The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
Analysis
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in November 1979, 47 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. It says it provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers reported income of £11.1m and spending of £11.0m, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £6.9m to £11.1m (+61%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 77%. Over the whole period it spent 84% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (£10.9m), The Ashridge (Bonar Law Memorial) Trust (£11.4m) and Climate Bonds Initiative (£10.9m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 42%, charitable activities 7.4%, donations and legacies 2.8% and investments 1.3%. Charitable activities took 65% of spending and raising funds 34%. Reserves of £7.0m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 79 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 2.8%
- Charitable activities 7.4%
- Trading 42%
- Investments 1.3%
- Other 47%
In the charity's own words
CIBSE publishes authoritative, internationally recognised Guidance and Codes and sets the criteria for best practice in building services engineering, with particular emphasis on the response to climate change. CIBSE accredits courses of study in further and higher education, approves work-based training programmes and provides routes to full professional registration.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust | Oxfordshire | £10.9m |
| The Ashridge (Bonar Law Memorial) Trust | Hertfordshire | £11.4m |
| Climate Bonds Initiative | London | £10.9m |
| B Lab (UK) | London | £11.7m |