FORE Becomes Official Member of the B Corp Community

Ever since we set up the business nearly a decade ago, our vision has been to achieve higher investment returns in real estate by supercharging positive social and environmental change.  Now more than ever, it seems the world is acknowledging this as not only possible, but essential.

We are pleased to announce that we have become a certified B Corporation.  This underscores our commitment to align our investment strategy with our purpose, impact, and culture.  As part of this process, we have codified our values in our corporate governance, and made a binding pledge to consider the impact of our decisions on our staff, customers, suppliers, community, and environment.

We are proud to be joining other passionate business leaders worldwide who are driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Property is the stage on which many of our greatest challenges as a society play out, and yet has not worked hard enough to help solve them.  We must recognise our role as a critical part of the urban system, and to drive system-level transformation in order to achieve a just, low carbon, socially inclusive built environment.  This surely must be the future of real estate.

As part of this process, FORE has legally committed to pursuing purpose beyond profit. FORE joins a global community of firms committed to harnessing the power of business to help address society’s greatest challenges and to build a more inclusive economy.

Achieving B Corp certification, which is administered by not-for-profit organisation B Lab, follows on from our industry-leading commitment to achieve zero carbon by 2025 – five years ahead of the wider industry target set by the World Green Building Council and well in advance of the UK’s 2050 goal – and underscores FORE’s commitment to using real estate as a tool to generate positive social and environmental impact.

There are currently over 400 certified B Corps in the UK and more than 3,500 worldwide, including well-known brands such as The Guardian, Innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and Abel & Cole.  FORE is now among a very select group of UK real estate businesses to have meet the rigorous social and environmental standards required to achieve B Corp certification.  There are 48 B Corps in the real estate industry.

Obtaining B Corporation certification is a rigorous process, often taking over a year, and encompasses a detailed, comprehensive evaluation of the entirety of a business’ operations. It covers five key areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.

The certification process requires applicants to provide evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. To complete the certification, the company legally embeds their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles.

This feels like a big moment for us.  We’re excited to learn from the B Corp community about how to make our business stronger, and contribute positively to society.

Click here to learn more about how you can join us and become a B Corp.