As the strategy and communications agency for responsible business, everything we do is about supporting our clients, and helping them to uncover, develop and communicate their responsible business goals and activity through meaningful communication and campaigns. And here at Verity London, we’re also committed to doing whatever we can ourselves, being a force for good and building on our own values – the Verity ‘truth’ - which you can read about here. We say that we believe all businesses should be responsible. And our mission is to help as many as possible to get there. Which – of course – includes ourselves.
In 2021, we launched our first ‘People, Purpose & Planet’ report, setting out the initiatives and pledges we’d made so far. We’re now happy to share our 2022 report – charting progress, updating on what we still have to do – and setting new pledges to take us into 2023.
We’re also proud and thrilled that, after a rigorous process, Verity London has been awarded B Corp certification. You can read more about that below. We’re grateful to all the people on our fabulous team who helped get us there. It’s a testament to each and every person’s passion and commitment to doing business better, that Verity London has been able to meet the standard required and get to this point.
We’re constantly looking at our progress and ways we can make a positive impact, whilst also striving to improve on areas where we can still do better. And by doing so, becoming an even better partner to our clients and the wider community and world we all share.
“I really get a feeling of a kind and genuine culture here. When I first came I was made to feel very welcome, and I still regularly meet up with my onboarding buddy, and when I was tasked to draft some of our responsibility policy, I saw up front that everything that was on paper, we were practising in real life. It’s a nurturing place to be”
We’re thrilled that in August 2022, after a rigorous two year process and a lot of hard work by our fantastic team, Verity London was awarded B Corp certification. We’ve joined a select global community of businesses – including almost 1000 in the UK – recognised for balancing profit with people and planet. B Corps must meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, and as a boutique agency, we’re proud to sit alongside brands such as The Body Shop, Moodle, TOMS and Patagonia as B Corp verified.
Becoming B Corp also means an ongoing process of further improvement and reassessment. We’re aiming to continually increase on our B Corp score and become even better for business, and a meaningful partner for our clients and community.
"I am proud to work for a B Corp agency because it means coming to work for an organisation that is making sure we are thinking about the positive impact on the planet and the community"
Our work supporting businesses to be more responsible is at the heart of our purpose. Our People, Purpose & Planet reports are our own annual step backs, and an important way we reassess and communicate our progress in becoming better for business and a company that truly reflects on our values, year on year. A few highlights from this year’s report include :
We’re committed to looking after our team at Verity London and ensuring everybody enjoys a positive working environment
We are introducing our social impact initiatives that reflect our values and passions
We are working to become a more sustainable business and bring in new, green initiatives
In 2021, we prioritised mental health, introducing a comprehensive mental health plan and resources for team. With a pledge in the coming year to deliver mental health first aid training to at least two employees, and respond to feedback from our mental health survey, to support staff in a targeted way. We’ve long been champions of flexible working, and have incorporated part-time initiatives into our structure for those who need or want it, wherever we can. Our hybrid working pattern, formally introduced in 2021, will remain under review, as we look for the best possible approach for as many of our team as possible. Into 2022, we pledge to roll out a menopause policy and education programme for team. Our staff volunteer programme, which was planned in 2021, will begin, and we also pledge to giving all our people a mentor from outside our business, alongside our already established, in – house ‘buddy’ system
As a female-founded and run agency, we put women’s empowerment on the agenda in 2021 and fulfilled our pledge to workshop and plan ways to help support other women. We’ve already begun a mentoring programme for 16-18 year olds in collaboration with EVCOM, the event and visual communication association. Into 2022, we will be offering outreach opportunities to young people at schools local to our offices in Camden. Giving those interested in our work the change to visit, shadow and ask questions to any of our teamOur pro bono work to charities and through partnerships with organisations we are members of will continue, and in the coming year, we aim to extend the opportunities for team to get involved with initiatives to support charities using our skills.
In 2021, we defined our sustainability policy, and begun putting into place some of its recommendations and promises. Actions included change our website hosting provider to one that is eco-friendly, and auditing other tools and suppliers we use to support out work, to ensure they are as kind to the planet as they can beWe continue to ensure as many suppliers as possible are local to our area. Other pledges for the 2022-23 year include a focus on those that are bigger – for example, our bank and pension provider – to assess their green credentials, with the aim to making a change if needed. We also plan to introduce travel to work benefits, now we are all spending part of the week back at the office and extend recycling facilities.
"Becoming a B Corp feels like a real reflection of both the work we do partnering with our clients to support them with their responsible business goals, and also our own values and ethos as an agency. It’s a huge achievement for a small agency, and we’re proud to sit alongside many well – known brands who are putting purpose at their heart"
"I’m grateful to work for such a purposeful company and given the opportunity to work together collectively to achieve B-Corp status is a great achievement we can all celebrate for the continuous hard work."
Sustainability consultancy that drives positive change in your organisation by developing your Responsible Business strategy and clarifying commitments on the unique difference you make in the world.
Sustainability consultancy that drives positive change in your organisation by developing your Responsible Business strategy and clarifying commitments on the unique difference you make in the world.
Sustainability consultancy that drives positive change in your organisation by developing your Responsible Business strategy and clarifying commitments on the unique difference you make in the world.
