For us, B Corp is more than just an accreditation – it’s a framework that drives meaningful, long-term improvement. We have always embraced it as such and got to work at once after our last re-certification to raise our standards even further.
With almost half of our team actively taking part in B Corp working groups across all five impact areas, each developed targeted improvement plans and set three ambitious goals to guide our progress over the period.
Raising the bar
We’re proud to say that, over the past three years, we’ve done just that.
The resulting increase in our B Corp score is no accident. It’s the product of three years of dedication from colleagues across EQ Investors (EQ), all committed to doing better for our clients, colleagues, community, and the planet.
Our score has increased from 151.1 to 176.9, with improvements in each impact area. You can see our new breakdown scores on the B Corp site here.
Our B Corp journey began with a score of 95.2 and now sits at 176.9 – an 85% score increase.
What’s changed
Here’s a roundup of what that’s looked like in real terms.
Workers: Empowering our people
Across the workers pillar, we’ve enhanced our career development with clearer pathways for internal promotion, improved parental policies and expanded benefits.
We’ve also strengthened our employee voice through creative feedback channels and formal Board engagement. A firm favourite is EQ’s ‘Suggestion Pig’ which takes pride of place in our social area.
Community: Deepening our social impact
In the community space, employee ownership has grown, and we’ve actively embraced paid volunteering.
Our supply chain practices have become more rigorous, with formal screening and a preference for certified suppliers, helping us maintain a strong impact score.
Environment: Taking responsibility beyond our walls
Despite being office based, our environmental efforts have accelerated. We partnered with our landlord to implement energy and water efficiency upgrades, phased out gas and transitioned to 100% renewable electricity.
We also formalised our environmental commitments with clear targets and regular impact assessments.
Customers: Listening, learning and evolving
Finally, under the customers pillar, we’ve deepened our focus on client wellbeing and feedback. This has led to meaningful changes to our investment strategies and improved transparency in shareholder advocacy.
Continuous improvement
The B Corp framework has been instrumental in guiding these improvements, helping us align our operations more closely with our values and long-term impact goals.
Going forward, we’ll continue publishing our annual impact updates and encourage other businesses to consider B Corp certification and join us in creating a more responsible world.