Proud to be part of B Local Cheshire!
A few weeks ago, we joined our fellow Cheshire based B Corp companies to celebrate our B Local status at the iconic Chester Zoo! It was an inspiring evening filled with shared stories, new connections, and exciting discussions about sustainable change in the local area, all made possible by our hosts at Entyce Creative. We’re already looking forward to our next opportunity to come together as a B Local community and further our positive impact in Cheshire.
What is B-Corp and B-Local?
B Corp Certification is a global certification for companies that balance profit with purpose. Certified B Corps meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. From supporting employee wellbeing to reducing carbon footprints, B Corps commit to practices that prioritise community, environment, and sustainability and use their business as a force for good.
B Local groups, like B Local Cheshire, are regional networks that bring certified B Corps together to collaborate, share resources, and amplify their impact locally. Being part of B Local Cheshire means we’re committed not just to global standards but to positive change within our community here in Cheshire.
Our Journey To Becoming B Corp
Achieving B Corp certification required 18 months of hard work reviewing our practices and policies to ensure Planned Future meet B Corp standards. We scored a total of 88.2 points, well above the median business score of 50.9. Here are some key initiatives we’ve implemented and continue to practice to help us become a better, more responsible business.
- Flexible Working and a 4.5-Day Workweek – Employee wellbeing is central to our values, so we introduced flexible working hours and a 4.5 day workweek. We have found this change to significantly improve our employee wellbeing by improving work-life balance and reducing stress.
- Paperless Office – Transitioning to a paperless office has been a significant step toward reducing our waste. We have minimised our physical waste and also make every effort to digitise any paperwork we do need to decrease our environmental footprint further.
- Online Training to Reduce CO₂ Emissions – As part of our effort to reduce travel-related carbon emissions, we offer all of our training online. Ensuring online events are available has been both eco-friendly and accessible, allowing everyone to learn about financial education with minimal impact on the environment.
These are just a few of the ways we have adjusted to support out B Local community.
Future Plans With B Local Cheshire
It was great to connect with like-minded local businesses such as Sykes Cottages, HM3 Legal and B Lab at the B Corp Cheshire event and we are thrilled to part of such an amazing community.