B Corp recertification: Why accountability matters more than the badge

We've just been recertified as a B Corp, which means going back through the same rigorous assessment across five areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. It's a chance to check our decisions against the standard, not just our intentions.

A couple of things stood out this time round. Our financial support package and leave policy for people going through IVF got a specific mention in the assessment. So did our Cultivate scholarship, helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds get into tech.

Recertification isn't a badge we file away. It's a prompt to look at what we're actually doing, year on year, and where we can do better.

Workers – people first, always

Our people are the heart of Tax Traders.

We believe genuine care and high-performance go hand in hand. The B Corp framework formalises what we inherently value deeply. Some of the practices that contributed to our score include:

• Our best-in-class parental policy designed to support parents (including dads) at every stage of family life. This includes support for family building (adoption, surrogacy, IVF), six months of fully paid parental leave for all parents, an additional six months of reduced hours on full pay, and flexible use across a child’s first two years, regardless of primary or secondary caregiver status.
• Flexible sick leave, acknowledging that health can’t be scheduled and rest benefits everyone.
• Regular engagement and feedback mechanisms to ensure our people have a voice.
• Meaningful benefits that align with our values and support our people, such as unlimited therapy, coaching and true flexible work arrangements.
  

From wellbeing to ways of working, we’re intentional about creating an environment where people can show up as themselves and do their best work.

Governance – leading with authenticity, reinforced with accountability

For us, governance is about clarity, transparency, and long-term thinking.

Our decisions align with our DNA, even when no one is watching. Our recent B Corp submission reflected the structures we have put in place to:

• Hold leadership accountable beyond financial performance.
• Build leadership that reflects a diversity of perspectives and experiences, with 50% of our leadership team identifying as female.
• Embed ethical decision-making into our policies and processes.
• Consider the impact of our decisions on all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
  

Community – showing up beyond our walls

We look beyond our immediate business needs and ask how we can contribute positively to the communities that we are part of. That includes:

• Supporting initiatives that align with our values.
• Partnering with organisations doing important and meaningful work.
• Using our platform and influence thoughtfully.

We are a fintech, but we are also neighbours, collaborators, and citizens, and we take that seriously.

Rather than one-off initiatives, we focus on ongoing relationships, choosing to work with organisations that are creating positive change. We are committed to donating at least 5% of profits to our charitable partners each year.

Planet and environment – taking responsibility for our footprint

While we are not a traditional high-emissions business, we recognise that every organisation has an environmental footprint and therefore a responsibility.

Through the B Corp framework, we’ve been able to more clearly measure, track, and improve how we approach our environmental impact. This includes:

• Making thoughtful choices, from how we run the office to the packaging we use, that reduce waste and emissions.
• Designing policies that encourage sustainable behaviours, like offering e-waste and textile recycling in the office.
• Covering the cost of public transport for our team to encourage use.
• Taking a long-term view of growth – one that considers environmental impact.

Customers – listening, learning, improving

Guided by our DNA, we design solutions that genuinely solve problems. Our commitment to our clients includes:

• Transparent pricing.
• Strong data protection, backed by ISO 27001 certification.
• Continuous improvement led by ongoing feedback loops.
• A focus on training and education.
• Building ongoing partnerships to serve long-term interests.

Recertifying as a B Corp isn't just paperwork. It's a check against the same five areas we were measured on last time, and this time the assessment noted our IVF leave policy and the care packages we send to staff on long-term sick leave.

Plenty of businesses will tell you they're doing right by people and the planet. B Corp is different because someone else checks the working. Assessors go through governance, worker treatment, community impact and environmental practice, and score it against a standard we don't write ourselves. That's the part we're proud of: not the claim, the audit.

We've got more to do, but thanks to the team for the work that made this recertification possible.