17 Jul WORLD 1st FOR B CORPORATION – BUILDING BACK EVEN BETTER
We are really thrilled to announce that Ward Williams Associates (WWA) is now a certified B Corporation®! With over 3,400 B Corps™ globally and 325 in the UK, our score (135.5) puts us 5th in the UK. We are in good company, major international names such as Danone, Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s and Triodos Bank have each demonstrated a genuine and continuous commitment to meaningful purpose.
We are using this moment and the COVID recovery to issue a challenge to all in the construction sector to step up and join us. Together we can ensure that we truly build a world where social gain and environmental performance sit alongside the traditional financial bottom line. All three should be balanced and feed into each other.
The B Corp™ certification also reinforces our existing and future commitments to uphold the highest standards of financial, environmental and social principles. Commitment to the triple bottom line marks a significant move within the UK construction industry, and a journey that we encourage all in the sector to join.
Our commitment to drive improvement in the construction sector aligns with latest UK national policy. A post-Covid ‘Green Recovery’ is now at the forefront of everyone’s mind along with a drive to ‘Build Back Better’.
Our, Senior Partner Andy Snapes, explains: “We are in this for the long term, creating a business for the future of our people, our clients and our communities. Collaboration is key, and our role is to challenge ourselves and encourage everyone we work with to improve their impact on the triple bottom line.”
Andy goes on to say “A common misconception is that sustainable development is more expensive, but this is simply not the case in the context of the future. We are all finally waking up to the fact that we need an increasingly sustainable approach to tackle known environmental, economic and social issues. We are seizing this moment as an opportunity for both growth and behavioural change. We have to admit to ourselves that being less bad is not good enough.”
“With construction touching virtually every aspect of our lives, it arguably has the biggest cultural, ecological and commercial impact on the places where we live, work, learn, care, play and travel. This is a crucial moment for our sector, which has a great opportunity to be a transformational influence.”
Kate Sandle, Director of Programmes and Engagement at B Lab UK (the UK charity that awards B Corp™ certification) shares: “We are really pleased that WWA chose to lead its sector and certify as a B Corp™, joining thousands of B Corps™ across the world. WWA’s commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and a welcome addition to the community of companies who are committed to using business as a force for good.”
Joanna Lindon, Associate Director at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) congratulates the WWA team: “As the first Chartered Surveyors in the world to achieve the B Corp™ certification, WWA is demonstrating the highest standards of financial, environmental and social principles. This comes at a time when our “Value the Planet” campaign is shining a light on the critical role of the surveying profession in leading the way to build back better to transform society for the better in the recovery from Covid-19.”
The B Corp™ journey has allowed us to distil our values and purpose into three core pillars: people, place and planet. Each pillar is entirely interconnected and underpinned by balancing profit and purpose; for us and for all who work with us. To find out more about People Places and Planet click here.
This is just the start! As a B Corp™, we now need to continuously improve, and we are committed to that.
To find out more about WWA and B Corp™ contact Scott James, bcorp@wwa.uk.com