Hitch Marketing, a leading UK social behaviour change marketing consultancy, has joined a global movement to redefine the role of business in society and demonstrate that profit can be a force for good. Hitch has announced its certification as a registered B Corporation. It is currently the only commercial company to do so across the Liverpool City Region, and the latest Marketing Agency with headquarters in the North of England.
B Corporations (or B Corps) are a growing group of companies who are reinventing business, by pursuing purpose as well as profit. Hitch Marketing has been certified by B Lab as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.
The B Corp certification is for the whole of your business and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, you have to score over 80 and provide evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices - including energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company will legally embed their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles.
Hitch Marketing is now part of a community of over 3,200 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community is reflective of the UK economy with businesses from a cross section of industries and sizes. These include well-known brands like Innocent Drinks, The Guardian, The Body Shop and Danone.
Recent attention of the marketing industry makes Hitch Marketing’s B Corp certification a notable step and signals a shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the sector.
Gary Wootten, Managing Director of Hitch Marketing, said; “We live by the motto ‘behaviour changed, so the idea of measuring our social impact in such a transparent and robust way was a natural step for us. Becoming a certified B Corp helps us to focus on how we can maximise our social value as we go about our purpose and mission to help society with some of its biggest social problems. The process was fascinating as we engaged stakeholders to explore all areas of our business in the context of governance, community, customers and the environment.”
Kate Sandle, Director of Programmes and Engagement of B Lab UK says “We are delighted to welcome Hitch Marketing to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates, who believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Hitch Marketing 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 start-ups to multinationals, and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force, and one that - as these companies are showing - can be used for good. Welcoming Hitch Marketing is a particularly exciting moment because we’ve seen that the marketing industry is in particular need of a shake-up. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Hitch Marketing in paving the way for a new way of doing things.”
“Being able to welcome Hitch Marketing to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Their commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit.”
There are currently 255 certified B Corps in the UK and over 3,200 worldwide.