Our Responsible Business Commitments
At FBC, we are fully committed to being a responsible business.
As of March 2024, we are proud to have achieved B Corp certification and we have recently signed up for a second year as a member of Heart of the City – a registered charity based in the City of London supporting SMEs in their responsible business work.
Since our launch in 2019, we have implemented a range of responsible business intiatives internally. An important example is our fund-raising programme, where members of the FBC team choose charities each year which we support through a programme of corporate giving and employee fundraising.
As we develop our responsible business strategy, we will focus on five pillars aligned with those identified in the B Corp certification process:
- our people
- the community
- the environment
- our members and clients
- and, of course, governance
More details about B Corp, Heart of the City and the charities we have chosen to support for 2024 are below. If you’d like more information about FBC’s charitable programme, please do get in touch.
About B Corp
B Corp certification recognises a business as meeting high standards in social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. To become a certified B Corp, companies must complete a rigorous assessment of the impact of their operations and business model on their internal team, their customers, the community and the environment. After a lot of dedicated work, FBC is delighted to have achieved B Corp status in March 2024.
Find out more about our B Corp journey.
Learn more about the B Corp movement in the UK.
About Heart of the City
We know how important it is for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to play a part in responsible business, and so last year we joined Heart of the City as a member of their Foundations for Responsible Business. With their support, we are developing activities around supporting our people’s mental health and wellbeing, increasing diversity and inclusion, and supporting our local communities.
You can find out more information about Heart of the City on their website.
Our 2024 Charity Support
At FBC, our charities and causes are close to the heart of our team. Charities are chosen each year by members of the team, and we make an annual donation on behalf of the many speakers and experts who give their time to support our work in fund governance. It’s our way of thanking our industry colleagues for their time – as well as doing our bit for the communities in which we live and work.
This year the FBC team is completing a unique Charity Challenge – we’re embarking on a virtual 2,000km+ journey around the UK, all accomplished remotely through walking, running, and cycling. The aim is to make it around the UK on a tour via the hometowns of all FBC team members, starting in London in June.
Support our Summer charity fundraiser helping Mind, Cancer Research UK and British Red Cross.
Almost all of us will be closely related to someone who has experienced or died from this devastating disease. Cancer Research data shows:
- There are more than 385,000 new cancer cases in the UK every year, that’s more than 1,000 every day (2017-2019).
- Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer.
- More than half of new cases of cancer are breast, prostate, lung or bowel cancer in the UK (2016-2018).
- All cancers combined incidence rates are projected to rise by 2% in the UK between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040.
While the numbers are growing, the understanding knowledge of the disease is also expanding and positive treatments are being developed all the time due to the work of organisations like Cancer Research UK.
The British Red Cross provide practical, local and emotional support to people around the UK. The Red Cross also provides international aid to help people around the world in emergencies and support refugees and survivors of trafficking, and those facing chronic hunger.”
Aimi Ramlee, Membership Coordinator, Fund Boards Council
More information on the British Red Cross.
Computers for Kids believes that every child deserves equal opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. They collect old and donated computer devices such as Laptops, Mobile phones, Tablets, and PCs – any tool that a child can use to learn remotely, stay connected with loved ones, and enjoy entertainment.
By doing so, Computers for Kids aims to bridge the digital divide and foster equality in our communities. “
Darren Wells, Digital Experience Consultant, Fund Boards Council
Kirsty Wells, Website Content Manager, Fund Boards Council
More information on Computers for Kids.
Mind offers help whenever it might be needed, through information, advice and local services. Bringing together an unstoppable network of individuals and communities – people who care about mental health to make a difference.”
Peter Christmas, Senior Adviser, Fund Boards Council
More information on Mind.
Membership, Consultancy, Training and iNED Services for Fund Boards
