A year ago, we became a Certified B Corp, committing to balancing profit with purpose.
For us, this wasn’t just a badge or a box-ticking exercise, it was, and still is, a statement of who we are and the kind of business we want to be. Achieving this milestone during our 20th anniversary felt fitting, reinforcing two decades of working with businesses, communities, and the environment in mind.
One year on, we’re taking stock. What have we achieved? What have we learned? And most importantly, how can we do even better?
Our B Corp Journey.
Our journey started in October 2022 when Ellie Stamer, one of our Innovation & Growth Specialists, attended a B Corp event in Bristol. The conversations and ideas she encountered there lit a spark that she brought back to BIC. With the support of Huw Watkins, one of our founding directors, the idea quickly took root, and our “B Team” was formed.
This dedicated, cross-functional team tackled the rigorous B Impact Assessment head-on, evaluating every corner of our business. By September 2023, after months of hard work, we submitted our application for certification.
Fast forward to a rainy February morning (isn’t it always?), and the email came through: we were officially a Certified B Corporation. It was a moment of shared celebration – not the end of the journey but the beginning of something even bigger.
A Year of Impact
Over the past year, we’ve focused on living up to the high standards of the B Corp community. Here’s what we’ve achieved:
Governance & Transparency: We embedded purpose into our Articles of Association, sharing financial transparency through quarterly updates.
Empowering Our Team: We introduced an Employee Net Promoter Score, launched flexible schedules, celebrated an annual Wellbeing Day, and provided additional private health support.
Community Impact: Our team actively contributed to beach cleans, food bank drives, and charitable causes with matched donations.
Environmental Progress: We reduced our carbon intensity to 89.88 tCOâ‚‚/ÂŁ1m, launched car-sharing initiatives, and ensured 100% of e-waste was recycled within the UK.
Client Success: Over the year, we supported 910 businesses, secured ÂŁ24 million in funding, created 609 jobs, and safeguarded 1,244 roles.
Each of these milestones reflects the combined efforts of our team, clients, and community.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead to our 2026 re-certification, we’re setting ambitious goals to deepen our impact:
- Stronger ESG Reporting: We’re embedding environmental, social, and governance principles more deeply into our operations.
- Enhanced Wellbeing Initiatives: From new training opportunities to better life-stage support, we’re committed to helping our team thrive.
- Greener Operations: Further reducing carbon emissions and exploring energy-efficient solutions are priorities.
- Ethical Sourcing: We’re increasing our support for local suppliers and auditing our supply chain for diversity.
- Maximising Client Impact: We’ll continue working with businesses to drive sustainability and equality while refining how we measure and report impact.
Celebrating B Corp Month
This B Corp Month, we’re reminded why we embarked on this journey in the first place: to hold ourselves accountable to do business better – for our people, our planet, and the businesses we work with every day.
Linda Grant, our Managing Director, reflects: “Being a B Corp isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. This past year has shown what’s possible when you put purpose at the heart of your business. Our purpose-driven future as a B Corp would not be possible without our people, our clients, and our communities. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, but I’m even more excited for what’s to come. Let’s believe in change, together.”
Becoming a B Corp was a promise. A promise to hold ourselves accountable to the ideals of doing better, every single day. And as we move forward, that commitment remains at the heart of everything we do.
