THE B CORP MOVEMENT SEEKS TO REDEFINE SUCCESS IN BUSINESS SO THAT ONE DAY ALL COMPANIES WILL COMPETE NOT ONLY TO BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD, BUT THE BEST FOR THE WORLD.
WHAT ARE B CORPS?
@BCorpUK
WHY BECOME A B CORP?
B Corps are for-profit businesses that are certified as achieving a high level of social and/or environmental outcomes. B Corps must change their Company Articles to treat the interests of all stakeholders equally. If traditional business is about maximising shareholder return, B Corps are about operating to create value for workers, community, the environment AND shareholders.
Attract investors Protect your company’s mission Attract talent and build trust
REASONS TO BECOME A B CORP
Trade with likeminded businesses Workers
Business Models
Environment
Governance
Community
This is a global movement of companies across 130 industries and 50 countries. They include businesses like Ben & Jerrys, Patagonia, Natura, Kickstarter Hootsuite, Bridges Ventures Cook Foods, Ella’s Kitchen, Bridges Ventures and Lily’s Kitchen.
Join a community of leaders
Benchmark & improve performance
Lead a global movement Build collective voice Appeal to ethical consumers
B CORPS WERE 63% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SURVIVED THE GREAT RECESSION THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESS. (SOURCE: B ANALYTICS & US BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS)
HOW DO COMPANIES BECOME B CORPS? Any organisation that is for-profit, incorporated and operating in a competitive market can become a B Corp. So Community Interest Companies (CICs) can become B Corps, but charities cannot, as they are not-for-profit.
Pass the performance test Score over 80 on the B Impact Assessment.
Meet the legal requirement Amend the company’s constitution to reflect stakeholder objectives.
Make it official
Pay a certification fee
Sign the B Corp Declaration.
Depending on revenue, annual fees start at £500
THE UK B CORP COMMUNITY The UK is home to a dynamic social enterprise market. It has built on its deep history in developing the company form and today plays a leading role in promoting new models of innovation and investment with ‘triple bottom line’ principles at the core. The B Corp movement complements this by including mainstream companies in the creation of positive impact.
Click here to see the founding UK B Corp community
In September 2015 the UK B Corp community was officially launched with 62 certified members. These founding B Corps come from all over the UK and represent over 15 different industries, including information and technology, professional services, finance, retail and education.
62 FOUNDING UK CERTIFIED B CORPS TOTAL REVENUE OF £425M EMPLOYING OVER 3,000 PEOPLE You can find the up to date B Corp community map on line here
WHAT’S THE STRATEGY TO GROW THE B CORP MOVEMENT? This is a movement for business by business and they will drive its growth. Alongside this, B Lab UK is building partnerships with a range of organisations such as investors, lawyers, accountants, umbrella organisations, consumers and academics who seek a purpose-led approach and can help us inspire change across the wider economic system. The aim is to engage all for-profit businesses in measuring what matters to create positive impact. At the UK B Corp launch, B Lab announced the creation of the Multinational and Public Market Advisory Council to enable more public and multinational companies to certify as B Corps. Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, has committed two members of his senior leadership team to this initiative.
WHAT IS B LAB UK? B Lab UK is a registered charity that exists to support and develop the community of B Corps for the longterm benefit of society, the environment and the business itself. It is one of five international partners, all of which operate under a licence agreement with B Lab Global in the US.
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FIND OUT MORE AT: BCORPORATION.UK OR TALK TO US AT:
[email protected] @BCorpUK
