This report has been developed by edie's Intelligence team, based on the results of our content delivery and post-campaign interviews with AXA's' campaign leads. It breaks down how the partnership between edie and AXA Climate was developed and has evolved over time, and the measurable impacts that it has delivered for the market and the organisation - along with our future plans for the partnership.
Thousands of businesses across the country have set ambitious sustainability and decarbonisation targets, but it’s clear these targets will not be met without strong alignment and engagement within those organisations, and the right skills to deliver the actions required.
AXA Climate’s expertise revolves around helping businesses adapt to climate and sustainability challenges - through education, training and software solutions. This requires reaching and engaging businesses who might otherwise not even understand the scale of the challenge - let alone which options work best to improve their sustainability profile and educate their workforce.
Through our partnership with AXA Climate, edie has worked to engage a wider audience of dedicated professionals who could benefit best from AXA Climate’s expertise. Through a workshop event focused exclusively on sustainability reporting and communications, through a number of digital blogs on edie’s website and through AXA Climate’s crucial content partner role at edie’s flagship edie 25 event, a host of new professionals have benefited from AXA Climate’s services, driving the sustainability agenda forward as a whole.
How would you summarise the current state of play around corporate sustainability and climate action today?
"We see corporate sustainability entering a new phase where adaptation is becoming as important as mitigation. In the UK, regulatory shifts are moving closer to the EU model, and companies are increasingly focused on supply chain resilience and risk management. While sustainability remains a priority, many businesses with US exposure have faced budget cuts and delays, leading to paused or reduced activity in some areas. Against this backdrop, education and upskilling are emerging as critical enablers of the long-term sustainability transition."
Why did you decide to start working with edie?
"For AXA Climate, education is a “necessary cog” in the sustainability machine. We support businesses in embedding sustainability knowledge across functions, helping strategies move beyond initial reporting and targets into meaningful year-on-year improvement.
Working with edie has enabled us to position education and awareness as an essential part of corporate sustainability strategy. edie’s reputation as a leading and respected voice in UK sustainability media provides us with a credible platform to raise awareness and align itself with industry thought leadership."
What were your initial objectives entering this partnership?
"AXA Climate’s objectives for working with edie were fourfold: Commercial growth through engaging new companies that we can partner with; brand positioning to distinguish our company as a sustainability specialist; thought leadership through driving recognition of sustainability education as a core part of corporate transition strategies; and market insight, and gaining a better understanding of the UK corporate sustainability landscape.
Rather than pursuing specific KPIs, AXA Climate viewed its partnership with edie as an opportunity to build awareness and reinforce its role as a leader in sustainability education. Activities have included webinars, workshops, participation in edie 25, and a series of blogs – all focused on education as a driver of corporate transformation rather than direct product promotion."
What measurable impacts have you seen working with edie?
"While returns from B2B education-focused marketing are difficult to quantify, edie campaigns have delivered tangible engagement: webinars attracted hundreds of registrants, providing valuable contact data, and workshops created new opportunities to start meaningful conversations with senior stakeholders.
Qualitatively, we can report that conversations at edie events are more insightful and less transactional than those encountered at other forums, offering deeper engagement with relevant audiences."
What works well in your partnership with edie?
"Several aspects of the collaboration stand out: event quality and reach, as edie webinars and events delivered high registration numbers and facilitated meaningful conversations; Content credibility, given edie’s editorial authority ensures outputs are not perceived as advertorial, enhancing trust; and brand association – participation in flagship initiatives like edie 25 helped strengthen AXA Climate’s position as a sustainability thought leader.
Overall, we view our collaboration with edie very positively. All deliverables – webinars, workshops, blogs, and event participation – have met expectations, with strong execution and smooth delivery. The relationship has helped AXA Climate amplify its message that education and awareness must be central to any credible corporate sustainability strategy."