Good Business Charter Five Year Review
Thursday 13th February, 2025
By Jenny Herrera, CEO of Good Business Charter
As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, I’m thrilled to present the Good Business Charter’s 2024/25 Annual Report. This milestone marks not just the growth of our community but the evolution of a movement that places people and the planet at the heart of business.
This year’s report serves as a dual-purpose review, celebrating five years of progress while reflecting on the significant developments of 2024. It’s a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come while looking ahead to what we can achieve together in the years to come.
Highlights from the Past Year
2024 has been a year of consolidation and growth, building on our reputation as a high-bar accreditation that holds businesses accountable to all ten of our components. Some key developments include:
Renewed standards
We took bold action in January 2024 by removing Capita’s accreditation after their failure to meet the real living wage requirement. This reaffirms that the GBC is a mark of true responsibility.
Good Business Week
February 2024 marked the soft launch of Good Business Week, laying the foundation for Good Business Fortnight 2025, where we’ll spotlight component champions and partners driving change across our framework.
Simplified pricing structure
In April 2024, we introduced a sign-up fee alongside a more transparent annual cost model to ensure the accreditation is fully valued while remaining accessible, thanks to the continued support of Julian Richer’s charitable foundation
In November 2024, the University of York’s School of Business and Society published an insight report into the GBC: Tracking Success for the Good Business Charter. This research provides a compelling look at the impact of GBC accreditation.
Key milestones: a journey of impact
Since our launch in February 2020, the GBC has grown into a thriving community of over 1,000 organisations. Along the way, we’ve celebrated several firsts:
- The accreditation of our first FTSE100 company, St James’s Place, in May 2020.
- The launch of GBC York as our first city-based scheme in June 2021.
- The rebranding of GBC in 2023 to better represent our mission and values.
These milestones reflect the collective efforts of our accredited organisations, trustees, and team members who have championed the principles of responsible business.
Looking ahead
The report concludes with a forward-looking perspective, outlining our plans for the year ahead. This includes furthering our engagement with accredited organisations, deepening partnerships, and continuing to champion responsible business through our growing community.
As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we remain steadfast in our belief that businesses can drive meaningful change. The GBC’s ten components provide a clear roadmap for ethical and sustainable success, and together, we can build a brighter future for everyone.
The full 2024/25 Annual Report is available to read here. Let’s continue to raise the bar for responsible business and inspire others to join our mission.
Here’s to the next five years of impactful change!
