Leading by example: Heart of the City celebrates two responsible business accreditations

Heart of the City | 18 August 2026 | News
Leading by example: Heart of the City celebrates two responsible business accreditations

At Heart of the City, we believe responsible business is about more than just good intentions. It means embedding positive social and environmental impact into the way an organisation operates, grows and makes decisions.

Over the last 26 years, we’ve worked with more than 1,700 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to put responsible business into practice; and we believe that we should hold ourselves to the same standards.

So we’re incredibly proud to have recently achieved Good Business Charter accreditation, following our Living Wage Employer accreditation last year. Read on to learn more about accreditations: why they matter and how similar frameworks could help your organisation.

 

Putting responsible business into practice

Becoming a Living Wage Employer meant committing to pay our employees the real London Living Wage, demonstrating our commitment to decent work and standard of living. It is independently calculated based on the cost of living and voluntarily paid by employers who choose to go beyond the statutory minimum.

This year, our Good Business Charter accreditation has built on that commitment. The Charter recognises responsible business practices across areas including fair pay, employee wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion, environmental responsibility, ethical sourcing and prompt payment of suppliers.

Celebrating our Living Wage Employer accreditation at our October 2025 networking event, kindly hosted by Freshfields LLP.

Why does this matter to us?

Our work is centred on helping SMEs understand what responsible business can look like in practice, from creating better workplaces and reducing environmental impact, to strengthening relationships with communities and suppliers, managing risk and building resilience.

We believe those principles apply to us too.

Our accreditations give us an opportunity to reflect on our own practices, recognise where we’re making progress and identify where there’s more to do.

Responsible business practices have also helped us secure new opportunities, as social value, sustainability and responsible business credentials are increasingly assessed as part of procurement processes.

”We often tell SMEs that responsible business isn't about being perfect, it's about making practical improvements that benefit your people, your community and your business. Achieving these accreditations is an important milestone for Heart of the City because it demonstrates our commitment to the same principles we encourage others to adopt. We've also seen first-hand how responsible business can strengthen trust, improve resilience and create opportunities through procurement and supply chains.

Giulia TrabacchinProgramme Manager at Heart of the City

What could responsible business look like for your SME?

There are many ways for SMEs to strengthen and demonstrate their responsible business practices. Depending on their priorities, businesses might explore Living Wage accreditation, Good Business Charter accreditation, Mayor’s Good Work Standard accreditation, B Corp Certification, ISO 14001 for environmental management, or sustainability and carbon certification such as Ecovadis and Planet Mark.

These approaches vary in scope, but can provide useful frameworks for understanding, improving and demonstrating responsible business practices.

The most important thing isn’t collecting badges. It’s identifying the changes that can make a meaningful difference to your people, your business, your community and the environment, and taking practical steps to make them happen.

Ready to turn responsible business ambitions into action?

That’s what we’re here to help you achieve.

Our new Responsible Business Essentials programme is a practical six-month programme for SMEs who want to strengthen their leadership, support their people, improve environmental resilience and create positive impact.

Through expert-led sessions, practical tools and peer learning, participants will build their knowledge and confidence, connect with like-minded businesses, explore relevant accreditation routes and develop a tailored Responsible Business Action Plan.

The first cohort runs from November 2026 to May 2027, with an early sign-up offer of £500 + VAT for businesses that apply and pay by 30 September.

Find out more about Responsible Business Essentials →

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