Matt Appleby Consulting has become the first PR business in Wales to certify as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. The consultancy business has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.
Matt Appleby Consulting is now part of a community of 4,200 businesses globally which have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises over 500 companies and includes well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and organic food pioneers Abel & Cole.
The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to provide evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company legally embeds its commitment to purpose beyond profit in its company articles.
Matt Appleby, director at Matt Appleby Consulting said:
“I’ve built my company around the idea that purpose can drive a different way of doing business, as much about people and the planet as it is about profit. I’m passionate about the power of strategic communications to make meaningful, positive change to the way that business operates and am fortunate to have developed a client base of forward-thinking companies, committed to sustainable, impactful new ways of working.
“It’s important to show that businesses of any size, including small start-ups, can make certified commitments to sustainable, responsible business practices. I’m looking forward to working with others in the B Corp community to continue to promote the benefits of more purposeful business,” he said.
Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Matt Appleby Consulting to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies which are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good.
“We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that you can do good in any sector. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Matt Appleby Consulting in paving the way for a new way of doing things”.
