We are very proud to be a certified B Corporation (or B Corp for short)! B Corps are purpose-driven businesses all over the world that create benefits for all stakeholders, not just shareholders. They meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Some brilliant examples you will have heard of are Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, Tea Pigs, Chloé, Elemis, Aesop, Innocent drinks and Finisterre. The B Corp verification process is rigorous and the assessment scope scrutinises company governance, and the way we work with and benefit customers, employees, communities and the environment.
The B Corp assessment is summarised as a “B Impact score”, with a minimum threshold of 80. We’ve worked hard to achieve a 109, which places Forever Cornwall amongst the highest scoring businesses in the accommodation sector in the UK. Of course it’s not about the numbers, but it is a big deal, and sometimes we forget that ourselves so it’s worth mentioning!
More importantly, you might want to know some of the things we do which have led to the accreditation. Here goes:
- Firstly, at Forever Cornwall it’s all about people so we really look after our customers (whether guests or holiday home owners). This means we have successful long-standing relationships with owners, and guests who come back time and time again. Better for everyone and evidenced in excellent Feefo and Google reviews.
- At Forever Cornwall you can be assured of ethical banking (with the Co-op) so all funds are invested in positive ways.
- We have committed to a carbon reduction strategy – Carbon net zero by 2030/35. Specific actions are using renewable energy, reducing travel, and working with property owners to make holiday hoes as low carbon as possible.
- Committing to giving a minimum of 20% of profit to social and environmental non-profit organisations, with a focus on two specific aims – firstly supporting disadvantaged children and young families in Cornwall to give them a better start (including mental health), and secondly tree planting, carbon sequestration, habitat restoration and biodiversity (investments shared between Cornwall and the DRC which has some spookily similar socio-environmental issues).
- Supporting the local Cornish economy, which is, in part, achieved by being 100% independent and locally owned so all profit stays local, but also through passionately championing local produce and encouraging guests to support local businesses.
- All staff live locally and we are majority female owned and staffed. Our internal governance is open and transparent and we always seek to nurture and support our own team in career progression and in their personal and family lives.
- We are committed to paying more than the minimum Living Wage and encourage all of the businesses in our supply chain to do the same.
- We collaborate with other like-minded independent agencies in Cornwall, sharing best practice and good ideas. Stiving to make things as good as we can, for everyone.
- We are acutely aware of the impact that too many holiday homes can make on Cornish communities, particularly in tourism ‘hot-spots’ and we are careful to distribute our portfolio sensitively around the region. We also have internal criteria to avoid taking on new properties that really should be family homes, instead preferencing those that are purpose built or converted for holiday use, or which are already established holiday lets.
… above all though, it’s about caring. Just taking the time to talk, to collaborate, to make the best decisions we can for people, for place, for planet, as well as for business! For a happier, greener, fairer future for all. We hope you like the way we do that.
