I have worked at both Russam and Trustees Unlimited for 13 years now, and during that time we have always paid close attention to our internal processes and procedures. It has always been really important to us to uphold best practice and consistency, especially in organisations where the team is spread out and where we offer a variety of recruitment options, all with slightly different requirements, contracts and processes.

In the past we invested a lot in our ISO standards as a formal way to monitor and show that we keep our operations at a high level, and I was involved in that for quite a while.

To me, B Corp feels like the natural next step. There is still a strong focus on the operational side, but it also brings a wider lens. Instead of only asking whether we are working efficiently, it asks whether we are doing the right thing for our people, our communities and the environment. That sense of purpose and accountability gives the work a different kind of meaning.

Over the last few years I have been more involved with our B Corp journey, and it has definitely been a learning curve for me and for both organisations. That is exactly how it should be. Instead of chasing a perfect score, we are constantly learning, adapting and challenging ourselves to do better across every part of the business. It is an ever evolving journey and not a race. Every change, even a small one, has a positive impact and helps create a better and more supportive working environment. It really is a team effort, and we would not make progress without everyone playing their part.

We recently recertified with Trustees Unlimited, and our sister company will go through recertification under the new standards next year. So while we are aiming for a higher score, we also know the new standards will keep us on our toes and push us to keep improving.

While Russam has been around for 40 years and Trustees Unlimited for a proud 16 years, we are still relatively small compared to the really large corporates. We do not have a big HR department or layers of support services. Because of that, B Corp acts as a really helpful guide, giving us clarity on what good practice looks like and what we should have in place.

Trustees Unlimited is a founding B Corp, so the movement has been on our radar for a long time, and it has been great to see it become more recognised and more widely understood. We now even have several B Corps on our supplier list, including Pixelled Eggs, a partnership that grew from being part of the same community.

For anyone thinking about becoming a B Corp, it really is a labour of love. It is not something you can complete in a few weeks. It takes time, commitment and effort. Even if it feels daunting, the whole point is to grow, improve and create impact, not to dread the assessment process. And it is always worth noting that you can still use the B Impact Assessment as a guide, even if you decide not to go all the way to certification.

Happy 10 years to the movement, and here is to the next 10.

Anna Henderson, Russam