B Corp Month success as CJBS hosts regenerative futures event

Business and thought leaders from across Cambridgeshire joined Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education, Conscious Communications, and Costello Medical at a B Corp Month event last week.

Titled ‘Building a Regenerative Future’, the first-of-its-kind event was staged to celebrate B Corp Month and explore the importance of regenerative futures to businesses regionally and globally.

During the event, guests heard from Professor Christopher Marquis, Sinyi professor of management, fellow and director of studies at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, and author of Better business: how the B Corp movement is remaking capitalism.

Marquis spoke about adhering to regenerative values and sustainability in the face of adversity; the importance of impact assessments throughout the full value chain; and the data tools and processes to understand organisations’ impact.

“From my research,” Prof Marquis said in his keynote, “I know that businesses can play an important role in addressing the most pressing modern-day crises. By embracing regeneration as a model, businesses can give back more to society and the planet than they take.

“By providing an opportunity for existing and aspiring B Corps to connect this B Corp Month, we hope to encourage more businesses to build on the work they are often already doing to create a more sustainable way of doing business.

Sophie Costello, panellist and CEO, Costello Medical, said: “Today’s young people are consciously choosing to work for companies that align with their values and we see the impact of being a B Corp in the applications that we receive.”

Alison Taylor, panellist and CEO, Conscious Communications - itself a B Corp company - said: “It is an interesting time in Cambridge for us to be discussing regenerative business and a different approach. With the focus on housing, commercial property and infrastructure development, there is an opportunity for Cambridge to be a case study for how to do business well. B Corp is a way for us to make sure that we deliver the best socially and environmentally for our city during this period of growth.”

B Corp certification demonstrates that an organisation achieves high social and environmental performance. Certification is a rigorous process and requires verification every three years. There are currently more than 9,579 B Corp companies globally.

Sophie Costello, fellow panellist and CEO, Costello Medical, said: “From the beginning, we wanted to create a company where our people, our most important asset, are looked after. Today’s young people are consciously choosing to work for companies that align with their values and we see the impact of being a B Corp in the applications that we receive”.

Becky Ryder, head of technical and quality, Cambridge Commodities, also spoke at the event.

She said: “As a company, we were already going above and beyond in terms of our environmental commitments, so it made sense for us to pursue certification to demonstrate the work that we are doing. If your business is already making positive changes, chances are you will look through the B Corp framework and meet the criteria.”

To close the event, Tom Ebbutt, director of impact, B Lab UK, the non-profit that administers B Corp certification in the UK, said: “At B Lab UK, we know that there is a different way to do business and every B Corp in Cambridge, and across the world, proves it is possible to be run not for owners and profit but for all stakeholders.

“Becoming a B Corp is about joining a community of companies that are changing their business, their industry and the country.”

Find out more about becoming a B Corp here.