Earlier this month we were delighted to share the exciting news that we had certified as a B Corporation. To say we were thrilled was an understatement – this was an achievement the whole team had been working on for the best part of a year.
The beginning
We first heard about B Corp in 2020 during Covid when Vicky had met Andy Hawkins, founder of Business on Purpose through business networking.
As an event agency, the upheaval of Covid meant that it wasn’t the right time to take plans further. Then in 2023 we had tentative conversations internally about what ‘B Corp’ was, would it apply to ZiaBia, and was it even achievable? We did a deep-dive into their website, downloaded information packs, watched videos and spoke with our certified suppliers.
Our initial research indicated that B Corp was absolutely right for us. It aligned with our ethics and standards and formalisation of this seemed the next logical step. We reconnected with Andy to talk through our thoughts and what support they could provide…it turns out a lot!
We quickly joined the next cohort of B Corp wannabees on a 10-week programme with Andy and Jude. And what a 10 weeks!
Our cohort comprised of architects, web designers, glampsites and cafés – a wide range of businesses type and size from all over the UK. It was fascinating listening to how other businesses operate, giving us alternative perspectives and ideas to take forward in ZiaBia.
The programme
The 10 weeks were intense. We learned so much about B Corp and how to approach the assessment.
It also made us look long and hard at all areas of the business, for example:
- Our policies, procedures and governance
- Identifying all our stakeholders and how we engage with them
- The suppliers we work with and want to work with
- Team development, benefits and wellbeing
- Engagement with our local community through suppliers, policies and our team
- How our events impact the environment and how sustainable they really are
The process also enabled us to cast forwards to where we want ZiaBia to be as well as review what we had achieved to date.
Teamwork
At the end of the cohort programme, we clicked submit on our B Impact Assessment. Then the hard work really started. The entire team got involved – our whole application was a masterclass in teamwork!
We all got stuck in through:
- Workshops covering the 5 impact areas
- Information gathering and data collation
- Updating or writing brand new policies
- Contacting clients and suppliers
- Implementing new good practices within the team
- Collating evidence to support answers
Honest feedback
We all found that the process of pulling information together and following new practices really made us consider our day-to-day actions. This is crucial to become a certified B Corporation, and we really had to question the impact of the smallest ways we were operating.
It would be unrealistic to say that it was always easy; there were times when it felt pretty arduous and grumbles could be heard from all involved. However, this was shortly outweighed by feelings of immense pride upon completion of each task. This was then superseded by complete elation at our certification announcement, and a real sense of comradery amongst the whole team.
Looking forward
As well as resulting in our B Corp certification, I truly believe that the whole process has been of huge benefit to everyone on the team and the business as a whole.
For us this isn’t a tick box exercise, this has fundamentally changed the way we work and our approach. It will ensure we think before we act, and that we consider the bigger picture both with our clients and suppliers, but also with the amazing team here.
It has honestly been the most rewarding piece of teamwork I have been involved with during my time at ZiaBia. Debbie and Vicky, as sponsors, were integral to providing the support we needed to have the time and encouragement to get stuck in. As the overall project manager, I couldn’t have wished for more dedication from the team. I am so proud of them and what we achieved.
If your organisation is considering the B Corp route, we would highly recommend it, and would be more than happy to share our experiences – do contact us if you would like a chat.
