It is difficult to overstate the importance of purpose in business. Profit may enable business, but purpose is what drives it. Purpose determines business evolution, governs the culture of a company and can be used as a goalpost for decision making. At its most basic level, purpose defines what an organisation wants to be.

B Corporations (B Corps for short) began in 2006, when three friends created non-profit organisation B Lab, which is dedicated to fostering business that balance’s purpose and profit. They created the B Corporation certification for organisations to voluntarily demonstrate their wider value to society. One year later, the first 82 B Corps were certified. There are now over 3,000 B Corps across 71 countries – Perform Green is proud to be one of them.

To become B Corp Certified, businesses must prove their sustainability credentials. They must also demonstrate responsible attitudes to workers, suppliers, local communities, and the environment.

As a Certified B Corporation and Living Wage Employer, Perform Green are committed to deliver benefits for all of our stakeholders: Our customers, our suppliers, our employees, our shareholders, the communities in which we work and the environment.

The B Corporation Declaration of Interdependence

This is the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence: 

“We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good. This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation—the B Corporation—which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.”

As B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe:

• That we must be the change we seek in the world.
• That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.
• That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm, and benefit all.
• To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.” 

Perform Green’s B Corp Journey

Perform Green has been a certified B Corp since 2018 and most recently recertified in 2022. This is a great achievement for us and we are incredibly proud to belong to this inspiring global community.

Benefits to our company and the wider community

Customers

Without our clients and customer stakeholders, we are nothing. Making a positive difference in their organisations is our top priority, and we work hard to consider what services they want and need. We listen when they let us know how to do better. We get more business because we are a B Corp with proven sustainability and social value credentials. We have so far helped our local authority clients attract over £100million in inward investment to their communities.

Environment

Without a planet, there’s no business. Being a B Corp means not only caring for the planet, but putting it first in our processes and decisions. Our business processes are aligned with some of the UN sustainable development goals and we have purposefully developed our business to have a very low carbon footprint.

Community

Every business on the planet exists within a community and our communities make us who we are. That’s why B Corps are committed to giving back. That’s why Perform Green are committed to giving back whenever we can, via pro bono consulting and volunteering days, and why we donate 20% of our net profit to charity every year.

Workforce

We know that people that make our business a success. It’s why we invest in the well-being, training, and development of our staff. Every person, at every level, deserves the same treatment and respect.
Our workers take care of our business, so we take care of our workers.

• We are an accredited living wage employer
• We champion flexible working and offer an above market rate annual leave
• We enable people to develop their skills and experience at a pace they determine and we value a continuous learning culture

We are a small but incredibly diverse workforce.
We encourage employee participation in business decisions and we monitor and prize employee satisfaction.

Transparency

The term ‘responsible business’ is used a lot. But as a business, who are we actually being responsible to? Being B Corp certified means we commit ourselves to being responsible towards our workers, customers, communities, and the planet. And we can prove it too!
All BCorps make their impact report available to the public. It’s the responsible thing to do.

At Perform Green transparency and accountability are baked into our business model. Being a B Corp means our promise to be better for people, communities, and the planet is locked in, through a commitment to wider stakeholder benefit that is enshrined in our company Articles of Association. Have a look at our impact score here on the B Corporation website.

It doesn’t stop here

We are looking forward to a future where all business is a force for good. That’s why we’re proud to be part of the worldwide B Corp Community, and we want you to join us on the journey. Join the movement that is working towards a brighter future and a global economic system that benefits all people and the planet.

We can help you on your journey to becoming a B Corp. Make a start today by getting in touch with Clare Hewitt, Principal Consultant and Deputy CEO – Organisation Development. 

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