Edgbaston Park Hotel has joined Innocent Drinks, Patagonia and Tony’s Chocolonely in a global community of British businesses celebrated for achieving high social and environmental standards.
The team has earned B Corp certification, confirming its excellent performance, transparency, and accountability to our team as well as customers. The auditing process is rigorous, with companies required to provide evidence while legally embedding their commitment to purpose as well as profit in their governance. Around 2,500 UK companies are certified B Corps and over 9,700 globally – and just seven of those UK companies are hotel groups.
CEO Richard Metcalfe said: ‘We couldn’t be more delighted. I’m grateful to my fantastic team for always going the extra mile to ensure we not only give customers excellent service, but we do the right thing by the planet, our community and our team too.
‘We’re very proud to be recognised as a force for good, and excited to continue our journey together with other B Corporations to benefit communities, people and the planet as a whole.
‘We’ve won numerous awards over the last year, including Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Hotel of the Year Award, Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Sustainability Award and the miaList Sales and Marketing Team of the Year. This really is the cherry on the cake.’
This is how we did it:
- Being sustainable. We have ECOsmart and Green Tourism Gold awards for our work to reduce single-use plastic, and improve energy efficiency and waste management. We introduced menus that clearly display CO2e ratings to promote climate-conscious choices. We reviewed all of our business suppliers and credited those who are local and UK based. As part of our sustainability initiatives, we source British Red Tractor meats, MSC sourced fish, and British produce wherever possible.
- Valuing our team, with our own awards night, recognition scheme, outstanding benefits – including two paid volunteering days a year – and development opportunities. We’re Hive Employee Voice Certified.
- Being a force for good in the community. All our profits go back to the University, funding research and education. This year’s charity of the year is St Basils homeless charity. We offer discounts for graduands and their families at University graduations. And we sponsor two beehives!
- Working with local businesses we believe in and who share similar sustainability values, like Birmingham Brewing Company
Our commitment to team wellbeing is reflected in a high percentage of the team receiving performance-based bonus and other internal reward initiatives. We are also proud of our diverse and inclusive workforce. With a strong representation of women in leadership roles we’re championing equality in an industry where female leadership remains underrepresented globally.
Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK – the not-for-profit behind B Corp – said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Edgbaston Park Hotel to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies that are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know the hotel is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.’
