Huckletree attains B Corp status and reveals insights from its first Impact Report
Huckletree announces its newly attained B Corp status alongside its 2023 Impact Report findings which reveal its commitment to continuous improvement and strict sustainability measures, including its 500 tonnes of CO2 saved from its newest building at Oxford Circus.
Certified by B Lab and achieving an overall B Corp score of 86.4, the certification solidifies Huckletree’s dedication to ESG and reinforces how the flexible office space sector is leading the way for the build environment.
The certification comes after Huckletree is deemed to have met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit. Driven by creating net positive outcomes for buildings, members and local communities, and prioritising transparency and accountability, the 2023 Huckletree Impact Report has revealed the business is going above and beyond for the planet, the people within its spaces, the surrounding local communities and its stakeholders.
Huckletree is committed to raising awareness for the climate crisis and its most recent opening in Oxford Circus diverted 99.1% of waste from landfill, which avoided more than 500 tonnes of CO2 compared to landfill - the equivalent of 25,000 trees needing to grow for a year to capture CO2 emissions. The Oxford Circus hub achieved a Silver SKA award for its sustainable fit-out process and materials.
Sustainability is a key pillar of the Huckletree model and runs through the entire business, from acquisition, through to design to operations. Bringing hubs to life in the most eco-friendly way possible, Huckletree partners with B Corp accredited developers and suppliers at the forefront of sustainable building design and operation and has a target to ensure that all new spaces target a SKA rating of Silver, as well as running at an EPC level of B. When it comes to existing within the spaces, the Huckletree world is energy efficient, waste managed and has been a fully vegetarian operation since 2018.
Loud campaigning and quiet action behind the scenes is part of Huckletree’s DNA. The annual Huckletree Earthrise Summit inspires co-creation and conversation between founders, students, politicians, creatives, technologists, policy makers and SMEs. The next summit in September will bring together the best and the brightest in sustainable innovation and will include a heady mix of changemaking organisations as well as prominent players within climate tech and climate action. Previous speakers include Charly Cox, Arizona Muse, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Tristram Stuart, Angel Arutura, Melissa Hemsley, David Chipperfield, Jimmy Chin, Lily Cole, Nimco Ali - as well as representatives from the United Nations, Project Everyone, Ecosia, B-Lab, Pangaia, InFarm and Tony’s Chocolonely.
When looking into its social impact, Huckletree is dedicated to the wellbeing, personal growth and development of its members, and the team runs frequent Founders Circles and roundtable discussions focused on creating connections, sharing experiences and exploring diversity of thought. In addition, Huckletree’s annual Alpha Programme, their 12-week accelerator designed for pre-seed founders from under-represented backgrounds, has helped 83 new founders bring their businesses to life since its inception in 2017. The programme is taught by industry experts, and the graduates have an opportunity to pitch to a curated investor audience in a live end of programme showcase. Last year alone, Huckletree made 110 tailored individual introductions between members, ambassadors and VC networks.
Gabriela Hersham, Co-Founder and CEO of Huckletree comments: “We are excited to be continuing on our journey post B Corp certification, and while we have an ambitious year of action ahead of us, I’m proud that every function of Huckletree is now being assessed through the prism of impact, alongside departmental metrics. There is exciting change in businesses being launched today, away from the growth at all costs model, towards a model that prioritises transparency across operations and accountability to community, people and planet (Vs. only shareholders) and leadership at all times, not just when it is convenient.
Our focus has always been on building incredible spaces and experiences as workers return to the offices with higher expectations than ever before, expanding our programmes to reach more entrepreneurs and businesses globally, while scaling our number of hubs. This is a new era for Huckletree, and thanks to the work we put into building solid foundations and a connected ecosystem, we’re keenly taking the challenge on.”
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK comments: “We are delighted to welcome Huckletree to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Huckletree are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”.