Credit Acceptance’s Post

At Agilité, getting B Corp certified was a huge achievement. They really don’t make it easy! But just because we reached our goal, doesn’t mean we stop there. We want to move with the world, adapt to meet new needs, and keep our place in a community of B corps moving business forward. That’s why we've recently updated our ESG manifesto, to reflect our future ambitions. Download a copy here: https://lnkd.in/e8keMs9Q #BCorpMonth

Continuing the series of short pieces on things I have learnt in the eight years since I started my #NED career, this second piece looks at #ESG from the angle of #BCorp accreditation. BCorp is not a flag you can pay to wave I’ve worked with two boards that wanted to go for BCorp accreditation, one as a NED, one as an external committee chair, and had very different experiences. In the NED case, the CEO pitched it to the board as something that would demonstrate the business as being socially conscious, which aligned to its remit of making loans to small businesses that would otherwise not be able to borrow. It was cautiously supported, with some recommendations for improvements in demonstrating social responsibility in our processes. The whole thing rapidly failed because the CEO didn’t want to make changes to processes and he was thoroughly disengaged from the in-depth assessment process. All he wanted, it transpired, was an ‘on trend’ marketing hook and thought BCorp would deliver. That isn’t ‘doing ESG’, that is something else entirely. The other firm really invested in the BCorp process, not least creating an ESG Advisory board of external experts, which I chaired. We provided advice across all four pillars: employees, community, customers and the environment. It took two years. It took a significant amount of resource, including the creation of dedicated roles in culture and staff support. The initial goal was clear for the company board and the ESG Advisory board – to achieve BCorp accreditation. However, once accreditation had been achieved they began to coast, risking diminishing impact over time and re-accreditation three years later. The question they hadn’t addressed was What Next? To actively maintain the levels achieved? Or to invest further and improve? And if improvement is on the cards, do you take your weakest areas and bring them up to a higher standard, or take your strongest areas and become experts, leading others to do more? Ultimately, it was up to the company board to determine whether becoming a specialist in some areas would be more closely aligned to the firm’s purpose and strategic goals than actively maintaining the status quo or making general improvements across the board. Everyone’s experience of BCorp will be different, because every organisation is different. What I have learnt is that BCorp is not a flag you can simply pay to wave, it is a long journey and accreditation just offers a fork in the road from where you must decide where to go next, because coasting along isn't an option.

"We trust you, Batya. But how do we know your team is even half as good?" At FS26, we only hire top talent—individuals with years of experience and a proven track record in fundraising. But talent alone isn't enough. We have built-in safeguards to ensure quality and consistency. Commitment to excellence is a core value at FS26, and we uphold it through our STRATEGIC PROCESS. Here's how we ensure excellence at every step: ➡ Our Grant Research Specialist scours FS26’s databases to identify suitable grants based on your organization's eligibility and fit. ➡ The specialist crafts a comprehensive grant funding strategy. ➡ The strategy undergoes a rigorous peer review by two team members. ➡ We present the strategy to you and answer any questions you may have. ➡ Once you become a Turnkey Service client, we contact funders using our intensive questionnaire, asking critical questions to ensure our application has the highest possible likelihood of success. ➡ After thorough vetting, we present the funding opportunity to you for approval. ➡ A proposal is drafted by our experienced team. ➡ The draft undergoes a meticulous peer review by another team member. ➡ The reviewed proposal is sent to you for final approval. ➡ We incorporate any changes you request and submit the final version to the funder. Our core values aren't just words—they are woven into the fabric of our company and guide our daily actions. How does your team exemplify your core values? #excellence #qualitycontrol #philanthropy

🌱 4 Learnings from Taking a Business Through B-Corp certification 🌱 1. Build a Strong Sustainability Strategy A solid sustainability strategy covering environmental, social, and governance objectives is your foundation. When Six set out, they had a great Green Team and ambition but no direction or measurement in place. Now their 3-5 year sustainability strategy gives direction, measurable goals and allowed them to meet 10+ B-Corp criteria. 2. Balance Your Team Make sure you have advocates from different perspectives. Their team had me (environment), Mihaela Spirova, ACIPD (social), and Julian Barclay (governance). This balance was essential—especially when I’d go into “the world is on fire” mode! Mihaela and Julian were able to pull me back so I didn't spend all business earnings on rainforests in Peru. 3. First Formalise What You’re Already Doing Many B-Corp requirements were things they were doing naturally—like having dedicated spaces for breastfeeding or prayer. Documenting them was key. So before stressing over needing new policies, look at what’s already in place that just needs formalising. 4. Ask for Help You really don’t need to go it alone. Six got invaluable guidance from Julia Anukam and Jonathan Oon until they found their feet. If you’re starting out, ask for support— (Ahem I’m also here to help too if you need it!) It’s hard work, but 100% worth it!

