Warwick Events has become a certified B Corporation as part of its mission to drive positive change in the sector.
The Stratford upon Avon-based agency is just the second event agency to achieve the sustainability certification and joins more than 4,500 businesses in the global B Corp community including Ben and Jerry’s, The Body Shop, The Guardian, Coutts Bank, Innocent and Danone.
B Corporations (or B Corps™ as they are often called) are a new breed of for-profit companies putting people and the planet first. Achieving B Corporation certification verifies that they have the highest standards of social and environmental impact.
A company cannot simply become a B Corp through self-assignation; they must achieve a specific standard on the B Impact Assessment. The rigorous, independent assessment requires businesses to score highly in five key areas: governance, workers, customers, community and the environment. As of today, there are only 640 companies in the UK attaining this status.
Warwick Events’ founding director Emma Wellstead said: "We want to be the best. The best for our clients; our participants; our suppliers; our team; our community and the planet. Going through this in-depth assessment helped us to learn how we’re doing on this journey. It has taken over 18 months and we have been judged against the most challenging standards of ethical and social behaviour - we are so thrilled we passed.
"Lots of companies have a ‘values’ page or a sustainability policy and it is difficult to see the difference between a good company and good marketing. Our B Corp status proves that our events and work have a positive impact.
"Becoming a B Corp helps us continue to build regeneration and sustainability into our customers’ events. It also gives reassurance to our clients that whatever event objectives they have, they don’t need to come at the expense of the planet or at the detriment of others. We look forward to sharing what we are doing with the wider event community. If anyone wants to learn more, to become more accountable and make important positive changes we’d be delighted to share our B Corp experience."
Warwick Events works with corporate and private clients and a supplier network who share its vision of using events as a force for good. The company was founded in 2010 to specialise in corporate and private events within a 50-mile radius of its office in Stratford upon Avon.
M&IT editor Paul Harvey is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience. He began his career in the local press, working for various titles across the north. Since joining M&IT in 2013, he has become a trusted and respected voice in the sector, championing event professionals and reporting on all aspects of the events industry for the brand.
