Digital solutions
shouldn’t cost the earth!
As a progressive business, 16i is currently working towards B-Corp status, which means we’re striving to meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance transparency and accountability.
It has currently been given to nearly 9,500 corporations across 105 countries including the likes of Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, Toms and Gousto; and helps to recognise a strong commitment to socio-environmental best practice.
As we work towards B-Corp status, our mission is to continue to create scalable, effective, and reliable solutions to enable businesses to achieve their digital transformation and deliver sustainable outcomes. We are dedicated to using business as a force for good, to make a positive impact for our clients, society, and the environment through the work we do, and the way that we do it.
Going through the B Corp certification process is important because it demonstrates a company's genuine commitment to social and environmental responsibility. By meeting rigorous standards of performance, accountability, and transparency, businesses can showcase their dedication to ethical practices, sustainability, and positive impact. This not only builds trust with consumers, investors, and partners but also fosters a sense of purpose among employees, driving long-term success and creating a more equitable and sustainable world. In essence, becoming a B Corp is a powerful way to align business goals with societal and environmental well-being, making a meaningful difference in the world.
What are we doing to get to B-Corp?
In order to become B-Corp certified, we’ll continue to implement positive, ethical and environmental changes throughout the business. By working through the Impact Assessment we're ensuring that best practice is being followed as used in much larger organisations across the world.
1. Investing in Renewables Installation of solar panels and onsite battery storage
In 2022, we installed 20kWp of solar panels on the roof of our office. In addition, investing in 13.5kWh of onsite battery storage and agreed a feed-in tariff back to the grid for surplus generated power to maximise the positive impact on the environment.
1.608 MWh
Generated so far this year
34.302 MWh
Generated since installation
Todays Yield
0 kWh as of todays date and time
Chart showing the monthly yield (kWh) over the last 12 months
Monthly Yield
104 kWh as of todays date and time
Chart showing the daily yield (kWh) over the last 12 months
2. Community Spaces Use of facilities for local charity or community groups
Every month we set aside an allocation of time and space for charitable and community use.
Are you a local charity or community group struggling to find a suitable space to meet and run your activities? If you are such a group and think our spaces would be suitable please get in touch.
3. Other Initiatives Our social and environmental initiatives
As we aspire and work towards our B Corp status, we're offering several enticing perks that go beyond standard employee benefits. We are making our place of work one that benefits the employees, the business and the wider community, making work and business a positive place to be. Here are some highlights:
Work-life balance
Professional development
Impactful work
Our team get to contribute to a company that prioritises social and environmental responsibility, making their daily work more meaningful.
Community involvement
Opportunities to engage in volunteer work and community service are provided, aligning employees' personal values with their professional lives.
Charity discounts
Pro-bono work and discounts for charities such as RDA
EV pool car
Work from home
Recycling
Recycling and waste segregation, including glass, coffee pods and food waste.
Better alternatives
Offering non-diary milk alternatives in the office alongside fruit rather than processes snacks.
Community days
Paid time off to spend on community or charity projects.
Charity of the year
Every year we support a different charity chosen by the team. Our 2025 charity is TBC.
We’re also working towards
Our short-term business goals for us as a small businesses pursuing B Corp certification:
Assessment Completion
Conduct a thorough self-assessment using the B Impact Assessment tool to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
Sustainability practices
Implement eco-friendly practices such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and sourcing sustainable materials.
Employee engagement
Foster a positive workplace culture by enhancing employee benefits, promoting work-life balance, and encouraging professional development.
Community impact
Strengthen relationships with local communities through volunteer programs, partnerships, and support for local initiatives.
Transparent reporting
Develop clear and transparent reporting processes for financial performance, social impact, and environmental practices.
Stakeholder communication
Improve communication with stakeholders by sharing progress on B Corp initiatives and gathering feedback to inform future actions.
Diversity and inclusion
Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization by implementing inclusive hiring practices and supporting underrepresented groups.
Supply chain responsibility
Ensure ethical and sustainable practices throughout the supply chain by partnering with like-minded suppliers and vendors.
Servers
Transitioning clients to Azure (completely green) servers.
Sustainable Web Development
Considering sustainable website design elements (such as XXX and XXX) in all design/build projects.
Charity days
Support charities as a team rather than just individually
Snacks
Increasing our range of vegan friendly snacks
Schemes
Cycle to work scheme
Soft plastics recycling collection point
Feasibility study for offering a soft plastics recycling collection point for Rockfield Business Park and potentially Old Station Drive / local area.
Bean to cup coffee machine
Remove the requirement for any coffee pods by using beans. Also using the grounds as a fertiliser for office plants
Our B-Corp Progress
As we go through the assessment process for B-Corp status, we'll continue to be transparent with our scores, the process and our progress. The entire assessment has been fascinating and a real eye-opener and although, and quite rightly so, very demanding and time consuming, we're definitely a better business for doing this.
At time of submission, these are our current scores (unverified by B Lab):
If any other business is considering this and would like to have an informal chat about our experience then we're always happy to help. Just get in touch!
B-Corp explained
With 16i currently working towards B-Corp status, this blog looks at what it means to be B-Corp certified and how the accreditation can be achieved
Read more