Is anyone else getting to the point where they are getting a little perplexed at seeing all the new marketing posts about these certifications that “prove” to the outside world that we are genuine and worthy and oh so good people in business?
As SMEs, we are already overwhelmed with the amount of paperwork we have to do for HMRC and Health & Safety and the various legal acts and making sure our employees have had CRB checks done (yes I would pay for that to make sure an employee doesn’t have a criminal record regardless of who they are working with in my control; I don’t really care about a parking ticket or getting points for inadvertently going into a bus lane for about 5 meters in order to avoid someone who had deliberately slammed their brakes on in order to try to obtain a rear crash).
So why do I have to even consider wanting a Cert to prove I am a good payer for example ? Because other people aren’t and I need to jump through hoops to get some certificate (how much is this going to cost me!)?
Getting a B corp cert (certified by B Lab that the company holding this cert meets high standards of: social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability) does say about me or my business in reality other than I’ve had to put the price up for the products and services you buy from me in order to cover this additional cost. Hands up all those B Corp certified owners who put all this practice into their personal life and don’t go onto online marketplaces to buy from overseas countries rather than shopping on our high street). *
I’d rather do business with a company that actually cares about their staff, supports local communities and will spend time having a catch up with a friend in a local coffee shop.
Sadly it is all too apparent that some companies love all the certs on their websites, especially the ones that allow them to take a picture that they can post on social media rather than caring about a member of staff…
We should all strive to achieve best practice across the board, but why are we being made to tick these boxes/feel we may lose out on business if we don’t ?
Well I’m off to get start applying for my badge in customer satisfaction skills Part 1: order fulfilment.
PS. For anyone considering applying for B Corp, here is some indication of the costs involved:
Becoming a Certified B Corporation (B Corp) involves several fees, including one-time charges during the certification process and ongoing annual fees. Here’s a breakdown of the costs associated with B Corp certification in the UK courtesy of a summary compiled by Chat GTP:
1. Submission Fee:
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Amount: A one-time, non-refundable fee is payable upon submitting your B Impact Assessment (BIA). This fee covers the initial review of your assessment.
2. Verification Fee:
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Amount: Introduced on 1st July 2024, this one-time, non-refundable fee is required before the in-depth verification of your BIA. The fee structure is tiered based on your company’s annual revenue:
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Specific fee amounts are detailed on B Lab UK’s official pricing page.
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3. Annual Certification Fee:
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Amount: After achieving certification, an annual fee is required to maintain your B Corp status. This fee is also based on your company’s total revenue from the most recent audited accounts. Detailed fee structures can be found on B Lab UK’s pricing page.
4. Pending B Corp Fee (Optional):
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Amount: For companies not yet eligible for full certification, a one-time fee of £500 (+ VAT) grants Pending B Corp status for 12 months.
Additional Considerations:
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Equity Discounts: UK-based entrepreneurs facing systemic barriers to business ownership may be eligible for a 40% discount on certification fees. Eligibility can be determined during the BIA submission process. J
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Fee Updates: Fee structures are subject to change. It’s advisable to consult B Lab UK’s official resources or contact them directly for the most current information.
