An alternative to B Corp for solo and micro businesses

Before I was lyrical about Responsible Business Standard Certification and why it is the perfect alternative to B Corp for solo and micro businesses, there are four very important factors to consider:

1. The Responsible Business Standard (RBS) was developed by the Organisation for Responsible Businesses in conjunction with, and validated by, Anglia Ruskin University

2. After six months in development, the RBS launched in 2011, years before B Corp was even operational in the UK. ORB is a leader in the field, not a follower!

3. The RBS is designed very specifically for UK-based small businesses

4. ORB is a national, not-for-profit, member-owned company limited by guarantee, offering membership and certification options for values-led, UK-based small businesses

5. RBS applications are assessed by two independent specialists

Whilst I am the co-founder and CEO of ORB, I do not own the company. I am merely the current caretaker working to ensure we provide appropriate options for small organisations, with a special focus on solo and micro businesses and that we continue to drive the movement for a better way of doing business in the small business community. A way that is good for business, good for people, and good for the planet.

Not easy – but attainable!

Let’s bust the myth: because the RBS is designed for small businesses, that does not mean it is easy. It would not have any value if it were a walk in the park, would it? So yes, it does require effort. Certification is a robust, evidence-based process.

So, what makes the RBS ‘not easy but attainable’?

1. The certification is designed for small UK-based businesses. There is no confusing jargon

2. Every small business is unique. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all benchmark approach is completely inappropriate. Instead, we adopt the ASTI system: Appropriate to the size, type and impact of the business

3. It is not necessary to answer any questions that are not relevant to your business. That is particularly pertinent for solo proprietors and director-owners. We do not expect you to fit a square peg in a round hole, so you do not have to answer employee-related questions. And because we work on a percentage rather than a points basis, genuine ‘not applicable’ responses do not negatively impact scores. Conversely, you do need to answer all other questions!

4. The process is evidence-based, but we are not prescriptive. We ask open-ended questions throughout and focus more on action than policies.
   
   We like both, but a policy can often be a single paragraph rather than a rambling, several-page document that bears little applicability to the business in question. And we do not ask for policies that are not relevant to your business

5. Our online six-week Facilitated ESG Course makes it far easier for applicants to get assessment-ready with minimal cost

Affordable

It is important to ORB that we make all our services as affordable as possible for the small business community we serve.

• Certification costs start at £375 for a sole proprietor or director-owner with no other employees, payable every three years. An additional annual fee of £175 covers administrative costs, including the approval of a three-year development plan and annual submissions

• Every applicant must complete our online six-week Facilitated ESG Course, which can also be taken as a stand-alone course for any business wanting to be the best it can be. The one-off cost is £150, or £75 for ORB members.
  
  The course process will enable most small businesses to become certification-ready without the need for expensive consultancy fees, which are often associated with other certifications

• The course enables applicants to deep dive into every aspect of business operations and consider if they are doing enough in each topic, could they do more, what would that look like and what steps would they need to take. The course covers the full certification framework with a host of other information, tools, resources, signposting, plus six weeks of invaluable small-group weekly feedback and discussion sessions

“I started the Facilitated ESG course thinking I had my ducks in a row and was doing OK, but it really opened my eyes to not only to ways I could do better, but also to things I hadn't even considered.” – Suzanne Pritchard, Blackwood Books Ltd

“The six-week Facilitated ESG Course provided by ORB was useful and enlightening in many ways. It brought to light numerous aspects of business operations from regulatory awareness to social and environmental best practice, some of which may otherwise have ‘slipped through the net’ as we develop our business.

"The insights and wisdom delivered throughout the course will help us ensure we efficiently align our personal holistic life-view into our conscious business operations.” – Marc Cuthbert, dHome Community Initiatives CIC

What does the certification cover?

The RBS is a comprehensive ESG certification, covering UK legislation and best practice that we describe as striving for excellence in these six areas:

• Workplace, but only if relevant for your business

• Environment

• Marketplace

• Community

• Ethics, values and transparency

• Business continuity

You can find a full breakdown of the certification framework and broader course content here.

What is the process?

• Not a requirement, but you might find it useful to start by taking the previously mentioned five-minute questionnaire. It is free, no-commitment, anonymous and you will get immediate scores and feedback. Remember, it is a ‘perfectly imperfect’ snapshot for you to gauge where you are on the journey. Certification is an entirely different level!

• Take the online Facilitated Course. There are repeat sessions throughout the year. If dates listed are not convenient, you can ask to go on a waiting list

• The course includes all the forms and information you need to complete the certification, enabling you to develop an action plan to address any weaknesses, complete the forms and collate evidence as required throughout

• When you feel you are ready, you can pay the appropriate certification fee for the size of your business. This relates to employee numbers, not including owner-directors, as opposed to turnover. This provides access to the platform, enabling you to submit all the required forms and evidence

• Two external auditors assess each application. They will revert to the applicant if they have any queries. The assessment process is normally completed within two months. The auditors complete a comprehensive report, including suggestions for improvement

• Once the report has been completed, it will be shared in draft format with the applicant. If the application meets the required certification level, the next step is to put a three-year development plan into place. This will be discussed with the applicant and a member of the internal ORB team

• Once the plan has been submitted and approved, the Responsible Business Standard Certification will be formally signed off and appropriate logos, certificate and comprehensive final report provided

• There are two certification levels:

1. STANDARD level requires an overall 65% with no less than 45% in any applicable section. We expect most applicants to achieve this level

2. EXEMPLAR level requires an overall 85% with no less than 65% in any applicable section. This is an exceptionally high standard. We do not expect many applicants to achieve this level, especially on their first application

Relevant resources

• ESG for small businesses: How to build and implement an ESG policy

• Jill Poet: 'Why I gave my company away'

• How SMEs can use digital tools to track and improve ESG impact