Good Business Charter's Good Business Fortnight – Doing well by doing good

The Good Business Charter (GBC) is an accreditation scheme promoting responsible business practices across the UK. Launched in 2020, and now celebrating its 5th anniversary, GBC has gained significant traction among companies keen to demonstrate their environmental and social credentials.

There are currently more than 1,000 GBC accredited bodies, representing over 120,000 employees across 24 sectors, covering PLCs, local authorities, charities and academia.

GBC offers a framework to show commitment to responsible business. By addressing key areas such as employee welfare, sustainability and customer care, GBC provides a powerful basis to enhance trust and accountability. GBC accreditation provides a wide range of potential benefits: including improved reputation; greater employee retention and engagement; sustainability alignment and compliance; and a competitive edge.

Good Business Charter’s Good Business Fortnight, from February 3 to 14, celebrates GBC’s fifth anniversary. Over the course of two weeks, it shines the spotlight on organisations that have committed to the GBC principles, encouraging others to lead in a good way.

Ten principles 

The GBC framework is based on ten principles that combine to reflect a company’s commitment to responsible business practices:

  • Real living wage
  • Fairer hours and contracts
  • Employee wellbeing
  • Employee representation
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Environmental responsibility
  • Pay fair tax
  • Commitment to customers
  • Ethical sourcing
  • Prompt payment to suppliers

These principles enable organisations of all sizes and sectors to align their operations with socially responsible practices. Founder Julian Richer, of Richer Sounds, said: “It matters how businesses treat people and planet. GBC helps you ensure you are meeting the benchmark that consumers and employees demand – in an easy-to-explain, accessible way. Show you care by accrediting and inspiring others to follow suit.”

MP Liam Byrne said that ‘there was beauty in its simplicity’.

Good Business Charter’s Good Business Fortnight

To support businesses in meeting accreditation requirements, the GBC is continually evolving its community to offer inspiration and support.  One such initiative is the Good Business Fortnight, where GBC accredited organisations and partners, such as the, Aviva, TSB and TUC are coming together to support businesses seeking to  improve their practices around their key component areas such as Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Environmental Responsibility.

Key elements of the fortnight include educational content such as webinars, articles, case studies, videos. On each of the ten working days of Good Business Fortnight, one of the ten principles is being highlighted.

Environmental Responsibility Monday is February 10, when the University of Northampton (UON) is celebrated as the GBC’s Environmental Champion.

In a series of activities, including a special webinar in collaboration with the Institute of Directors, the focus will be on how the UON drives innovation and leadership in sustainability through not only its own initiatives but also as a regional catalyst supporting organisations in:

  • Reducing carbon footprints: encouraging businesses to adopt renewable energy sources, reduce waste, and minimise their carbon impact.
  • Sustainable practices: promoting circular economy principles, such as reducing resource consumption, reusing materials and recycling waste.
  • Engagement and advocacy: inspiring employees, customers and supply chain partners to adopt sustainable practices.

Becky Bradshaw, the UON’s COO co-presenting the webinar, said: “We’ll be covering things like the Northants Sustainability Accord which UON set up, and which has led to the West Northants TANZ Carbon Calculator, a free resource which could end up saving businesses of all sizes tens of millions of pounds. But, demonstrating that we also lead by example, we’ll be showcasing the work we do, on and off campus, to be a responsible steward to our environment, our people and our community.”

Register for the webinar here.

The Good Business Charter offers a practical, low-cost way for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to doing the right thing. By adhering to its ten principles, organisations not only improve their operations but also contribute to a broader societal shift toward fairness, sustainability and, most importantly of all, trust.

Do well by doing good! GBC is an easy low-cost step on your sustainability journey. It sends a positive signal to employees, customers, suppliers and community alike.

This is a guest article which contains the views of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the IoD.

About the author

Adrian Pryce

Adrian is an experienced non-executive director and business adviser with a career spanning banking, travel & tourism, speciality chemicals, the food & drink industry and  not for profit sectors. He holds an MBA from IESE, Spain, a Top 5 business school and has 30 years’ international experience in both established businesses and start-ups, as well as one year on assignment with the World Bank.

A trained B Corp Leader, Adrian advises companies on their social strategies, impact measurement and social value reporting. He co-founded and chairs Be. Partners Ltd, focusing on responsible business, and The Crysalys Foundation, a children’s charity addressing inter-generational trauma and disadvantage.

In 2017 Adrian was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Northamptonshire for services to business and charity. He serves on the Membership Council of the UK’s Employee Ownership Association and is Chair of the influential Institute of Director’s Sustainability Group.

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