British Geological Survey (BGS)

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is the United Kingdom’s national geological survey and a partly publicly funded research organisation focused on public-good geoscience. Headquartered in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, with major centres in Edinburgh, Cardiff, London and other UK locations, it operates as a research centre of the Natural Environment Research Council within UK Research and Innovation. BGS’s core remit is to advance geoscientific knowledge of the UK landmass and continental shelf through systematic surveying, monitoring and research, and to provide objective, authoritative geoscientific data, information and advice to government, industry, academia and the public. BGS maintains and develops national geological, geophysical, geochemical and hydrogeological maps, 2D–4D models and digital databases, and hosts over 400 datasets, including major national collections in the National Geoscience Data Centre and the National Geological Repository. Its services range from geological mapping, geotechnical and geochemical laboratories, seismological and geomagnetic monitoring, and airborne and marine surveys to decision-support tools such as GeoIndex, GeoSure and bespoke GeoReports for issues like ground stability, radon and site investigation. It also operates the UK’s earthquake monitoring network and provides specialist business services and consultancy in areas such as offshore and onshore site assessment, marine surveys for offshore wind siting, subsurface resource evaluation, CCUS, geothermal energy, energy storage, groundwater, minerals and multi-hazard risk. Guided by its 2023–2028 strategy “Understanding our Earth”, BGS focuses on four science priorities: delivering modern maps and models for the UK, enabling a more secure energy transition, improving water security and supporting society in living with geological hazards. Its work underpins UK low‑carbon energy infrastructure, including offshore wind and carbon storage, and supports international development and capacity building in areas such as groundwater, critical minerals and multi-hazard environments. In 2024–2025 BGS reported around 580 FTE staff and income of approximately £68 million, funded roughly half from UKRI-NERC national capability and half from commissioned research and services.