects across the UK, including investing in pioneering projects like the UK’s first geothermal power plant and England’s largest onshore wind turbine. Today we have £121 million of assets under management, with a combined portfolio capacity of 175MW.

Modern business law isn’t keeping up

It’s fair to say a huge amount has changed for our business and the wider sector too, but modern business law isn’t keeping up. Together with thousands of businesses across the UK, we’re supporting the Better Business Act campaign to change that by calling on the UK government to amend Section 172 of the Companies Act. This will legally require UK businesses to balance the long-term interests of people, planet, and profit.

Why better business is better for business

Having already embedded Section 172 into our Articles of Association, Thrive is living proof that it is possible to prioritise social and environmental impact alongside profit. We’re proud to be recognised in the top 3% of UK B Corps for our ongoing commitment to environmental and social justice.

UK B Corps like Thrive have spent years proving that this type of governance doesn’t just benefit people and planet – it’s better for business too. B Corps’ turnover growth is almost 7 times higher than all UK SMEs, and over the past decade they have attracted 18% more growth funding from external investors than comparable UK businesses.

On 9th June for Better Business Day, we’ll be joining the call for the government to upgrade to better business now. Find out how you can get involved with the campaign here.