Proud to B.

Paradigm Norton become a certified B Corporation

Proud to be Certified ‘B’ Corporation Business

We believe that society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and nonprofits alone

By harnessing the power of business, B Corporation businesses or ‘B Corps™’ as they are most frequently referred to, use profits and growth as a means to a greater end: positive impact for their clients, employees, communities, and the environment. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose.

Originally product manufacturers, such as Ben & Jerry’s, Body Shop, Abel & Cole, Innocent Drinks & Pukka Herbs obtained the certification as it was easier for them to manage the supply of raw materials from sustainable sources and control their environmental impact through packaging and distribution.

Becoming part of the community

Our journey to becoming a Certified B Corporation® status started in 2016 when Director, Richard Child, was made aware of the certification through his work on Social Impact Investing. After gaining a deeper understanding of the certification, we introduced several material and significant changes that the B Corp™ accreditation and status would demand, the most significant being that we have changed our corporate documents to ensure that the governance of the business is focused on People, Profit and the Planet.

The assessment criteria are rigorous, and the questions are based upon the type and size of business. We had to complete 180 questions focused on five areas;

  • Governance: how the firm is run
  • Workers: how we look after our team
  • Community: how we relate to and engage with the wider world
  • Environment: our relationships with our suppliers, and how we select them, as well as how environmentally focused we are
  • Customers: our advice to clients

The Core Values that drive Paradigm Norton meant that we scored highly in areas that focused on our clients and the staff team.

Paradigm Norton become a certified B Corporation

On 25th September 2019 we became the 228th UK company to be a Certified B Corporation®, and the 21st financial services firm.

The way forward

The work doesn’t stop here, the ongoing B Corp™ process monitors the “triple bottom line” standards required by a social purpose business, relating to People, Profit and Planet. The PN team are already considering what additional changes we can make and we have a long list of achievable actions that will build on what we have already achieved.

Can we be of further help to you now or someone you know? We are always looking for new clients to work with and serve. If so, please do not hesitate to get in touch with any of the Paradigm Norton advice team on 01275 370670 or 020 269 7960. We would love to hear from you.

Influencing the PN team

B Corp™ has already had an impact on the Paradigm Norton team. By taking the principles and applying them in our own lives we are considering our own impact on the community and environment in which we work and live. This has to be one of the many benefits of becoming a Certified B Corporation®.

If you would like to find out more about B Corp™ in the UK, you can visit their website: https://bcorporation.uk/

This article is distributed for educational purposes and should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product.