North East digital marketing agency, Phonetic Digital has cemented itself as one of the north east's most forwardthinking and values-driven employers.
After months of rigorous assessment, they became a certified B Corp™ business, joining a community of companies committed to using their business as a force for good. The milestone was a fantastic way to round off an incredible first year in business, reinforcing their dedication to balancing profit with purpose.
But becoming a B Corp™ wasn’t the finish line for Phonetic Digital, in fact, it’s just the beginning. Managing Director Steven Parker added ‘This certification challenges us to continuously improve, hold ourselves accountable, and drive meaningful change within our local community.
What does it mean to be a B Corp™?
B Corps™, or Benefit Corporations, are companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and legal accountability. Unlike traditional businesses that focus purely on profit, B Corps™ operate with a clear mission: to have a positive impact on their employees, communities, customers, and the environment.
To become certified by B Lab, businesses must complete the B Impact Assessment, which measures their performance across five key impact areas:
Governance – Transparency, ethical decision-making and accountability.
Workers – Employee well-being, fair pay and workplace culture.
Community – Positive social impact, local engagement and diversity.
Environment – Sustainability, energy efficiency and waste reduction.
Customers – Responsible business practices and customer satisfaction.
A B Corp™ certification isn’t just a badge for your website, it’s proof of real, measurable impact. To qualify, companies need to score a minimum of 80 points, demonstrating genuine dedication to doing business responsibly.
Phonetic Digital’s journey
Our journey to certification took around 12 months. It involved taking a deep, honest look at how we do business, and how we can improve.
One of our biggest priorities at Phonetic Digital is employee well-being. Our team is at the heart of our success, which is why we proudly pay all employees a Real Living Wage and are officially accredited Living Wage Foundation Employers.
We also take sustainability seriously, actively seeking ways to reduce our environmental impact, whether it’s minimising waste, or collecting rainwater from our office roof to water our plants! We believe that every action, big or small, contributes to a more sustainable future.
Beyond our social and environmental responsibility, we’re committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and security. That’s why we achieved our Cyber Essentials accreditation, providing proof of our dedication to data protection and operating with integrity at every level.
As part of our commitment, we also updated our legal structure to reflect our responsibility to all stakeholders, embedding our purpose into the foundation of our business.
Finally, to maintain full transparency, we created a 2024 Impact Report, outlining our journey, our achievements and the steps we’re taking to keep raising the bar.
A growing B Corp™ community in the North East
We feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the growing community of B Corps™ in the North East, with over 30 certified businesses in the region.
To support this movement, B Local North East, in partnership with B Lab, is creating a space for businesses to connect, collaborate and share knowledge, helping each other to grow and drive meaningful change.
With B Corp™ month taking place in March we’re excited to work alongside other companies, learning from their experiences and finding new ways to make business better for everyone.
What’s next for Phonetic Digital?
Becoming a B Corp™ is just the start of our journey. Certification isn’t permanent and we’ll be reassessed every three years, ensuring we continue to improve and push for better standards.
For us, this is more than just a certification, it’s a commitment to always do better. We’ll keep challenging ourselves, supporting our team, and finding new ways to use business as a force for good.
If you’d like to learn more about our journey, you can check out our 2024 Impact Report or get in touch with us at hello@ phoneticdigital.co.uk
Same great ideas, now B Corp™ certified