Empower's B Corp Impact Report 2024

Empower’s B Corp Impact Report 2024

Celebrating the end of Empower’s second year as a certified B Corp, we couldn’t be prouder of the progress that we have made since certification in 2022, and over the last year, as we look back on Empower’s BCorp Impact Report 2023. 

Empower’s B Corp Impact Report 2024 illustrates how we have served our non-profit clients to make a meaningful, positive impact in the real world, across an array of sectors. Additionally, the report demonstrates how we have empowered our own team over the past year, ensuring that all members feel supported, challenged and inspired.

Read now: Empower Agency’s 2024 Impact Report

In this second impact report, we’re thrilled to highlight the strides we’ve made in the areas of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Mental Health, and Sustainability – the three core pillars that continue to guide our journey at Empower.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion remain at the forefront of our efforts to cultivate a healthy, productive, and thriving workplace environment. We’re proud of the progress we’ve achieved in building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, ensuring equitable opportunities for growth and development, and nurturing an inclusive culture where every voice is valued and empowered.

Mental Health and wellbeing remain a top priority at Empower. We’ve continued to expand our mental health resources and support systems, fostering a culture of self-care and work-life balance. By prioritising the mental well-being of our team members, we create an environment that promotes resilience, creativity, and overall fulfilment.

Sustainability is deeply ingrained in our core values, and we’re continuously exploring new ways to minimise our environmental impact. Through innovative initiatives and a steadfast commitment to sustainable practices, we’re taking meaningful steps to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet.

While we celebrate our achievements, we acknowledge that our journey towards greater impact is ongoing. An organisation is a living, evolving entity, shaped by every interaction and conversation. At Empower, we embrace this evolution, including the learning opportunities that arise from missteps and detours, as they are an integral part of our unique culture.

We’re excited to share the progress we’ve made and the insights we’ve gained along the way. As we move forward, we remain committed to aligning our business practices ever more closely with our values, fostering positive change within our team, and amplifying the impact of the good causes we serve.

Jaz Cummins and Ben Matthews
Co-Founders

A snapshot of Empower’s impact 2023-24

Empower drive impact through our work with non-profit clients

A few examples for 2023/4 include small business lead generation for SME Climate Hub, global environmental education for Plastic Changemakers, video capture and editing on the ground at COP28 and helping BCorp UK reach new audiences during BCorp Month.

Living our values

We are proud to share that in 2023-24, we achieved the following:

• Developed our AI Manifesto, with a focus on ethical use
• Finalised our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Strategy and held a workshop with members of our SMT
• Continued supporting our employees with a monthly wellbeing budget
• Continued our regular, anonymous surveys of clients and team, to rate how they would recommend Empower
• Introduction of core competencies in recruitment and annual appraisals
• Sustain or improve our 9 out of 10 rating by clients and team members
• Evaluated our first two six-week paid internships, through 10,000 Black Interns, and committed to two 2024 internships through 10,000 Able Interns
• Won multiple awards and nominations for our supportive and progressive company, including second year in The Escape 100, finalist in ‘The Most Inclusive Agency’ at the Good Agencies Awards, finalists for three awards in the Shift People Awards across inclusivity and onboarding
• Donated £4,000 to causes chosen by our team

Empower’s Impact goals for 2024-25

Over the next 12 months, we will uphold and strengthen our values, empowering our clients and our own team. We will continue to focus on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI), Sustainability and Mental Health.

Here’s a snapshot of goals across these three areas:

Empowering our Team:

• Renew the team survey process to gather more comprehensive and actionable data, enabling us to better understand the needs, aspirations, and experiences of our team members.
• Implement a structured mentorship program that pairs experienced professionals with team members seeking guidance and support in their personal and professional development.
• Foster a sense of ownership and shared purpose by actively involving our team in decision-making processes related to Empower’s strategic direction, values, and initiatives, ensuring that their voices are heard and their contributions are valued and recognized.

DEI:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive DEI agreement to foster an inclusive environment for our clients, ensuring their diverse needs and perspectives are valued and respected.
• Obtain the Disability Confident Employer certification, demonstrating our commitment to creating an accessible and supportive workplace for individuals with disabilities.
• Expand our talent pipeline by partnering with 10,000 Able Interns to host a second successful internship program, providing valuable opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Mental Health

• Conduct a comprehensive review of our current practices, policies, and resources related to mental health understanding and support within our team, identifying areas for improvement and best practices.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive Empower Mental Health strategy, outlining our commitment, approach, and actionable steps to promote mental well-being and create a supportive environment for all employees.
• Establish an Empower Mental Health working group, comprising representatives from various departments and levels, to spearhead initiatives, gather feedback, and ensure the effective implementation of the mental health strategy.

What’s next?

Explore Empower’s B Corp Impact Report 2023-24 to learn more about what we have planned over the next year, as we head towards recertification and a full B Impact Assessment in 2025.

Thank you, to the team at Empower, to our clients and everyone we work with, for your trust in us and for the hard work you do.