We are now a Certified B Corp™ Corporation!
Certification marks a significant milestone in our commitment to environmental and social responsibility (ESR) and ongoing impact across the communities we serve.
In achieving this rigorous, globally recognised standard for responsible business, we join the B Corp™ community – a growing global network of purpose-led businesses. There are around 2,700 B Corp™ organisations in the UK, including some 40 law firms.
For us, B Corp™ certification forms part of a deliberate strategic shift towards being a more responsible, purpose-driven business and aligns closely with our existing values and long-term vision.
Certification follows a period of strategic growth. In the last five years alone, our headcount has increased by 52% to 211 across the South of England. Meanwhile, we have maintained high levels of Employee Engagement – 90% at our last survey this Spring – for which we were awarded the Outstanding Workplace Award from People Essentials.
The firm’s wide-ranging ESR-led programme of initiatives has been enhanced over the last 18 months under the guidance of Chris Dale, in the new role of Environmental and Social Responsibility Manager. It has included partnering with fellow B Corps™ such as Oxford-based sustainable printer Seacourt and PKF Francis Clark, our accountants and auditors, who achieved B Corp™ certification themselves in April.
Becoming a certified B Corp™ marks an important milestone for us as a firm – formalising our commitment to operating as a responsible business delivering peace of mind for our people, clients and our community.
The journey has involved a significant firmwide effort across governance, people, community and environmental impact.
The process has been rigorous and required real commitment from many colleagues in teams across the firm and particularly from Chris Dale. B Corp™ sets a higher bar for us in the future.
It is not just recognition of what we’ve achieved, but a framework for how we continue to improve and the direction we are taking. We’ve been embedding improvements across all the B Corp™ pillars – governance, workers, community, environment and clients – to ensure People and Planet are central to our decision-making process, alongside publishing an annual Impact report to measure progress,
As well as an extensive programme of activities and groups to facilitate building supportive internal communities, every employee now has the opportunity to take up to two days’ paid volunteering. The firm has committed to matching staff fundraising for its nominated charities pound for pound. Amongst other things, our Nature and Environment working group drives initiatives like litter-picking lunchtimes, planting bee-friendly greenery, and hosting events with environmental experts as well as planting trees globally via Ecologi for every Client Feedback Survey received. We also work closely with SmartCarbon to measure, report and reduce emissions.
We look forward to doing more and doing better as we continue on the demanding, but important journey to remain a responsible business supporting both people and planet.