Rethinking business: why more SMEs are turning to B Corp certification

Last week we brought together six exceptional businesses at Vox Studios for something we care deeply about at Portobello Business Centre. Not just growth or innovation, but building businesses that are genuinely responsible, sustainable and fit for the future.

In partnership with Workspace, one of London’s leading providers of flexible business space, and Transformacy, a specialist B Corp consultancy, this competition was designed to support SMEs who are either on the path to B Corp certification or already embedding those principles into how they operate. The aim was simple. Give them a platform, challenge their thinking and help accelerate their journey.

Each finalist had ten minutes to pitch to our judging panel, led by Dr Sheela Sharma, alongside Charlie Green from TML Partners (who are themselves B Corp certified), Richard Larkin from Transformacy and Ariane Ephraim, Head of Sustainability at Workspace.

What stood out immediately was the quality. Not just of the ideas, but of the intent behind them.

Architects Collective Works set the tone with a thoughtful approach to ethical architecture, clearly demonstrating how design can serve communities as well as clients. Jeweller Babette Wasserman then showed how an established brand can evolve, placing responsible sourcing and supplier relationships front and centre.

L’Artisan du Coin combined heritage with premium positioning, sourcing high-quality ingredients through ethical supply chains to create contemporary products made from dates, rooted in North African tradition. Clije tapped into changing consumer drinking behaviour with a strong proposition in the non-alcoholic drinks space, underpinned by purpose rather than trend. Rezonyac impressed with a simple but powerful idea: taking surplus fruit and turning it into a premium vodka. Less waste; more value.

The eventual winner was Stennah & Hope, artisanal candle makers. Founder Boyowa Alugbo delivered a confident and compelling pitch, backed by a genuine commitment to sustainability through materials, production and brand purpose. A standout performance and a very worthy winner on the day.

Boyowa will now work with the team at Transformacy over the next year to go through the B Corp certification process, funded by PBC.

Collective Works, represented by Partners Alasdair Ben Dixon and Siri Zanelli, were close behind as runners-up, reinforcing just how high the standard was across the board.

As Judge Sheela reflected:

“B Corp should be baked into the business, not layered on top. It is one of the most effective ways to elevate a brand because it is rooted in trust, not just profit.

“What we saw in the room were businesses thinking beyond themselves - building responsibly, working within a wider ecosystem of like-minded organisations and setting the benchmark for their industries. That is what real leadership looks like.”

Talking about the competition winner Stennah & Hope, Sheela added: “All the judges were incredibly impressed with the work that Boyowa and his team have been doing, from his UK-only supply chain and manufacturing process to his Refill>Reuse>Repeat philosophy. We really look forward to watching how he will embrace further aspects of sustainability and governance over the next 12 months.”

At PBC, we work with businesses that want to do things differently - building for the long term, not just short-term gain. The direction of travel is clear. The ones who act now will lead.