The Edgbaston Park Hotel opened in 2018 and is owned by University of Birmingham. It has been awarded the prestigious B Corp Certification. The initiative is led by B Lab UK and recognizes the hotel for its high performance in terms of social and environmental issues, transparency and accountability towards both staff and clients.
Joining businesses including Innocent Drinks, The Guardian and Tony’s Chocoloney, the hotel is now part of a growing community of over 9,700 businesses globally and over 2,500 in the UK.
B Lab UK, as part of the B Network global network, is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to transform the economic system to the benefit of all people, the community and the planet. They create standards, policies, tools, and programmes for business, and certify B Corps who are leading the way.
The auditing process allowed the Edgbaston Park Hotel to demonstrate its commitment both to profit and purpose in its governance. The hotel has, for instance, incorporated sustainability in its practices through improved energy efficiency and waste control, and was recently awarded ECOsmart Gold awards and Green Tourism Gold award for their work on reducing single-use plastic. Birmingham Brewing Company is one of many businesses the hotel works with that shares similar values.
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Richard Metcalfe of Edgbaston Park Hotel commented on the certification.
‘We couldn’t be more delighted. I am grateful to my team who always go the extra mile for our customers, the environment, and our employees.
We are very proud of being recognized as a force for goodness and we’re excited to continue on our journey with other B Corporations in order to benefit people, communities and the planet.
The hotel is Hive Certified Employee Voice. It also shows its commitment to its employees as well as customers. It is evident from the benefits offered, which include two paid days of volunteering a year, an employee recognition program, and a team awards night. In addition to this, the hotel strives for a good reputation in the local community. This is done by giving discounts to graduates and their families, sponsoring beehives and donating to charities like St Basils Homeless Charity. Profits are then re-invested into the University in order to fund research and education.
Chris Turner added that:
‘We are delighted to welcome Edgbaston Park Hotel to the B Corp community. This is a group of companies who are dedicated to changing the way business operates. They believe that business can really be a force for goodness. We know that the hotel will make a wonderful addition to our community and help to continue the conversation.
This certification follows numerous other awards the hotel received in the last year, like the Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Hotel of the Year, the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Sustainability Award, and the miaList Sales and Marketing Team of the Year, reaffirming the position of the organisation as a leader in the sector.
The University of Birmingham has committed itself to achieve operational net zero-carbon and to living in a manner that allows us to all live a healthy and happy life without hindering future generations from doing the same. Our 2030 strategy places sustainability at the forefront. We are working to make positive changes within our university through environmentally friendly practices and processes. Find out more at www.birmingham.ac.uk/sustainability.
