Event agency Broadsword has announced its certification as a B Corp, joining the growing but small number of companies (less than 10,000 worldwide) who are reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.

Broadsword has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

Joining this global community of changemakers has been a central goal for Broadsword, led by managing director Anna Green, over the past 18 months.

The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 (with Broadsword achieving 90 points) while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to 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.

Green said: “Purpose matters greatly to me personally and to the entire Broadsword team. It was important for us to find a standard for building a sustainable and ethically driven organisation, and a method to formalise our commitment to using business as a force for good. B Corp does exactly that. It’s shorthand for the type of business we are.

“Becoming a B Corp has given the whole team an immense sense of pride in what we do. And this is just the beginning; we’re determined to continue to improve the way we do business – for good – and hope that by becoming B Corp certified, we will inspire others to do the same. It’s fantastic to join a community of like-minded businesses that have committed to creating a better world. By collaborating we have a louder voice, a bigger stage and more collective power to drive change for people and the planet.”