Guildhall is lit up as B Corp Month appeal gains traction in Cambridge

The Guildhall has been lit up in white, yellow and pink for the last week to celebrate B Corp Month, which takes place throughout March.

The annual campaign celebrates B Corp businesses and aims to increase awareness about their impact on people and the planet.

Rooted in the global Theory of Change, B Corp certification requires organisations to make a legal commitment to be accountable to all stakeholders – not just shareholders – including employees, customers and the planet, to drive the systemic change that creates an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy on a global scale.

The certification process addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and assesses its actions in key areas: employees, communities, customers and the environment.

“It’s great news Cambridge is getting involved in this way,” says Christopher Marquis, the Sinyi professor of Chinese management at Cambridge Judge Business School and author of the award-winning book Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism.

Prof Marquis adds: “Becoming a B Corp organisation is something the UK in general has really taken on in a world-leading way. The number of UK-certified B Corps companies recently passed 1,500, and there’s only 8,000 globally – so outside the US, the UK is where most B Corps are.”

Cambridge City Council is also an active supporter of the scheme, and Cllr Alice Gilderdale, executive councillor for community wealth building and community safety, said: “Our ambition as a council is to promote and support initiatives that enable inclusive and sustainable growth, and local businesses have an essential role to play in this. In fact, one of the four principles in our new community wealth building approach is to encourage businesses and anchor institutions to adopt positive business practices.

“During B Corp Month we’re happy to help shine a light on the B Corp movement and encourage local organisations to sign up.”

Businesses that have already achieved the standard in this region include Cambridge Commodities, Conscious Communications and Costello Medical.

Commenting on the importance of B Corp Month, Zoë Scorer, managing director, Conscious Communications, said: “Gaining the B Corp certification was a huge accomplishment for Conscious Communications, but what it stands for is deeply embedded in our company, and has been from the outset.

“We have never been anything but a conscious business and we feel a duty to raise awareness of the B Corp movement among other like-minded organisations to show the world how we move forward, together. The B Corp certification isn’t a destination, it’s a journey to better business.”

James Stevens, CEO, Cambridge Commodities, added: “Staff wellbeing, reducing our environmental impact, and dedicating time to charitable causes have always been a focus of ours so our values align strongly with the B Corp vision.

“We are proud to support local charities such as the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust with our fundraising efforts and have invested extensively in reducing our energy consumption as an organisation through the use of solar panels, and carbon footprint through ocean goods shipping. We know that many other organisations hold similar values and would like to encourage them to learn more about B Corp this month.”

Sophie Costello, director, Costello Medical, noted: “Costello Medical’s B Corp journey has been a hugely positive experience. It enabled us to really look at how we run the company and ensure we are doing it in a responsible way that looks after our teams, our clients and the environment, while also giving back to the local communities in which we work. It has provided a framework for us to continue to challenge ourselves to do better in the future.

“The B Corp certification has been a huge source of pride for all of us in the company, and has played a pivotal role in attracting high-quality candidates for our growing business. We would really recommend it and would be very happy to share our experience so that more organisations in Cambridgeshire come on this journey.”

Costello Medical hosted a virtual B Corp panel discussion on 21 March for healthcare agencies interested in doing things differently.