As part of our ongoing commitment to responsible business practices, we embarked on our B Corp journey late last year.
Although the certification process is rigorous and currently experiencing delays due to high demand, we have already made meaningful progress. From cultivating a company-wide ESG culture to achieving Green Small Business certification, we are embedding sustainability and accountability at the core of our operations.
We recently caught up with Chris Whiley, our Group Projects Director, and Nicola Hopley, Head of Customer Experience, to reflect on our journey so far and share what is coming next.
Q: Late last year we began our journey towards B-Corp certification; how’s that going?
A: It’s going well! It’s true that it’s taking longer than we thought it would. In part, that has to do with the B-Corp assessors themselves being stretched at the moment, as well as the sheer volume of things going on within Centrick as we continue to grow. Nevertheless, we’re well on the way to certification.
More important than the external certification, though, is the fact that the Centrick team have so enthusiastically welcomed a more structured approach to ESG responsibilities. This bodes well for a sustainable approach to environmental, social, and governance considerations.
We’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made on all of these fronts over the past year or so. We’ve learnt a lot, we’ve implemented some things, we’re looking at others – no doubt we’ll take a few missteps as we go, but this is a marathon, not a sprint, and we’re committed to the journey.
Q: We’ve achieved Green Small Business certification; what does that mean?
A: As part of our commitment to environmental responsibility, we decided to take two significant steps. The first was to measure our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, and the second was to engage a specialist consultancy to support us through this step.
The point of measuring our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions is to establish an objective baseline against which to set targets and track future improvements. In due course we’ll start measuring Scope 3 emissions as well, but one step at a time. On that note, we’ve discovered that measuring emissions requires that certain data be collected that, historically, we’ve not had access to. Thus we’re putting the systems in place to enable us to produce accurate emissions data in the future.
The reason for engaging a specialist consultancy was simply that we recognise that we’re not experts in this area. We didn’t know all the right questions to ask, and we weren’t sure where best to focus our energies. Green Small Business have been super partners to us and with their help we’ve progressed our Environmental Policy to its current version that advances our general commitment to environmental stewardship to more specific, actionable, measurable goals.
Additionally, in order to retain our Green Small Business certification, we’ll need to pass an annual, independent re-certification audit. This means we’re accountable to an external agency and won’t get away with “greenwashing” slogans or token gestures. Our commitment to our stated policy goal of “minimising environmental harm within the scope of our operations”, and “…adopting and promoting practices that make a positive environmental difference” is actually being scrutinised.
Q: We’ve created an internal ESG Team; what’s that all about?
A: We quickly came to see that there’s more work involved in all of this than any one person in the business is able to deliver so, at one level, a team is simply a practical necessity. Having said that, our motivation to create the team was deeper than pragmatism. Three main things led us in this direction.
- First, we want to harness the best ideas. No single person in our business has specialist expertise in ESG policymaking or management, but we’re confident that a team of us, applying our minds to our policy goals and targets together, is sure to be more effective than any one of us trying to go it alone.
- Second, we want to internalise a culture of ESG awareness, and this is best achieved by having a team of people drawn from every area of the business. Engaging specialist consultants can be really helpful – and certainly we plan to keep working with Green Small Business – but a risk is that the issue being consulted on comes to be seen as “that side-thing that the consultants do for us.” That’s not what we want. We want Green Small Business’ guidance, for sure, but it’s important to us that environmental stewardship, social awareness, and sound governance practices become part of the Centrick DNA. Teamwork is the best way to achieve this.
- Finally, the response when we began talking about this was so enthusiastic, it just wouldn’t have been right to not go the team route. We did have to limit the size of team – there were SO many volunteers – but there’ll be plenty of opportunities for folks across the business to get involved as we go.
Q: Are there any changes to our operations, or new initiatives we’ve taken, that you’re particularly excited about?
A: At this stage I wouldn’t say changes to our operations, but definitely the need to collect accurate data about the environmental impact of our operations is something that’s front of mind. I bet you weren’t expecting me to say I’m excited about data collection! The reality is, though, that without good data it’s very difficult to set targets or to measure impact – and we are excited about those.
Probably the most exciting thing has been seeing our teams so eager to use the opportunities their roles provide to make positive differences in creative ways. With the social domain, for example, one team member is developing some ideas for how we could run meetings and decision-processes in ways that recognise neurodiversity. For example, many dyslexic team members have found it challenging to express their ideas on the spot in meetings, but given some quiet space to think things through and formulate their input, they often come up with creative and effective solutions. What a win for everyone it’ll be if we can find ways to embrace their strengths!
Another team member is particularly passionate about green spaces, good planting plans, creating bird and bee friendly habitats, and so on. She’s working on green space proposals for sites under our management, and soon we’ll begin presenting those to the relevant bodies for approval. Again, what a win for our policy goal of making a positive environmental difference within the scope of our operations.
I could give more examples, but the point is that the enthusiasm of the team is the most exciting thing to see.
Q: So, still on track for B-Corp?
A: Indeed we are. We’re waiting on feedback from B Corp regarding the timing of the next step in the certification process but, whenever that is – hopefully before the end of 2025 – we’re well prepared for it.
Moving forward with purpose
Achieving B Corp certification is just one milestone on a much longer path, but it’s one we’re proud to be walking together. The real reward lies in the culture we’re building: one that puts purpose alongside profit, values fresh thinking, and sees sustainability as everyone’s responsibility. We’re excited for what’s next, and incredibly grateful for the passion and ideas coming from across the Centrick team. Watch this space!
Looking to partner with a purpose-led property team?
Fill out the form below to get in touch and start a conversation.
