BIP and 4C Associates become certified B Corps

The number of consulting firms winning verification as B Corps continues to grow. BIP UK and BIP US, subsidiaries of international consulting firm BIP Group, announced their B Corp status at the same time as 4C Associates.

B Lab is the non-profit network transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet. It certifies companies as ‘B Corporations’, with only businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability making the grade.

This initially saw slow uptake from the consulting industry. However, the industry’s B Corp cohort has been steadily growing, alongside consumer expectations for serious ESG commitments from companies they spend money on. The latest firms to achieve B Corp status are 4C Associates, and the UK and US wings of professional services firm BIP.

BIP

Speaking on behalf of BIP in the UK and US, CEO Chris Laslett stated, “We work tirelessly to nurture a team which embodies a positive culture in the workplace and beyond, and it is great to see this commitment reflected in the final scores. This achievement is testament to the hard work and commitment from all corners of BIP, and we are delighted to now join the list of 5,000 likeminded companies recognised for using their platform to drive positive change.”

The certification process with B Lab took two years to complete. During its evaluation, BIP UK and BIP US scored highest in the impact area, ‘Workers’, which measures a company’s support for employee wellbeing across economic, physical, professional, and social indicators. Highlights for the score included the firm’s focus on employee health and wellbeing, including mental health awareness, and its open door culture. It also scored highly for ‘Community’, which measures how a firm supports local communities, both inside and outside of the workplace – and found praised BIP UK and BIP US’ dedication to employing a diverse workforce.

Joanna Mihajlovic, Head of CSR & Sustainability at BIP UK and BIP US, said, “B Corp certification is just the start of our journey to meet the highest standards in environmental and social governance.  We look forward to engaging and connecting with likeminded businesses in this community to continue on our improvement path and at the same time share our learnings with our clients and suppliers.”

BIP now joins a list of more than 5,000 businesses committed to balance people, profit and the company’s impact on the planet. It will aim to further improve before recertification in 2025.

Founded more than 30 years ago by Bob and Chris Laslett, BIP UK and BIP US were originally branded as Chaucer. The company retired its old branding this year, as it sought greater alignment with parent company BIP – which it joined in 2019.

4C Associates

4C Associates has also won verification as a B Corp, confirming that the organisation meets distinguished standards of high social and environmental performance.

“Joining the B-Corp committee is one way we are promoting the sustainability movement. Going through this process has already vastly improved our ways of working and we see this as a continuous improvement programme to which we are committed,” said Jeremy Smith, Managing Director of 4C Associates.

Sustainability is a key component of the firm’s offerings. 4C Associates is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, following and promoting good sustainability practices through the firm’s operations and creating innovative solutions to help their clients work towards net zero. Achieving a B Corp certification is one of 4C Associates’ goals in their Carbon Reduction Plan and is solid proof that as an organisation they are committed to delivering a sustainable future for the planet.

“4C Associates works in diverse sectors and has worked hard to ensure that our projects have a positive impact on both our clients and their end-consumers. With our B Corp status now confirmed, we are excited and eager to continue driving a positive change for our clients, people, communities, and the planet,” concluded Smith.