Proud to Be B Corp Certified – What Does That Mean?

We are proud to announce that we are officially a Certified B Corp! We have been making a difference for years, and now we have the badge to prove it.

Our purpose is to create lasting holiday memories, and we intend to do so responsibly and sustainably, to make a positive impact on our people, community, and planet.

After starting life on a kitchen table in the Yorkshire Dales in 1991, the company has grown – employing more than 1,000 people across 23 regional brands; working with tens of thousands of owners; and taking more than 3 million people on holiday each year.

We believe in teamwork, a commitment to excellence, and treating our colleagues, property owners, and holidaymakers with the same respect as if they were sharing our kitchen table.

Read on to find out more about our B Corp Certification…

Celebrate Our Achievement With Us!

What is a B Corp?

B Corp is a certification provided by the non-profit organisation, B Lab. It began in 2006 as a means to help businesses boost their positive influence and impact. Many amazing brands are already B Corp certified, including Tony’s Chocolonely and Coursera, and we’re excited to join them!

B Corp certified companies use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems, creating an inclusive, fair, and sustainable economy. As part of the B Corp community, we’re working towards a collective vision of business as a force for good.

When a business becomes B Corp certified, they sign the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence:

We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good. This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation – The B Corporation – which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.

As B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe:

That we must Be the change we seek in the world.

That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place matter.

That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do mo harm and benefit all.

To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.

How do you become B Corp Certified?

Becoming B Corp certified is a rigorous process, however, it is worth it to become part of this global community of purpose led businesses.

It’s important to remember that a B Corp certification isn’t an award, but rather the beginning of a great journey for us to contribute towards continuous improvement and be part of collective action.

At Sykes, we will work to maintain and improve the important actions we have been verified for and introduce new initiatives, we will undergo the assessment and verification process every three years to measure our progress.

What Makes Us a B Corp?

Our core values are centred around teamwork, dedication to achieving excellence, and treating all our colleagues, property owners, and staycationers with the same level of respect. We have taken several actions in order to achieve our B Corp Certification, which you can find out about below.

We are especially proud that we scored particularly highly in the Workers section of the B Impact Assessment.

Not only do we support our colleagues through our workplace development programme, but we also recognise our commitment to thier financial security, health & safety, wellness, career development, and engagement and satisfaction.

We want everyone to love working at Sykes, but we also know there is more to life that work. So, we like to reward our amazing teams for the great work they do, and our benefits package is designed with this in mind to support our colleagues wherever they are in life!

Find out more about Sykes life.

Sykes’ Impact Report

We’ve set out a number of environmental and social pledges, which will help to focus our efforts. Further detail on our impact mission, past activity and plans for the future is included in our Impact report for 2022.

The Better Business Act

We have also signed up to support the Better Business Act. The act will call on the government to change Section 172 of the Companies Act, which will ensure companies are held legally accountable for their environmental and societal impact.

We are pleased to be part of the 2,000 like-minded businesses supporting this act who want to create a cleaner, greener and fairer future for all.

Discover even more about our Impact Mission and activity by exploring our Impact blog. Our very first Impact report is also available to read, showcasing how far we’ve come in three years! #WeGoBeyond