Accountability Edinburgh is a certified B Corp - what does that mean for you?

In a process spanning nearly two years, we have solidified our commitment to sustainability and positive impact by completing the certification to become an official B Corp!  

Watch Rosie’s unboxing of our award by clicking on the picture below:

 

In order to be certified by B Lab, companies must meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. As a B Corp, we are committed to a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative way of doing business. 

Based on the impact assessment we created as part of the process, we scored an 88.1. A minimum of 80 is required to be certified, and most businesses that complete an impact assessment will score around 50.  

All this means is that clients of Accountability Edinburgh can be sure they are engaging with a service provider which is part of a global network of businesses committed to positively impacting all stakeholders - workers, communities, customers, and our planet.  

Being B Corp certified puts us in a network of organisations that share this commitment. There are over 11,000 across the world and this number is growing, particularly in Edinburgh. Edinburgh Council is committed to assisting 500 local businesses to become certified by 2030.  

There are five areas of focus in our B Corp impact assessment. You can read in detail about what we’ve already done and what we are planning to do in our full 2024-2025 impact assessment, but here are some highlights. 

Governance 

  • We have enshrined our Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG) goals in our hiring and performance processes 

  • We are ensuring all our staff leaders receive line management and leadership training  

  • We are increasing transparency around pay 

Workers 

  • We have reviewed all hourly wages and have become a Living Wage Employer 

  • We have engaged with Skills Development Scotland to audit staff development and create plans for the future 

  • We currently have two staff that are trained in mental health first aid 

Community 

  • We donated a 5% profit share to last year’s charity partners, with more fundraising on the way for this year’s partner Give Blood 4 Good. 

  • We have engaged with local schools and colleges to provide career support 

  • We hosted a charity event to bring financial individuals and charities together so that mutually beneficial connections can be made 

Environment 

  • Six staff members have received certified Carbon Literacy training with more planned 

  • We have adopted a sustainable staff travel policy 

  • We have moved staff pensions and company banking to sustainable providers 

Customers 

  • We have adopted an ethical marketing policy 

  • We have implemented formal targets for client work completion for VAT returns and Year End Files at 3 weeks and 3 months respectively 

  • We are continuously reviewing our process maps, ensuring consistency of delivery across the practice 

If you are looking to ensure your supply chain is ethical and sustainable from start to end, you can rest assured that Accountability Edinburgh is the right service provider for you. Get in touch today to see how we can help you do business - better

Matt Addison