The Useful Simple Trust (UST) has been recognised as ‘B Corp of the Year’ at the prestigious 2025 British Business Awards, reinforcing our position as a leader in mission-driven business innovation within the built environment sector.

A celebration of business excellence

The British Business Awards stand as one of the UK’s premier platforms for recognising organisations that demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and measurable impact across various industries. More than a simple accolade, these awards identify and elevate businesses that are actively transforming markets through responsible practices and forward-thinking approaches.

The ‘B Corp of the Year’ category specifically acknowledges organisations that exemplify how commercial success can align with – and indeed be driven by – unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and transparent governance.

Measuring what matters

UST’s achievement of a 123.3 B Corp score marks a 32% improvement from our previous certification, surpassing our 2027 target two years ahead of schedule. This score reflects our strategic focus on embedding impact measurement across all aspects of our operations, from project delivery to organisational governance.

“This recognition validates our long-standing belief that purpose and profitability are fundamentally interconnected,” notes our Head of Sustainability, Carrie Behar. “By setting ambitious targets and developing rigorous frameworks to track progress, we’ve been able to translate values into tangible outcomes.”

Leadership in practice

The award particularly highlighted several key aspects of our approach:

• Our Climate Transition Action Plan provides a structured pathway to carbon neutrality by 2030, with clear interim targets and accountability mechanisms.
• With 50% female representation on our Executive Board and 40% in leadership positions, our diverse team brings multiple perspectives to complex challenges.
• Our comprehensive approach to learning, including our Future Skills programme and regular knowledge-sharing sessions, ensures our team remains at the forefront of sustainable design practices.
• Through initiatives like ‘Useful Giving,’ we have invested over £51,000 in programmes that extend our impact beyond client projects, supporting education and innovation in the broader community.

As one of the UK’s first multidisciplinary design consultancies to achieve B Corp status, we have consistently advocated for systemic change within the built environment sector. Our active participation in industry bodies demonstrates our commitment to sharing knowledge and driving sectoral transformation.

The path forward

This achievement reinforces our determination to push boundaries in regenerative design and responsible business practices. Looking ahead, we are developing enhanced methodologies to measure our ‘project handprint’ – the positive environmental and social impacts of our work beyond basic compliance or standard practice.

We remain focused on strengthening our capabilities in areas such as circular economy principles, carbon literacy, and inclusive design. By continuously evaluating and refining our approach, we aim to create solutions that contribute meaningfully to a more equitable and regenerative built environment.

The 2025 British Business Awards recognition serves not as a culmination, but as a milestone in our ongoing journey to demonstrate how purpose-driven business can catalyse positive change at scale.