A Milestone Moment: Our Journey to B Corp Certification
As we approached our anniversary, we wanted to mark it with something more meaningful than a celebration alone – a goal that would challenge us and reflect the values that matter most to us as a business, while also formalising the practices we already have in place and holding us accountable to continually strive to do better.
That’s when we set our sights on achieving B Corporation Certification™. Achieving it in our 15th year felt like a fitting way to recognise how far we’ve come, while committing ourselves to how we want to operate in the years ahead.
My Personal Perspective
Alongside my role as an Event Coordinator at YourScene, I also take the lead on sustainability within the business. My role involves helping shape our sustainability strategy, supporting the team as we continue to embed better practices across the company, and working with our clients to champion more sustainable choices throughout the event design process from concept through to delivery.
With this in mind, it felt natural for me to guide YourScene and the team through our B Corp journey. Admittedly, B Corp was completely new to me, so I was a little intimidated – perhaps even slightly terrified at the thought of taking the lead, I was absolutely up for the challenge!
Starting from scratch gave me the opportunity to really get under the skin of it and build the understanding and confidence needed to guide others along the way. I was genuinely thrilled to lead the team through the process – albeit with a pinch of self doubt, and a tablespoon or two of blood, sweat, and tears in the mix.
Getting into the Nitty Gritty
When we began the process in March 2025, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just a sustainability checklist, but a comprehensive deep dive into how we operate as a business. I pictured it a bit like taking my car in for an MOT – every part checked, nothing hidden, and a few things flagged for a tune-up so everything could keep running safely, smoothly, and responsibly. Nothing scary about that prospect or the amount of work ahead whatsoever… (she says through bated breath!)
So what does becoming a B Corp actually mean, and what does it involve?
Developed by B Lab, B Corporation Certification is awarded to businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Rather than focusing purely on profit, B Corp certification looks at how a company operates across every part of the business – from how it supports its employees and engages with communities, to its environmental impact and governance.
At the heart of the process is the B Impact Assessment, a comprehensive review that examines five key areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. It’s a rigorous process designed not just to measure what businesses say they stand for, but how they actually operate day to day. Yikes! intense, right? My inner monologue certainly thought so.
I would be lying if I said the thought of it all didn’t intimidate me – not because I felt we didn’t have the policies and procedures in place, but because of the unknown. What would it entail? How long would it take? How was I going to manage leading the team through it all alongside my main role in the business?
This is where the fantastic support of Jayne and Simon at Edinburgh B Corp 500 came in. While many companies choose to hire a B Corp consultant to guide improvements, gather evidence, and embed sustainable, responsible practices, we took a slightly different approach: combining their expert guidance with the collaborative effort of the YourScene team – a path that felt both practical and achievable for the business.
Over many months, their workshops and 1:1 guidance provided incredible mentorship and support throughout the peaks and troughs of the process. They helped us pave the way as one of Scotland’s first solely event design companies to achieve this, while also shaping and strengthening the foundations of our B Corp values. I absolutely applaud their incredible commitment to supporting 500 local businesses on their journey to B Corp certification by 2030.
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