We’re proud to share the news that BKL is now a Certified B Corporation (B Corp): a worldwide community of businesses that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
B Lab, a US-based not-for-profit network, provides this certification. The B stands for Benefit for all.
As part of BKL’s long-term commitment to making a difference – which includes setting up our charitable foundation and being accredited by Inclusive Employers – we began our B Corp application process in 2021. It enabled us to assess our impact on our people, clients, communities and the environment in detail. This has helped us to better understand our ESG (environmental, social and governance) responsibilities.
Lee Brook, BKL’s CEO, says:
“In developing BKL’s approach to good business, we had set ourselves the target of achieving B Corp certification by 2026. Thanks to the dedication of our team and the work that we’ve put in to becoming a sustainable business, we’re delighted to have reached that milestone much sooner.
“As a people business, we’re also proud to have earned an Impact Business Model from B Lab during the assessment process in recognition of our focus on developing our employees. An IBM is a rare achievement among B Corps.”
BKL was B Corp certified with a score of 83.6. While many businesses are asked to revise and resubmit their assessment in order to score over 80 points, BKL succeeded with its first submission.
Myfanwy Neville, Partner and Head of Sustainability at BKL, says: “As professional advisers, we understand our responsibility to guide other businesses in doing the right thing. This is reflected in the services that BKL provide and our own commitment to a sustained positive impact on our people, clients, community and the environment. We’re so pleased to have become B Corp certified in recognition of that.
“We hope that many more businesses of all sizes, in our sector and beyond, will explore the benefits of joining the global B Corp movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.”
Lee continues: “BKL has always welcomed colleagues and clients from around the world, so we’re excited to be joining B Corp’s diverse global community. We look forward to learning from our fellow B Corps and sharing our own insights with them.
“We know that B Corp certification isn’t job done. It’s part of our journey as a sustainable, inclusive and growing business and means that we are continually improving and being held accountable against some very high standards.”
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, says: “We are delighted to welcome BKL to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that BKL are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.
“We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Welcoming BKL is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the UK accounting sector. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support BKL in paving the way for a new way of doing things.”
Among the UK’s community of over 1,200 B Corps – which includes The Body Shop International, The Big Issue Group, Innocent Drinks and Octopus Group – only a handful are accountancy and tax advisory firms. BKL is the largest of these firms.
We look forward to sharing more of our continuing B Corp journey with you, and would be pleased to speak with any clients who are considering B Corp Certification for their business.
Our B Corp Directory entry and B Impact score
Find out more about BKL’s ESG and B Corp journey in this video from our Chief Commercial Officer Simon Bussell and our Head of Sustainability Myfanwy Neville: