Natilik
Focus: London-based Cisco Gold partner with £78m revenues
Date certified as B Corp: January 2023
Representative: Kelly White, Chief People Officer
1) Why did you want to become a B Corp?
We’ve always believed in being a better business and having a balanced purpose. B Corps has allowed us to externally validate what we have been building for the last 15 years. Change will only come about if businesses take more responsibility for the role they play in making our society and environment a better place for our people, clients, partners and the wider community.
2) What’s your advice for other IT providers weighing up whether to follow your lead?
It’s important to note that becoming a B Corp requires a genuine commitment to meeting rigorous standards and maintaining responsible practices. We know that our clients and partners and people are increasingly seeking out companies that align with their values, and being a B Corp can really help attract and retain clients and partners and people who prioritise sustainability and social responsibility.
3) What was the most challenging aspect of the certification process?
The process will require you to evidence all your standards in practice, so you really need to dedicate time to prepare the information. I think we all struggle with creating more time. However, by going through the process there is an opportunity to look for improvements in practices and approaches through the process. There’s also lots of learning opportunities as joining the B Corp community opens up opportunities for collaboration from like-minded businesses. B Corps have a B-Hive collaboration portal where you can engage in knowledge sharing, networking, and partnerships, which can lead to shared insights, innovative solutions, and mutual support.
Being a B Corp can really help attract and retain clients and partners and people who prioritise sustainability and social responsibility.
4) Is it worth it?
Absolutely. It’s worth it because our people are proud to work for B Corps company. It helps us with the retention and attraction of talent. It also builds our creditability and trust with clients and partners and differentiates us in the market.
5) How long did the process take?
It took us two years from start to finish mainly because the demand for the certification is increasing assessment lead time.
6) Did you make any missteps or mistakes during the process?
There were no mistakes or missteps but we quickly learnt that involving as many of our people in the process as possible was highly effective in terms of making everyone feel involved in the accreditation and getting a better result and making improvements to practices on the way. I would recommend creating a community team to lead the business through the community.
7) What’s the biggest business benefit of becoming a B Corp?
B Corps are all about being committed to making a positive difference in society and the environment. By becoming a B Corp, we are being part of that positive difference to start addressing social and environmental challenges and make an impact for generations to come. For us at Natilik it’s about making sure what we do has real sense of fulfilment and a real meaning and purpose.
8) What’s the biggest misconception around B Corps?
That B Corps prioritise social and environmental objectives at the expense of business financial success. The B Corps mission is to achieve a “balanced approach” as they recognise that financial sustainability is critical for creating lasting impact and driving positive change.
9) Were there any other comparable certifications you considered pursuing, and if so what made you plump for B Corp?
We looked at many but the B-Corps values were the most was aligned to Natilik’s.
10) How much did certifying cost you, either in money or management time?
£25,000
