What does it mean to be a B Corp?

More than ever, businesses are realising the importance of making sustainable choices and championing diversity.

We have always believed in a purpose beyond profit and that belief has grown immensely over the past few years. Like many in 2020, we looked outwards to see how we could grow as individuals and a company. One of our key action areas resulted in our Commitment to Diversity and Belonging and the other was the rigorous application process to become a certified B Corp.

But what this mean, and why does it matter?

So, you ask, what exactly is a B Corp?

“Certified B Corps are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. This is a community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using businesses as a force for good.” – BCorporation.uk

A B Corp Certification is not a one-off; it’s not an award to put on a shelf. What excites us the most about this certification is:

entering the B Corp community
being kept accountable for our actions
being supported to always strive to be better.

Through the certification process, the overall positive impact of our company was reviewed. We were organically doing well in many areas and there were also great opportunities to learn and improve. As we are now part of the B Corp community, we will be reassessed every three years against even more rigorous standards.

Why did we want to become a B Corp?

The more we heard about the B Corps, the more we realised that our values aligned. Our founder, Emma Sexton, has always believed that work should be a place where people thrive.

To help people thrive at Hands Down!, we:

Have done a lot of work to create a culture of honesty and trust
Operate as a fully remote business – and always have done – to enable flexible working and autonomy over actions and location
Treat our community of freelance talent as an important part of the business – paying fairly and listening to their feedback
Actively give back to our community with mentoring and charitable donations
Proactively support our clients with sustainable solutions for their brand activities

We wanted to be part of this community, learn with them and lead innovation within our industry. While we have already crafted a better way of working (see more about how we work here) – becoming a B Corp pushes us that bit further towards using the work we do as a force for good.

Why is this certification important?

Whether you work with us as a creative partner or in the capacity of a client, we’d hope that your values align with ours. By becoming a B Corp, we now have an easily recognisable way of sharing what we truly believe in and doing great things with others.

We understand that companies and individuals alike are also keen to connect with diversified suppliers and make a positive impact, as well as reach new benchmarks in the areas of diversity and sustainability and overcome challenges that may arise. With our B Corp™ status, diversity commitment and 100% female ownership, we empower our clients to achieve this and make a difference. We promise to help them do business better, from every angle.

Handy Insights

Inclusion and diversity: the Hands Down! approach

Nowadays we can't deny not coming across the phrase 'diversity and inclusion' every so often. Since this topic has been dominating the conversation over the last few years, we sat down and reflected on what diversity and inclusion really means for us as a brand design agency, and why these terms are at the core of our business.

Lessons learned from a pandemic – an interview with the Women In Marketing Awards

Since March 2004, Women In Marketing has brought together the best pioneers of the industry. In light of the latest 2021 WIM Awards event, our founder Emma Sexton is tackling some key questions, from the rationale behind our business model to lessons she's learned along the way.

Why our better business model gets you better results: The Hands Down! Story

Since COVID, we’ve been asked about our remote-first model a lot. So, here’s a summary of questions and answers to help you understand our story to see how we can help you get to better.