Nottinghamshire firm celebrates B Corp accreditation

Nottinghamshire-based Gusto Group has become one of the first B Corp Certified construction and manufacturing companies in the UK.

The £25m turnover group employing over 150 staff comprises Gusto Construction, Gusto Homes and Rototek, has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met high social and environmental standards, which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

Gusto Group is now part of a community of 8,000 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises over 1,500 companies and include well-known brands such as The Guardian media group, Innocent, Patagonia and The Body Shop.

Steff Wright, Gusto Group chairman says “since the early days of Gusto, we have always supported our local community and had a sense of purpose alongside growing a successful group of businesses. Joining the B Corp community is not easy and the process has made us look at and improve every aspect of our operation.”

Wright added: “The Gusto Group vision statement is ‘a sustainable future built through partnerships.’ B Corp Certification will help us play our part in a more sustainable future through recruiting staff who share our values and partnering with organisations who share our vision and mission.”

Jasmin Wright, B Corp consultant, has been working with Gusto on their assessment for the last two years, said: “We celebrated our achievement last week by handing out cupcakes to all employees, going round each site and factory chatting to everyone about what it means to be a B Corp – this is such a proud moment for Gusto”.

Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome Gusto Group to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Gusto are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”.