• 62 certified UK B Corps are leading a global movement to redefine success in business
• Charity Bank is one of the first UK businesses to join the B Corps movement and the first European bank to be certified as a B Corp
Regular companies exist for the interests of their shareholders. B Corps are companies where the interests of employees, communities and the environment rank alongside those of shareholders. Members formally commit to the B Corp community principles through signing a declaration and are required to change their legal documents so that employees, communities and the wider environment rank alongside shareholders in decision making processes.
Today (24 September) Charity Bank, a bank which uses its savers’ money to make loans solely to charities and social enterprises as a bank for good, formally celebrates becoming the first bank in Europe to become a B Corporation at the launch of the B Corp community in the UK, a global movement that is redefining success in business.The launch pays homage to the legacy of the UK in shaping and setting the pace for change in the markets over the last 200 years, starting from the Quakers and Rochdale Pioneers.
List of 62 UK founding B Corps (alphabetically)
1. Bates Wells Braithwaite LLP |
32. Matter&Co |
2. Be Inspired Films |
33. Neighbourly |
3. Benefacto |
34. Numbers4Good |
4. Bethnal Green Ventures |
35. Odyssey Labs LTD |
5. Bridges Ventures LLP |
36. Ogunte |
6. Carbon Analytics |
37. On Purpose |
7. Charity Bank |
38. One Stone |
8. ClearlySo Limited |
39. Outcomes for Children Limited |
9. ClimateCare |
40. Patients Know Best |
10. Cook Trading Ltd |
41. Pelorus Consulting |
11. Cotswold Fayre Ltd |
42. Power of Youth |
12. Counter Culture |
43. Salt Communications UK |
13. Elvis & Kresse |
44. Shoremount |
14. Enterprise Projects Ventures Limited |
45. Six Degree People |
15. EQ Investors |
46. Social Stock Exchange |
16. EQi Group |
47. Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce |
17. Escape the City |
48. SustainAbility |
18. Fluid IT |
49. Swarm Partnership |
19. Folk Digital Ltd |
50. The Big Issue |
20. Forster Communications |
51. The One Brand |
21. Futerra Sustainability Communications |
52. The Social Investment Consultancy |
22. Generation Investment Management LLP |
53. The TYF Group |
23. Good Talent |
54. Transformation Development Partnership LLP |
24. Hootsuite |
55. Transition Force Ltd |
25. Ingeus UK Ltd |
56. Tricordant |
26. Inspiris |
57. Trustees Unlimited LLP |
27. ISTAG cic |
58. Twelve Winds Consulting |
28. Land of Ed |
59. Unforgettable |
29. Lily’s Kitchen |
60. Volans |
30. Macphie of Glenbervie Ltd |
61. Volume 48 |
31. Maseco |
62. Yoti |
“As a straight-forward loans and savings bank, Charity Bank puts money to work for good. Many banks claim to be ‘different’ or ‘better’. The B Corporation certification and the rigorous standards it represents provide evidence that Charity Bank acts in a way that is true to its mission and is committed to supporting the creation of social benefit.
“We call on other UK firms to become Certified B Corporations and join with businesses across the globe that promote wider social purposes. If we build a community of Certified B Corporations in the UK, it will make it easier for all of us to tell the difference globally between ‘good’ companies and ‘good’ marketing.”
Patrick Crawford, Chief Executive of Charity Bank, an early adopter of B Corp having joined in January 2015
The B Corp movement has gathered phenomenal momentum in the UK as investors, commissioners, employers and consumers all recognise that companies which create positive social and environmental impact, and which treat their workers with respect and operate with good governance, are the best of businesses. This is the future of UK business: to contribute positively to people planet and to profit.
“The B Corp movement is a global community of businesses who are using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. It includes more than 1,400 businesses in 42 countries and over 120 industries. The UK is well placed to help lead this global movement and companies such as Charity Bank are a great example of a business taking leadership in their field.”
James Perry, Director, B Lab UK
Any business interested in people, profit and planet should consider becoming a B Corp. To find out more, visit: www.bcorporation.uk.