Be a better business – all

Stepping stones to sustainability: Improve your supply chains in 5 steps

We break sustainability challenges down into manageable chunks to help organisations meet their ESG aspirations and take action on climate change and social injustice through the way that they operate. Our Stepping stones to sustainability series will walk you through practical services that we can offer to help you make efficient and effective changes, and …
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Stepping stones to sustainability: Embedding purpose through your corporate governance

We break sustainability challenges down into manageable chunks to help organisations meet their ESG aspirations and take action on climate change and social injustice through the way that they operate. Our Stepping stones to sustainability series will walk you through practical services that we can offer to help you make efficient and effective changes, and …
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How to introduce a staff hardship fund

As a consequence of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and the cost of living crisis, many employers are considering how they might offer support to current employees in financial difficulties. One way to support them is to set up a charitable staff hardship fund, which can be used to give financial support to members of a defined class of …
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Our climate commitments: annual report 2021

While sustainability has always been at the heart of Bates Wells, in 2019, we formally recognised the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis. We promised to achieve net carbon zero in 2019 and work to reduce our scope 3 emissions. We pledged to take the crisis into account when developing our new strategy. We set a …
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Real estate services for B Corps

What impact are your premises having on the environment? The B Impact Assessment asks you to consider this, whether you own the freehold to your premises or are a tenant. Regardless of what stage you are at in the life cycle of property, our real estate team are ready to review your options through a …
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Responsible supply chain management – our top tips

Responsible supply chain management means considering social and environmental factors when choosing and then managing relationships with your suppliers. So effectively, not just going for the cheapest provider if that means a negative social or environmental impact. More now than ever we are seeing a shift in corporate behaviour towards the concept of responsibility. Environmental, …
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Boardroom 2030 hackathon: looking through a climate lens

We held our first firm wide climate-focused hackathon as part of B Lab’s Boardroom 2030 campaign. We chose to look at Boardroom 2030 through a climate-lens and held a preliminary panel discussion a fortnight before. At the panel event, chaired by B Lab’s Charmian Love, we asked an activist, an environmental think tank policy director …
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Bates Wells honoured as a ‘Best for the World” B Corp, 2021

Bates Wells has been announced as a 2021 “Best for the World” B Corp, in the category of governance. The award means we’re ranked in the top 5% of all B Corps worldwide in terms of our governance and is recognition of the positive impact we make on our people, society and environment. To become …
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Video: Karli Hiscock discusses the B Corp movement, for Business Reporter

How can the B Corp movement help to advance the future of responsible business? Karli Hiscock shares her thoughts with Business Reporter. B Corps aim to go beyond profit, to have a positive impact on people, the environment and society. In this video for Business Reporter’s Future of Responsible Business series, Karli Hiscock talks about …
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Building purpose into your business: Bates Wells writes for Business Reporter

As more businesses look to operate more responsibly, what are the main factors to consider? And how can you avoid greenwashing? Angela Monaghan, Purpose and Impact Lead, shares her top tips as part of Business Reporter’s Future of Responsible Business series. “There is a growing concern in the UK that capitalism in its current form …
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Video: Luke Fletcher explains the Better Business Act, for Business Reporter

How could the Better Business Act drive action to make business more sustainable? Luke Fletcher elaborates in this new video for Business Reporter’s Future of Responsible Business series. The Better Business Act is a proposed piece of legislation that could rewrite the rules for businesses in the UK. It would require businesses to not only …
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Conscious consumerism may help save the planet: Bates Wells writes for Business Reporter

As modern consumers shift their buying habits and the market increasingly demands businesses behave responsibly, what’s stopping companies from becoming more purposeful and impact-driven? Martin Bunch dispels some misconceptions in a new piece for Business Reporter’s Future of Responsible Business series. “Today’s consumers are shifting their buying habits. A new wave of ‘conscious consumerism’ has …
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