Nine investment firms have made the list of 100 B Corps companies that are creating the greatest impact through their businesses.
EQ Investors, WHEB Asset Management, Resonance, Trinetra Investment Management, Tribe Impact Capital, Bridges Fund Management, Connected Asset Management and the platform Low Carbon have all made the 2022 Best for the World list, which B Lab has created based on companies’ scores in five impact areas. These are environment, community, customers, workers and governance.
Overall, B Lab found the UK has one of the largest, fastest growing B Corp communities in the world and makes up around 16% of this year’s the Best for the World list – meaning around one in five of the UK’s B Corp companies, of which there are 800 in total, have been featured.
Chris Turner, executive director at B Lab UK, commented: “B Corporations are proving that businesses flourish when they are committed to aligning the interests of all stakeholders: society, the environment and their shareholders.
“Best for the World is the B Corp movement’s opportunity to spotlight the businesses which are pioneering business as a force for good.
“While there’s much more to be done to transform our economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet, the UK is becoming one of the world’s hotspots for better business. It’s a proud moment for our community, and an opportunity to challenge ourselves to go even further, faster.”
Resonance, EQ investors, WHEB Asset Management, Trinetra and Tribe were all featured in the Best for the World in the Community list, recognised for leading the way in building shared and sustainable prosperity for all.
B Lab said these companies are making an “inspiring contribution to the economic and social wellbeing of the communities in which they operate”.
EQ Investors, which recently picked up Best ESG Wealth Manager at the ESG Clarity Awards, also highlighted it has one of the highest B Corp scores in the country at 151.1 – the median score for ordinary businesses who complete the assessment is currently 50.9.
Ben Faulkner, communications director for the group, said: “We are proud to receive such a distinction and ranked among the highest in the customer impact area.
“Being a B Corp has become an intrinsic part of our identity as a business driving positive change and we will continue collaborating with the global B Corp community to improve and positively impact all our stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, George Latham, managing partner at WHEB, said: “Certifying as a B Corp in 2016 was the first step for us, so we are really pleased that we have continued to improve our impact score over the last six years, and we are regularly being recognised for how we serve our clients.
“As more asset managers become B Corps, this growing community is demonstrating the positive impact investment firms can have. Their businesses can truly be a force for good.”
The Big Issue Group, parent firm of Big Issue Invest, was also featured in the Community list.
Investment platform Low Carbon was listed among the Best for the World Environment peer group for “putting the environment first in all their business practices”, while Resonance and Bridges Fund Management were in the Governance list for “excelling in overall ethics, accountability and transparency”.
Finally, Connected Asset Management made the Workers list for “putting employees first and foremost in their business practices”.
ESG Clarity recently partnered with a number of B Corp certified investment managers to launch the Best B Haviour video series to encourage better governance within financial services particularly for those aspiring to be certified B Corp.
