How B Corp™ is helping us to change our firm for good

In the first of a series of blogs exploring what B Corp certification means for us and what we’ve learned from the process, Paul Crocker reflects on how we’ve changed as a firm.

At PKF Francis Clark, we’ve always believed accountancy firms can play a meaningful role in shaping a better future for our communities, as well as our clients. This quest has led to us becoming a Certified B Corporation™.

The B Corp movement is built on a simple but powerful idea: that business should be a force for good, balancing people, planet and profit. To become certified, companies must meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, verified independently by B Lab.

Over the past few years, our B Corp journey has led us to look carefully at how we run our business and the impact we have on our people, clients, communities and the environment.

The process has challenged us to improve how we run our business, leading to real changes across the firm. A key pillar of our current strategy, launched in 2024, is to make a positive impact. The B Corp framework is helping us make this vision a reality.

Positive change

One of the biggest shifts has been in how we make decisions. ESG factors are now embedded in every board discussion, and managers across the firm have ESG responsibilities built into their roles.

We have implemented a more structured approach to listening to our clients’ needs, using this feedback to continue making tangible improvements to the service we provide.

Another area where we’ve made real change is how we support our people. Our wellbeing support has expanded significantly: all colleagues now have access to a health cash plan benefit, mental health support and virtual GP services. We continue to invest in learning and development, funding around 200 professional qualifications every year and embedding our in-house leadership programmes.

Our impact in the community has also grown. Every office now has its own charitable giving budget, under the umbrella of the PKF Francis Clark Community Fund, to support local good causes nominated by our people.

Colleagues also carried out 2,384 hours of volunteering in the past year alone. We’ve strengthened our partnerships with schools, colleges and universities, helping widen access to careers in our sector.

Finally, our B Corp journey has accelerated our environmental action. We’ve committed to achieving carbon net zero by 2035, upgraded our offices with renewable energy and energy-saving technologies, and established active green teams across the firm.

Becoming a B Corp is far from the end of this journey. While certification is an important milestone, it isn’t about claiming perfection – in fact, quite the opposite. The framework encourages businesses to identify gaps, improve practices and keep moving forward. We know there will still be much more for us to do.

We’re looking forward to being part of a growing community of purpose-driven organisations across our region and beyond who share our ambition to use business as a force for good. I’m excited by the opportunities this will bring to share ideas, experiences and practical steps to help each other continue to improve.