We were thrilled to celebrate B Corp Month throughout March 2023 as a certified B Corporation, not just an aspiring one! We achieved this prestigious certification in July 2022, the first dental practice in the UK to do so, with an impressively high overall B Impact Score of 122.9 – in context, 80 qualifies for B Corp Certification.
In March every year, the global B Corp community join together to celebrate what it means to be a B Corporation, to build awareness of this growing movement and the importance of transforming economic systems for the better. So we kicked off the month by posting the global B Corp thunderclap video across our social media channels, proactively supporting the #WeGoBeyond campaign launch.
Our Head of IT Services & Information Governance Nick Wills, who coordinated our B Corp assessment process, was invited along as a panellist for the sell-out ‘B23 Inspiration Day’ in Truro, partnering with Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Wildanet, Leap Communications and other thriving B Corps. At this event, designed to encourage 23 more Cornish businesses to submit for B Corp certification this year, he met our B Corp Assessor when we were going through the initial certification process as well as a number of aspiring B Corps including one in the health sector who he’s offered to support. As such Nick has signed up to become a B Leader.
Throughout the month we shared content on our social media channels demonstrating how Smile Together goes beyond business as usual for our people, patients, community and environment. Everything from delivering our Brighter Smiles oral health programme in primary schools and nurseries and visiting harboursides in our mobile dental unit treating fishermen who rarely visit a dentist due to the demands of their work, to supporting Cornwall Health for Homeless pop-ups, donating oral health packs to local charities best positioned to reach those families and individuals most in need across the county, switching to an electric fleet and procuring more sustainably.
During March, some of our practice locations received their very own B Corp plaque, recycled locally from reclaimed floorboards, something our reception teams are delighted to showcase in their waiting areas. Debra Russell, Dental Receptionist and Shareholder Impact Board Elected Representative said: ‘It was amazing to receive our plaque during B Corp Month. We are all so incredibly proud of this achievement and being able to now display the plaque in our patient waiting area is a real privilege. It really helps to engage patients in conversations about the difference we seek to make locally to people’s oral health.’
To help build awareness of this movement for good, B Corp UK launched their ‘Behind the B’ online training resource during B Corp month which we have added to our bespoke Training Academy, for colleagues to complete as part of their annual compliance training programme.
B Corp Month has been a perfect opportunity to share what it truly means to go beyond as a certified B Corporation. It’s not just about getting a badge, it’s continuing to do the right thing as a business and collaborating to make the world a better place. At Smile Together we have a great track record of working in partnership with others, and being employee-owned means our people have a genuine voice in our business, maximising impact for our patients, our communities and our planet.
There’s more information on our B Corp journey here and to see what great company we’re in, please visit www.bcorporation.uk.
