Built-ID gets B Corp status
Social impact tech company Built-ID has gained certification as a B Corporation, joining a growing group of companies seeking to reinvent business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.
Built-ID has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards.
The tech company is the innovator behind digital community engagement platform Give My View. The platform uses behavioural psychology and game mechanics to engage diverse community groups that would not typically engage with decision-makers in areas such as planning and regeneration.
Social impact tech company Built-ID has gained certification as a B Corporation, joining a growing group of companies seeking to reinvent business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.
Built-ID has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards.
The tech company is the innovator behind digital community engagement platform Give My View. The platform uses behavioural psychology and game mechanics to engage diverse community groups that would not typically engage with decision-makers in areas such as planning and regeneration.
The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’s operations and covers five key impact areas of governance, workers, community, environment and customers. Applicants are required to reach a benchmark score of more than 80 out of 200 – Built-ID scored 126.3 – while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency.
To complete the certification, Built-ID will legally embed its commitment to purpose beyond profit in its company articles. Built-ID is now part of a community of 4,900 businesses globally which have been certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises more than 750 companies and includes brands such as The Guardian, Innocent, Patagonia, Body Shop and organic food company Abel & Cole. In the property sphere, B Corps so far include MAPP, Fore Partnerships and WiredScore.
Oby Bamidele, COO at Built-ID, said: “Becoming a B Corp was driven by our authentic commitment to build trust and rapport with the communities we engage. We want to make the world better for communities and empower diverse voices to be at the centre of changemaking. While profitability allows us to make a huge impact, to achieve our full potential we must place as much priority on social and environmental impact.
“We want diverse voices in communities to have a constructive, tangible impact on decisions that impact them. Whether it is a community of people brought together by place and geographic boundaries, a community of people who share the same interest, or a community of people trying to bring about change. This is why becoming an accredited B Corp was a no-brainer – it validates our purpose and challenges us to not be complacent in our mission.”
Savannah de Savary, founder and CEO of Built-ID, added: “By opening our business up to the thorough scrutiny of the B Corp verification process, we can guarantee that we are working to the highest standards of performance, accountability, and transparency and not our own subjective definitions.”
Chris Turner, executive director at B Lab UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome Built-ID 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 Built-ID is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.”
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