We have some news: we’re excited to announce that we’ve become a B Corp. For those unfamiliar with the term B Corp – or B Corporation, as it’s also known – let us explain: it’s used to describe businesses that have proven they’re dedicated to doing better; to ensure they meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. And B Corp benefits everyone: teams and clients, wider audiences and suppliers, and more. Here’s how we got there…

We began our journey towards B Corp back in March 2021 – and, after 18 months of work, we’re delighted to say we’ve achieved it. “We’ve committed to doing business in a way that aligns our belief that people and places matter, and to acting with the understanding that we are responsible for each other, for the planet, and for future generations,” says Emma Mansell, our Managing Director. “We have always known that thoughtful design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about design that considers its environmental, social and cultural impact too.” We want to uphold that belief.

Our first step to reach B Corp status involved launching an internal B Team, in which core members would navigate the painstaking application requirements and execute important developments for The Modern House. Aoife Leach, our Commercial Director, described the process as “incredibly valuable”, one that led us not only to learn a lot, but to change a lot too. We collaborated with a sustainability advisor to review all of our internal operations to make sure everything we do is as sustainably minded as can be – from our energy supplier to our recycling. “We’re excited for what our certification will enable us to do in the future,” Aoife continues, “and what we can learn from other businesses and organisations within the B Corp community.”

For James Noble, our People and Culture Manager, one of the most inspiring parts of the process was forming the B Team. “It’s open to anyone at The Modern House who is passionate about evolving how our work impacts our people, community and planet,” he says. “It’s clear that we have the motivation within the team to push forward with more projects like this in the future,” he adds, “so I’m excited to see what we can achieve next.”

We have worked hard to maintain and improve the parts of our operations already having a positive impact, such as employing Applied, a platform that anomymises job applications to ensure our hiring process is more equitable. We also launched Modern Matters, an ongoing expert-led learning programme for our team, which examines important environmental, cultural and social issues in relation to both residential design and our business activities. We are committed to digging deeper to recognise the areas where we can do better as a business. As Emma explains: “Our focus is ongoing improvement. This is about supporting a movement that is committed to making a difference. And it’s helped us to understand our company: how we can make it a more fulfilling place to work, while we do our part to bring about change.”

So, whether you are buying or selling a home with us, scrolling our Instagram feed, reading or watching our content, or tuning into our podcast, we can guarantee that your time is being spent with a brand that is promising to make as much of a positive impact in the world as we can. We shall do our best to continue to adapt and grow, with people and the planet at the forefront of our minds.