Champion the GBC - Good Business Charter

Every new Good Business Charter-accredited organisation helps further establish the GBC as a trusted badge, valued by customers, employees, and partners alike. As the GBC community grows, so does our collective power to drive positive change and raise standards for responsible business.

Use these practical resources to engage your networks and suppliers and invite them to join the Good Business Charter.

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Tell your networks

Talk about the Good Business Charter. Each post, conversation, and presentation shines an even brighter light on GBC-accredited organisations.

Speak about the GBC with your networks
Whether you’re sharing the news with suppliers, customers or peers, here are some simple ways to explain what your Good Business Charter accreditation means — and why it matters.

What is the Good Business Charter?

The Good Business Charter is a straightforward, credible way to show your organisation’s commitment to responsible business.

As the UK’s benchmark for responsible business, the Good Business Charter was founded by Julian Richer and developed in partnership with the CBI, TUC, and FSB. It brings together the interests of people, business and society to define what a truly good business looks like.

The Charter sets a high bar. Accredited organisations commit to all ten components, these are what matter most to people—and form the foundation for businesses to build loyalty, resilience and lasting success.

Why does it matter?

The GBC sets a high standard across 10 components:

Real Living Wage

Fairer hours and contracts

Employee wellbeing

Employee voice

Diversity and inclusion

Environmental responsibility

Ethical sourcing

Fair tax

Prompt payment

Commitment to customers

Why you joined

Example pointers:

Aligns with our values and how we want to do business

Provides a clear, public commitment to responsible practices

Supports our culture, team wellbeing, and reputation

Connects us with a community of like-minded, ethical organisations

Why others should consider it

Becoming accredited by the Good Business Charter is straightforward and affordable, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes and sectors. The application takes less than an hour to complete, and thanks to funding from our founder, the accreditation fees are kept low.

By joining, you’re not only strengthening your own business, you’re also helping to shape a fairer, more sustainable future for society as a whole.
Speak at an event

Want to speak at an event and introduce peers to the GBC? Use this presentation at events and spark conversations about responsible business.

It provides a clear overview of how the GBC serves as a practical framework to embed responsible business practices. It also highlights growing public demand for ethical business and explains how GBC accreditation helps organisations communicate their values, attract top talent, and build loyal customer relationships. Download the presentation here.

To find out more about hosting an event on behalf of the GBC, see our events page.
Share information

Both of these resources are ideal for anyone looking to understand the Good Business Charter or considering accreditation.

This overview of the Good Business Charter provides a clear summary of the accreditation, its importance, benefits, and impact.
This 20-page document goes into detail about the Good Business Charter and how compliance is monitored.
Answer frequently asked questions

Engage your supply chain

Encourage your suppliers to join the Good Business Charter to strengthen ethical practices throughout your entire supply chain and help to create a fairer, more sustainable society.

Ask your suppliers about their good business practices

📁 Using this supplier form and the below email template, get in touch with your suppliers and further develop your responsible business practices.

Hi [insert name],

We’re really proud to be accredited by the Good Business Charter (GBC) – a UK benchmark that recognises organisations committed to responsible business. This means we’ve made commitments across ten key areas, including fair pay, ethical sourcing, employee wellbeing, environmental responsibility, and paying fair tax.

As part of this, we’re looking at how we can strengthen our positive impact by working more closely with our suppliers on shared values and good business practices.

We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete this short questionnaire:

[Insert link to the form]

It’s a way for us to learn more about how things are done throughout our supply chain — and to explore where we can support or collaborate more effectively on responsible business practices.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Good Business Charter and how it could benefit your organisation too, we’d be glad to share more information.

Thanks so much for supporting us with this.
Present the GBC to your suppliers
Support and work with your suppliers

Are you helping smaller or less advanced suppliers to become GBC accredited? From mentoring to sharing resources — we’d love to hear how you’re supporting them.

Send your examples to sam@goodbusinesscharter.com and help grow responsible supply chains across the GBC community.

Introduce a good business

Introduce one like-minded business to the GBC, and together we could double our reach and amplify the impact of responsible business across the UK.

Together we can amplify our impact

Champion the GBC where you live

Promoting GBC accreditation in your area strengthens the wider movement for responsible business —driving positive change where it counts most, in your local community

Write to your council or MP
[Your Name]
[Your Role]
[Business/Organisation Name]
[Address]
[Email]
[Date]

[MP’s Name]
Member of Parliament for [Constituency]
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Dear [MP’s Name],

Helping our community champion responsible business through the Good Business Charter

I’m writing as a GBC-accredited organisation based in your constituency to introduce the Good Business Charter (GBC) – a UK-wide accreditation that recognises organisations committed to responsible business practices.

Developed in partnership with the Confederation of British Industry, Trades Union Congress and Federation of Small Businesses, and founded by Julian Richer, the GBC sets out ten clear, achievable standards that cover key areas including:

Paying the real Living Wage

Employee wellbeing and representation

Diversity and inclusion

Environmental responsibility

Prompt payment and ethical sourcing

The GBC is accessible, affordable and impactful — designed to work for organisations of all sizes, across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Accreditation builds public trust and provides a practical framework for businesses looking to do the right thing.

As an organisation committed to these principles, we believe the GBC sets a much-needed benchmark for what good business looks like. We’ve seen the benefits firsthand — from strengthening employee engagement to building stronger relationships with customers and suppliers.

I’d welcome a conversation with you about how we can raise awareness of the GBC across [Constituency] — and explore how it could support responsible procurement and economic resilience across our region.

You can learn more at: www.goodbusinesscharter.com

Thank you for your time and for the work you do on behalf of our community.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Role]
[Business Name]
Display posters and bookmarks in public places
GBC in York: A city committed to responible business

In June 2021, York became the first UK city to officially adopt and promote the Good Business Charter. This pioneering move was supported by the City of York Council, local businesses, partners like the University of York and prominent employers including Aviva. Since York’s adoption of the GBC, over 25% of the city’s workforce is employed by GBC-accredited organisations.

Watch this video to hear what being GBC-accredited means to businesses in York.

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