B Corp businesses are certified by non-profit network B Labs and are assessed on their commitment to bring benefit not just to shareholders but also to positively impact its stakeholders: workers, customers, communities, and the planet.
As well as verifying high ethical standards, having B Corp status also requires a business to commit to constant improvement, with companies required to re-certify every three years.
“This is one of our most significant achievements. Hawksmoor has always been about more than the bottom line,” says co-founder Huw Gott
“16 years ago, we set out to start a restaurant and a business we could be proud of, doing things with integrity and having a positive impact. Becoming a B Corp is a statement of intent that we will always set the bar as high as possible in the interests of our team, customers and suppliers, as well as the planet.
“And it is a high bar – as far as we know no other UK restaurant group has achieved it.”
The steakhouse group joins a very small number of hospitality businesses that operate in the UK to achieve certified B Corp status, which include BrewDog and Big Mamma Group. Meat-focused restaurant group Blacklock has previously announced that it is working towards B Corp status.
Will Beckett, co-founder, adds: “It’s a great feeling joining a group of businesses that are playing a part in changing things for the better. The journey hasn’t always been easy – especially over the past few years, and we know there are challenges for us and the industry ahead.
“Many other businesses in the industry are on the journey towards B Corp status, and we hope many more join us. There’s also so much more for us to do, we’re really excited about the next few years.”
Hawksmoor has seven restaurants in London, one each in Manchester and Edinburgh and one in New York.
It is set to open its first restaurant in Liverpool later this year and in Dublin in 2023.
