BGS Business Development (BD) is tasked with helping to identify and access funding, including (but not limited to):
- negotiation of commissioned research projects, partnerships and co-developed proposals
- research grants access
- data and product licensing
- product royalties

Source: iStock.com/Serhii Brovko
Working over a wide range of industries and clients, the BD team is also in charge of:
- identifying and responding to requests for proposals (RFP), invitations to tender (ITT), invitations to quote (ITQ) and tenders
- researching new opportunities
- attending conferences, meetings, and industry events covering a range of subjects
The BGS’s client base includes both private and public sectors:
- UK Government and devolved administrations such as:
- government agencies and non-departmental public bodies and local authorities, such as:
- Policymakers, regulators and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- UK and international universities and the academic community
- international government and public sector partners, including:
- European agencies, such as the EU Commission and the European Space Agency
- international geological survey organisations
- government ministries
- aid funders
- UK and international private sector, including:
- utilities
- energy (renewable and non-renewable)
- waste management
- mining
- insurance
- infrastructure
The BGS is part-funded by UKRI-NERC and the remaining funding comes from commissioned research, products and services. The enquiries team is often the first point of contact for a new potential client or when a business is seeking information on the products and services we can provide. If you have a specific commercial, research grant or collaboration enquiry, please contact BGS Enquiries and request to arrange an appointment with one of the BD team members.
Need more information?
Find out more about our work
Our data and services
The BGS offers a range of services and information for businesses, home-owners, policymakers and the general public.
Business services
Our extensive collection of geoscience data, geological information, reports and datasets can support your business requirements.
Government and agencies
As a world-leading geoscience organisation, we provide independent and authoritative advice to the UK government and the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Lyell Centre celebrates 10 years of world-leading earth and marine science research
07/09/2026
The Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Sciences, a strategic partnership between Heriot-Watt University and BGS, is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of world-leading research, innovation and collaboration in earth and marine sciences.
Demand for data centres presents challenges and opportunities for UK critical mineral supply chains
02/09/2026
Government-backed research finds that vulnerabilities in raw material supply chains must be addressed to secure the critical minerals needed to expand the UK’s digital infrastructure and boost economic growth.
What lies beneath Europe’s sinking ground?
01/09/2026
Land subsidence is becoming increasingly visible across Europe. New research examines how better monitoring, shared data and a deeper understanding of the subsurface can help assess and manage its impacts.
Measuring the environmental impacts of carbon fibre: life cycle assessment
01/09/2026
Undergraduate student Phoebe Brown visited BGS to understand the life cycle of carbon fibre, from primary production to recycling.
Secrets of an ancient supervolcano uncovered that change our understanding of England’s geological past
28/08/2026
Scientists have found evidence of a long-hidden link between an ancient buried ash layer in Scandinavia and a concealed supervolcano in eastern England.
MaxStoreUK hydrogen geological storage policy roundtable
Event on 08/10/2026
Storage operators, regulators, licensor and Government stakeholders are invited to join our roundtable discussion of hydrogen geological storage policy.
BGS research into drought-exposed soils wins award
26/08/2026
A research paper investigating how temperate soils respond to drought has been announced as the winner of the Land Best Paper Award.
Experiences from our Commonwealth Fellowship at the British Geological Survey
24/08/2026
Scientific fellowships foster professional growth, international collaboration and exposure to world-class research environments. A group of visiting Commonwealth Fellowship researchers share their experience of being hosted at the BGS Inorganic Geochemistry Facility.
UK aquifers robust despite driest July on record
16/08/2026
In a summer experiencing widespread drought, groundwater levels around the country are showing resilience, demonstrating their value as a crucial resource and indicating they could play a more significant role in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather.
Coastal retreat in the past: the legacy of truncated drumlins
07/08/2026
The UK’s coasts have been responding to changing sea levels for thousands of years, but some of the best evidence of those changes now lies hidden beneath the waves.
BGS strengthens scientific links with Icelandic partners through Research and Innovation Scotland initiative
06/08/2026
BGS researchers recently visited Iceland as part of a project developing international partnerships and identifying opportunities for future collaborative research.
New NERC-funded project empowers young people to engage with environmental science
23/07/2026
BGS is part of a new, collaborative project, funded through NERC’s ‘Opening up the environment’ programme, helping the environmental research community become more accessible.