Stonehouse-based financial planners, Clear Future Financial Planners, officially joins 2,000 UK companies in becoming a certified B Corporation — and the first company of its kind to achieve the green commendation in Gloucestershire.
Combining ethics and sustainability, alongside running a successful business, B Corporations enjoy a reported growth rate of up to 26 per cent in comparison to five per cent for a traditional small- and medium-sized company.
In order to achieve this globally recognised stamp of approval, a company must meet tough standards that prove it is genuinely embracing more sustainable and ethical ways of operating. When achieved, it also indicates that the business is active in considering the impacts of its decision-making on its employees, suppliers and both the local community and environment that surrounds it.
Clear Future started its certification journey more than a year ago by identifying ways it could reduce its environmental impact while improving its support for staff, clients and the local community.
Some of the methods that have been implemented include offering sustainable investment and pension options for staff; choosing local suppliers to support the local economy; supporting staff to further their professional qualifications and skills; carrying out a year-long audit to identify ways of improving energy efficiency; adopting a charity of the year to support, with this year's being HomeStart Stroud & Gloucester; introducing flexible working hours to allow staff to balance work and home life; and much more.
Simon Evans, managing director at Clear Future said: 'Right from the start of the process, we believed it was the right thing to do to both strengthen and future-proof the business as well as using our power as a company to help make a better world.
'For so long, it’s been assumed that the two couldn’t be combined, but the B Corporation movement shows it is possible. We now have a framework and a culture in place that will guide us as the business grows.
'It’s been wonderful to see the staff really get behind the B Corporation process and be so enthusiastic about it. Many of the changes we’ve made have been their idea and they continue to drive it forwards.
'There are so many sustainability schemes which businesses can join that it’s difficult to know which ones are really making a positive difference and which are just tick box exercises.
'Having been through the B Corp process, we can say that it’s hard work so when you see the logo, you can be sure the company is genuinely doing what it can to be more ethical and sustainable.'
Be sure to check out SoGlos's list of 18 forward-thinking B Corps in Gloucestershire, to see which other businesses in the county are taking the sustainability pledge for a greener corporate world.
