14. Optimising IT
Headcount in latest accounts: 32
HQ: Gloucester
Date of certification: February 2023
Optimising IT was one of the earlier MSPs through the B Corp gate after a new customer it worked with introduced it to the certification in 2021 (see below).
The Gloucester-based outfit continues to operate as an independent company following its sale to by serial MSP acquirer firm Lyra Technology in October 2025.
Gaining B Corp took its team five weeks, working two days a week to complete the initial submission, MD Todd Gifford tells us.
Q&A with Optimising IT MD Todd Gifford
What was your main reason for becoming a B Corp?
B Corp as a whole is great representation of who we are as people and how we conduct business. We got introduced to it back in 2021 by a new customer we were working with, and submitted our application in 2022.
B Corp is perhaps best associated with consumer goods brands. Does it really make sense for an MSP or IT solutions provider to have it?
For us, the better question is why aren’t all businesses appropriately considering people and planet? The idea of ‘doing the right thing’ above all else is what motivates us. With the better business act and the driver to get all UK businesses by law to behave in the same way I think is testament to the future of ‘good business’.
What’s the main benefit of becoming a B Corp
For us it’s now engrained in our identity, and makes it easy for anyone to instantly know what we are about.
How much time and money did it take?
Surprisingly little! It took one of our team five weeks, working two days a week to complete the initial submission. We didn’t need to change anything or do anything differently to meet the requirements and complete the audit. We are however used to keeping records and demonstrating improvements as part of our ISO certifications, so that helped.
What was the hardest aspect of becoming a B Corp?
I think if you aren’t already meeting the criteria, or close to it, there are potentially big gaps and lots of changes required, potentially even dropping customers that are in industries that don’t line up with people and planet (we know a few businesses that have had to do that). It’s about a four-to-one ratio of applicants to become a B Corp vs those that make the cut, so the process is pretty serious!
Do you have any constructive criticism of the process?
We are currently going through recertification under the new version of the standard. It’s taking a while as it’s new to B Lab as well, but to be fair, that isn’t unexpected.
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