Clean power company Good Energy has been certified as a B Corp, the global standard for purpose-led business.
The company will be celebrating its certification as a sponsor of the world’s largest gathering of B Corps, Louder Than Words festival, which will take place in Oxford in September.
My Green Pod Hero Good Energy, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, was one of the originators of the purpose-led business movement in the UK.
It was founded in 1999 with a mission to power a cleaner, greener future together.
A long-term innovator in renewable energy, Good Energy helped to drive the growth of small-scale solar power in the UK by introducing the first solar export tariff for homes.
It was also the first to launch a fully certified 100% renewable electricity supply tariff.
Now it is the only UK household energy supplier which is certified as a B Corp.
‘The best businesses have a purpose beyond profit. And Good Energy’s has always been very clear — giving people the power to be part of the solution to climate change. So joining the unstoppable B Corp movement of purpose-led businesses is a fantastic way to celebrate our 25th year.
‘As the only UK household energy supplier to be B Corp certified we are proud to be able to give customers the opportunity to choose an energy company which prioritises people and planet alongside profit. And as a UK listed B Corp, anyone can buy their own shares in a purpose-led British business too.’NIGEL POCKLINGTON
Chief executive, Good Energy
Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
To achieve B Corp Certification, a company must meet a score of at least 80 points in the B Impact Assessment — a tool designed to help measure and manage a business’s impact on its workers, community, customers and the environment.
The median overall B Corp impact score for businesses that have completed the impact assessment is 50.9; Good Energy’s score is 118.5.
Good Energy scored particularly highly in the environment category. A reflection of the company’s clean power purpose, this was in part due to surplus points awarded in recognition of products and services that reduce emissions through the provision of renewable or cleaner burning energy.
‘Certification to become a B Corp is no mean feat. The process involves providing evidence from all across the business, from our sustainability practices to our governance processes and community giving. Which means it truly is a team effort with everyone at Good Energy involved, whether through directly providing evidence or in their daily work helping customers and focusing on our purpose.
‘To achieve B Corp status with a score of 118.5 is something we can all be very proud of, but we don’t plan to stop there. We now have a framework for continuous improvement.’
CHERISH JACKSON
Sustainability manager, Good Energy
Publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM), the company has been certified at a group level as Good Energy Group PLC.
Out of 8,400 B Corps globally, there are now more than 2,000 in the UK, many of which will be gathering for B Lab UK’s festival Louder Than Words on 10-11 September in Oxford.
Good Energy will be joining the event as an official sponsor, taking to the stage to celebrate and discuss the company’s certification.
‘In order to transform our economy, we need businesses of all shapes and sizes — from start-ups to publicly-listed companies — to be accountable for their impact on people and the planet. So it’s great to be welcoming Good Energy Group PLC into the B Corp community, paving the way for a new, and better, way of doing business.”
‘We are really looking forward to welcoming them at the Louder Than Words festival where we will hear more about their certification journey and their vision for the next stages of a just energy transition.’CHRIS TURNER
Executive director, B Lab UK
Although now certified, Good Energy has yet to secure enduring certification through B Lab’s ‘values lock’ — making a legal change to enshrine its purpose.
The company put forward a resolution to its shareholders to change its articles of association – to reflect a commitment to social and environmental impact alongside profitability – at its last two Annual General Meetings (AGMs) in 2023 and 2024.
Despite support from an overwhelming majority of shareholders, as a special resolution which is required to surpass a 75% voting threshold, the resolution has not passed.
The company now has one year from certification in which to make the legal change, and as such will be putting forward a resolution to shareholders again.
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