Green energy consultancy U4L, based in Bournemouth, has been officially certified as a B Corp, becoming the first full-service energy consultancy from the South West to achieve this distinction.

U4L joins a global community of over 8,000 B Corps, including notable UK businesses such as Tony’s Chocolonely, the Jamie Oliver Group, and Sipsmith Gin.

B Corp certification is an internationally recognised accolade that verifies a company’s commitment to positive social and environmental impact.

Achieving this requires providing evidence across a range of areas, from energy usage and carbon emissions to diversity and transparency.

In particular, U4L’s partnership with Ecologi, a social enterprise, contributed to its certification.

Ecologi supports reforestation and carbon avoidance projects, and helps U4L’s employees reduce their carbon footprints. U4L has also committed to paying a living wage and conducted external pay analysis by gender and ethnicity, ensuring equitable treatment for all staff.

U4L’s B Corp evaluation yielded a score of 89.2, surpassing the required benchmark of 80. For comparison, the median score for companies applying for the certification is 50.9.

Steve Baigent, energy consultant at U4L, said: “Becoming a B Corp-certified business is a significant milestone for U4L and it’s an honour to be the first full-service energy consultancy from the South West to do so.

“This certification underscores U4L’s commitment to making a positive impact on the environment and society, which is integral to the ethos of our company and our people.

“As the world continues to transition to green energy sources, the energy industry’s impact on the environment has never been under closer scrutiny. There is clear demand for greater accountability and transparency in our sector – we hope our progress in these areas can inspire other businesses to follow suit.”

Founded in Bournemouth in 2016, U4L has helped businesses across the UK, from hotels to manufacturing plants, become more energy-efficient.

One of U4L’s clients, Kan Koo FIH, director of Cosmo Restaurant Group, praised their partnership: “We’re so pleased that our friends at U4L have achieved the B Corp certification.

“U4L has been instrumental in helping Cosmo achieve our sustainability goals – their expertise in energy efficiency has not only reduced our operational costs but also significantly lowered our environmental impact.”