Bath-based community-business connector Neighbourly has become one of the founding UK members of the B Corporation, a global scheme that identifies socially responsible business.
Neighbourly, which links community projects with companies that want to make a difference, helped launch B Corporation yesterday with a group of like-minded businesses. 
B Corporation aims is to do for business what Fair Trade certification has done for coffee and chocolate. Companies have to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency before they can gain the B Corporation status.
The initiative aims to redefine success in business, and already represents more than 1,400 companies in 42 countries including Ben & Jerry’s, Kickstarter and Change.org.
Neighbourly founder Nick Davies said: “Our ambition is to become the world’s social network for social good.
“A commitment to people, planet and profit is firmly rooted in our core principles, and is now validated for external scrutiny through our new B Corporation status. As business values become increasingly important to consumers and employees, we’re proud to be helping businesses play a bigger role in their communities – first and foremost as a social platform, and now also as one of the launch wave of UK B Corporations.”
Since its launch just over a year ago Neighbourly, which has its Bath base in the city’s Innovation Centre and a sister office in Bristol, has enabled organisations to pledge nearly £2m and over 6,500 volunteer days to causes around the UK. It recently confirmed plans for the Netherlands to become the second ‘Neighbourly Nation’.
Recently appointed chief executive officer Luke McKeever added: “Neighbourly is an ambitious business on the cusp of rapid growth – but we’re driving social change, which is no small challenge. When we launched Neighbourly in the Netherlands, we learned the importance of shared values and goals with our new business partners.
“Having the support of a global community of like-minded organisations, each of which share our ambition to redefine the role of business in society, will be a huge asset to Neighbourly.”
Organisations using Neighbourly include corporates such as Marks & Spencer and Starbucks, as well as many small and medium-sized businesses active in their local communities.