Get ready for an unparalleled opportunity to elevate your SME finance skills at our global event in São Paulo! 🌟 Why is this event so exciting? This is more than just training—it's your chance to be at the forefront of SME finance innovation. By joining, you'll connect with global industry leaders, exchange ideas with like-minded professionals, and gain cutting-edge insights that can transform your approach to SME finance. Imagine being part of a community that’s shaping the future of finance, where every session is designed to empower you with actionable strategies and the latest industry trends. Expert-led trainings from the International Finance Forum and top industry leaders will guide you through the most pressing topics in SME finance, aligned with Innovation Hub Themes. Choose the training that aligns with your goals: ✅ Digitizing the SME Ecosystem Master the art of leveraging technology to create seamless interactions between lenders and SMEs. ✅ Supply Chain Finance Gain insights into the risks and rewards of financing solutions that strengthen the supply chain. ✅ Agri-finance Explore digital strategies to engage with climate-smart agriculture, ensuring a sustainable future. ✅ Non-financial Services Learn how to build a winning proposition by offering valuable non-financial services to SMEs. ✅ Biodiversity & Blue Finance for MSMEs Drive positive change and unlock investment opportunities in nature and the blue economy. 🎯 Exclusive Access for SME Finance Forum Members As part of our special offerings, these training sessions are exclusively available to SME Finance Forum members. Secure your spot when completing the registration form and take the next step in enhancing your skills, knowledge, and expertise. Ready to be a part of this transformative event? Register now and ensure your place at #GSMEFF24! Click the link to sign up and make your mark in the world of SME finance:  Register here: https://lnkd.in/grWGxQbD  Don't miss out on being part of this exciting global event! This is your chance to not only learn but to lead, to network, and to make a lasting impact in the world of SME finance. #SMEFinance #Innovation #GlobalEvent #Networking #Leadership #SupplyChainFinance #AgriFinance #BlueFinance #Digitalization #Biodiversity #NonFinancialServices

🌟 We've officially become a Certified B Corporation. While this certification doesn't claim perfection or the ultimate impact, it signifies our membership in a global community of businesses striving collectively for economic systems change. To sustain this commitment, we consistently meet rising social and environmental performance standards. Keen to delve deeper? Discover the comprehensive details of our B Impact Score here: https://lnkd.in/dC88bP3v 🌐 #productdock #it #softwaredevelopment #BCorp #SustainabilityJourney

Read a little bit about how B Corp status impacts EMW Law LLP - B Corp Certified and all those within. 👍🏼

Being B Corp certified means so much more than respecting the environment. It's about governance, looking after your staff, who you work for and who you work with, and the community around you. And critically, the impact that your business has outside of your commercial operations.

All smiles at our B Corp Catch-Up today 🤩 It's always a joy to connect each month. Topics discussed today: - Recertification: It's that time for some of our B Corp agencies. - New B Corp Standards: Things are changing, we want to make sure we are clued up on what this means for B Corp agencies - The complexities around sustainability: It's not black and white, how do we navigate the grey areas? - Working with other B Corps as suppliers and clients: Creating a value aligned eco system to work within - Giki ZeroCarbon calculator: How to implement and use our teams to get a measure of things - B Corp Month: Coming up in March - The Typeface Group Ltd | BCorp Digital Clean Up: Make sure you sign up to take part! - Ethical finance and why were your pension is makes a difference Thanks as always to Anja Jones for facilitating and creating a safe space to discuss candidly and share openly. If you're a founder or owner of a B Corp agency and would like to join us for our next catch-up find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gXT4zkgM #BcorpCertified #AgencyLife #AgencySuccess #BuildingCommunity

🚀 Day 2 of the Partner Capacity Building Workshop: New Payment Plan Unveiled! 💼 We’re off to a fantastic start as Day 2 of our workshop unfolds! Today, our focus is on the New Payment Plan—a critical aspect of our collective work that ensures sustainability and fairness in our financial strategies. 🔍 What We’re Covering Today: - Introduction to the New Payment Plan: A detailed breakdown to understand how it aligns with our mission and supports our partners. - Group Discussions: We’re diving deep into the benefits and challenges of this new plan, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard and considered. The energy is high as our partners engage in meaningful conversations, ask thought-provoking questions, and collaborate to refine this crucial component of our operations. 🌟 Why It Matters: This new payment structure is more than just numbers—it’s about fostering trust, transparency, and mutual growth. Together, we’re shaping a financial model that supports our shared goals and empowers the youth we serve. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey of growth and collaboration. Tomorrow, we’ll be exploring roles distribution in GlassFrog, ensuring that everyone knows their part in driving our mission forward! SINA (Social Innovation Academy), SEWF - Social Enterprise World Forum C.I.C. , Etienne Salborn, Buyana Delphin, Victoire Mwaka , YINNOH (Youth Innovation Hub),SINA LOKETA_SINAL, Anzisha Prize, African Leadership Academy, YIDA Youth Initiative (YIDA), Franck Kalala #AriseYouthFoundation #CapacityBuilding #NewPaymentPlan #YouthEmpowerment #FinancialSustainability