In 2021, Business West became a Certified B Corp – an international accreditation which recognises us as a business that meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
The reason why Business West exists is to make the greater West of England region the best part of the UK to start, run and grow a business and a great place to live, work and learn.
Business West strongly identifies with the aims and objectives of the global B Corp movement, and we feel that B Corp certification fits who we are as business that puts planet and people at the same level as we do profit.
What does Business West do that makes it a B Corp?
Business West is a values-led purpose driven business support organisation that puts communities, sustainable and inclusive growth, the environment, good governance and employees first.
Communities
Business West works closely with local decision makers from council to local enterprise partnerships to ensure that businesses and communities can thrive.
Our work with charitable trusts across the city extends into diversity, deprivation and youth charities to ensure that our region works for everybody.
The business allows staff to contribute to causes they are passionate about by giving them 2 days a year to volunteer and support local initiatives and our local communities.
Customers
If businesses are able to realise their ambitions, then we will create the sustainable and inclusive region that we all want.
We support businesses across the region so that they can create social, environmental and economic value to help realise our ambition of making this region the best place to live, learn and work.
Environment
Our mission to net zero started 15 years ago when we set up a working group of staff interested in environment and sustainability.
Over the last few years we’ve really accelerated that by going carbon neutral, setting a net zero target of 2030, championing low carbon industries and supporting businesses to go green.
Governance
Business West needs to know what’s going on in all parts of our business community: their concerns and hopes. We need to be able to support and respond. We manage to reach out, through many great projects, deep into our communities.
We work with closely BeOnBoard to ensure that the leadership of our organisation reflects the diversity of the region that we serve.
Employees
Best Companies has named Business West as one of the top 20 best business services companies to work for in the UK.
As an accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure that all our employees are fairly paid, and through our employee forum we enable everyone who works for us to achieve work life balance.
We sit at the heart of the B Corp community in the region
Business West is the largest and most influential organisation representing businesses in South West England.
We are constantly looking for ways to improve how we do businesses while demonstrating to members and customers that business can be a force for good.
We do this by challenging and leading by example and directly supporting a number of certified B Corps in the region, including Stroud Brewery, Triodos, Stride Treglown and more.
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