Be a better business – all

Impact governance: 7 essentials for governing a purpose-driven business

Your corporate purpose is your compass, guiding your profitability and your business’ wider impact on the world. In defining what corporate purpose should be, there’s clear momentum towards stakeholder capitalism in the UK, with initiatives like the B Corp movement and the Better Business Act bringing corporate purpose into the spotlight. In addition, social and …
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Bates Wells Impact Report 2022

It’s been another busy year at Bates Wells and we continue to live through interesting times. Martin Bunch, our Managing Partner, is increasingly convinced of the need for business to be radical, to step up and address the biggest challenges that we face. Our people work on this on a daily basis. This impact report …
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Impact real estate: Embracing the change in the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (“MEES”)

The next deadline under the MEES Regulations is 1 April 2023. While many articles outline the penalties of not meeting the new standard, we like to see the changes as an opportunity for landlords to accelerate their sustainability strategy and ultimately create long-term positive impact for their tenants as well as the value of their …
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Getting your property strategy fit for a sustainable future | Watch again

The pandemic, hybrid working, the climate emergency and the current economic crisis have all left charities considering what they really need from their premises – now and in the future. This session, which took place at Spotlight: the annual Bates Wells charity conference 2022, covered: Download a copy of the slides here. The Real Estate …
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The power of business: How your company can support people and the planet in the cost of living crisis

As the cost of living crisis unfolds, the UK’s businesses will experience it in different ways – but all face urgent decisions about how to respond. “The power of business” guide by B Lab UK delves into the different ways businesses can be a force for good during the current crisis. Not all companies are …
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On demand | Spotlight, the annual Bates Wells charity conference 2022

This year’s Spotlight conference took place at the Royal Society of Arts. We’re pleased to share recordings of the four panel sessions below, as well as a couple of on-demand bitesize legal updates. Watch again: Power, participation and privilegeHow can charities ensure that the voices of those with relevant life experience are being heard when …
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People and culture group discussion: Financial wellbeing

We recently hosted a discussion with a range of HR professionals from fellow B Corps. The session focussed on the issue of financial wellbeing and what employers can do to support their employees in this space. This note covers: Download a copy below.
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Drawing on lived experience: four questions for social enterprises

Hiring or consulting people with direct experience of the issues an organisation tackles is often seen as good equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practice. But there are a few things to consider to truly value and make the most of diverse life experiences. Samara Lawrence, Associate at Bates Wells, addresses four key questions for organisations …
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Setting up a corporate foundation

Setting up a charity connected to your business is a great way to amplify your company’s positive impact. We have done this ourselves (the Bates Wells Foundation works to support sustainable social change), and over the years we’ve helped numerous businesses – from SMEs to global corporations – to set up and manage their foundations. …
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Resilient real estate: what are the opportunities for your portfolio?

The impact of climate change has very real risks on real estate assets including: subsidence, flood risk, heat stress and in some cases, coastal erosion. There are also less tangible effects that can be mitigated against. Which opportunities can arise from making your portfolio more resilient to climate change?
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Purpose and law firms – a contradiction in terms or the future of the profession?

For Bates Wells, being a B Corp means that we always strive to do the right thing and help our clients to make a positive impact on society. We encourage our people to develop, innovate and participate in activities that promote an equal, diverse and inclusive environment. Angela Monaghan, our Purpose and Impact Manager, explains …
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B Corps: What should you be asking your banks?

We surveyed our B Corp network to understand their borrowing habits, and how important their bank’s ESG credentials are to them. While many B Corps don’t borrow from an impact-focused lender, they see their lenders as an important part of their supply chain. Here’s what we learned. Following the research, we asked Dave Waters, Executive …
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