B CORP WAY

We're looking for consultancies to partner with

B Lab now seeks to extend the range of service offerings for companies using the B Corp Way platform. We invite B Corp certified consultants and agencies interested in becoming a B Corp Way partner to submit an expression of interest form. The form will be reviewed by B Lab Europe and successful applicants will be featured on https://bcorporation.eu as an endorsed service provider for the specific service(s) they have elected to offer.

The current service offerings on B Corp Way are:

1. BIA Advisory: Consultants in this category provide general impact management services for organisations beginning their B Corp certification journey, or developing their approach to measurement and metrics. Aligned with B Lab's certification tool, the B Impact Assessment, consultants would help organisations track, measure, improve and report on non-financial impact.

2. Carbon B Radical: We're looking for consultants with expertise in helping companies to reduce their carbon usage and who can propose alternative solutions. What is the carbon impact of a company's activities? How far and how fast can a company reduce its carbon emissions? What is needed to design the change and see it implemented? How do businesses co-design solutions with suppliers, customers or even competitors to help us keep the planet’s temperature at a life-sustaining level?

3. SDGs and the B: How does a large company begin to tackle the challenge of integrating the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals into their daily activities? What robust data management systems should be in place in order to link impact and activities to SDG goals? Consultants featured in this section provide companies with strategic recommendations (including B Lab's SDG Action Manager) for using the SDGs to help quantify and manage business impacts and help them to answer these questions.

4. Radical Transformation: Companies are increasingly looking to redesign their business models to be more stakeholder oriented, diverging from the traditional focus on shareholders. Consultants in this channel can help companies to make this radical change to their business model and their day-to-day operations.

5. B in the Boardroom: We're looking for consultants who can develop and deliver bespoke sessions for Board members and leadership teams on the implications both of certifying as a B Corp and the incorporation of purpose across the business. Create training for board members and senior directors on these new conversations. What freedoms and responsibilities for governance open up when the commitment to transparency and accountability is embedded into a company’s DNA? Likely partners here could be purpose-led coaching firms, governance experts, impact economy experienced professionals, leadership and training firms used to working with Boards and C-Suite executives.

6. Marketing and Communications: Consultants featured in this section would be those familiar with working and training marketing professionals to illuminate the benefits to an organisation and its wider stakeholders of incorporating purpose into their business. Engaging people in this is key to unlocking its potential - why does it matter, and to whom? What are the consequences? Likely partners here could be marketing and comms firms, PR companies, agencies and consulting firms used to helping large businesses adapt both their internal and external marketing messaging to communicate the multi stakeholder-led ethos of the B Corp movement.
   
   We have also identified that the following services are relevant to companies. If there is enough interest from consultants we will add these offerings to B Corp Way:

7. B Legal: Whether as part of the certification process to become a B Corp (and the requirement to amend a company's Articles of Association), or in an effort to enforce purpose-led changes into a company's legal documentation, there is a need for trained lawyers to offer advice to large enterprises seeking to make a change. Huge variances exist across the European region (whether it be to become a 'Società Benefit' in Italy, or an 'Enterprise à Mission' in France). Firms featured in this channel will be experts in the local corporate law of the country in which they operate.

8. Corporate B Activism: There is an increasing demand for companies to take a stand on social and political issues and support policy change. Whether for organising themselves to form coalitions or taking legal action to push for a more inclusive and fairer European legislation on business, the B Corp Way "Corporate B Activism" service allows companies to find expert partners to support their effort.
   

This is not an exhaustive list of topics and we are open to considering other ideas if there is a clear evidence of interest, need or likely take up. In order to suggest others, please describe the nature of the service you propose within the submission form.

We will evaluate expressions of interest and determine services based on proven market demand and capacity.

Selection Process

There will be a three step process to selection.

1. Respond with an expression of interest, using the form provided in the 'submit your interest' tab by 15th December 2022.

2. You will be notified if we will be proceeding with the service (dependent on market demand and proven capacity). Successful applicants will be requested to submit a more detailed proposal and a video presentation.

3. The final stage will be to sign an agreement with B Lab Europe, pay the associated fee, and to upload credentials and selected marketing materials onto the digital portal.

Timeframe

15th December 2022: Deadline for submissions.

November-December 2022: B Lab selection process and notification of EOI success. Successful participants to send documentation including credentials, testimonials, explanation of methodology and selected references.

January 2023: Successful partners to sign agreements and create collateral for digital platform.

Selection Criteria

Our framework for selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Alignment with B Lab's values and Declaration of Interdependence

• A B Corp or a consortium group including at least one B Corp

• Relational approach to partnership working

• Passion and energy to deliver the services

• Demonstration of a growing demand for the proposed service

• Expertise and deep knowledge of the client’s needs in this area and ability to match this with a compelling offering

• Capacity to deliver a high quality service and at scale