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2020-12-31-accounts

B Lab (UK)

(Incorporated company limited by guarantee)

Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements

For the year ended

31 December 2020

Registered Charity No : 1164694

Registered Company No : 09388752 (England and Wales)

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Contents

Report of the Trustees

3

Reference and Administration

Structure, Governance and Management

Review of Activities and Achievements

Financial Review

Looking Forward

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities 11
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of B Lab (UK) 12
Statement of Financial Activities 15
Balance Sheet 16
Statement of Cash Flows 17
Notes to the Financial Statements 18

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 2

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Reference and Administration

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the audited financial statements of B Lab (UK) for the year ended 31 December 2020. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2011, the accounting policies as disclosed in the notes and the charity's governing document. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (“FRS 102 SORP” (second edition)) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of B Lab (UK).

The Directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law and constitute the ‘Board’. The Trustees’ Report also represents the directors' report required by Company Law. The Trustees who have served during the year and since the year end were as follows.

Trustees

Mary Johnstone-Louis – Chair Appointed 11 February 2021 Charmian Love – Former Chair Resigned 11 February 2021 Amy Clarke Appointed 15 July 2020 Mark Cuddigan Luke Fletcher Resigned 15 July 2020 Louise Harman Appointed 9 September 2020 Alisha Miranda Resigned 23 April 2020 James Perry Resigned 15 July 2020 Jason Stockwood

Company Secretary

Barbara Eze Appointed 22 October 2020 Louise Harman Resigned 27 February 2020 Executive Staff Chris Turner Executive Director James Ghaffari Director of Certification Tom Kelman Interim Director of Finance & Operations (from 15 February 2021 to 13 July 2021) Eilish Kavanagh Director of Finance & Operations (from 14 July 2021) Tom Poldre Director of Marketing & Communications (to 31 March 2021) Kate Sandle Director of Programmes & Engagement

Charity and Company Information

Its primary charity and company information is as follows.

Principal address and registered Office 20-30 Whitechapel Road London E1 1EW

Bankers

HSBC 39 High Street Ashford Kent TN24 8TG

Solicitors Auditors Bates Wells WMT Chartered Accountants 10 Queen Street Place Verulam Point, Station Way London EC4R 1BE St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 5HE

Website: www.bcorporation.uk

Registered Company No: 09388752 (England and Wales) Registered Charity No: 1164694

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 3

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Structure, Governance and Management

Objectives and public benefit

As set out in the Articles of Association, B Lab (UK) exists to further the following objects for the public benefit:

  1. To advance the education of the public in subjects relating to sustainable development and sustainable business and to promote study and research in such subjects provided that the useful results of such study are disseminated to the public at large;

  2. To promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by:

  3. 2.1 the preservation, conservation and the protection of the environment and the prudent use of resources; and

  4. 2.2 the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration.

“Sustainable development” means development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

  1. To promote compliance with the law and ethical standards of conduct, including without limitation by encouraging the adoption and application of high standards of business ethics and governance and thereby

  2. 3.1 maximising the material positive impact of business activities on people and the environment affected by such activities; and

  3. 3.2 minimising the negative effects of business activities on people and the environment affected by such activities.

Corporate Governance and decision making

B Lab (UK) was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales on 14 January 2015 and registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 3 December 2015.

The licensing arrangements with B Lab Global, the organisation supporting the global development of the B Corp movement, state that royalty fees of 10% of all non-philanthropic income generated by B Lab (UK) is paid to to B Lab Inc to support back-office development of the global movement. This agreement is being reviewed in 2021.

The Trustees are appointed through recommendation based on knowledge of and commitment to the aims of the charity. Decisions are taken in the following way:

The Trustees are aware of the principles and recommended practice for good governance set out in the Charity Governance Code for charities which was revised and issued in December 2020. The trustees have regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. The Trustees will be discussing the Code’s principles and recommended practice in 2021 and will make well-considered decisions about how these should be presented. The Trustees have already commenced a review of policies to establish key policies including the following.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 4

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Risk Management and Internal Control

The Trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have satisfied themselves that systems and procedures have been established to manage these risks. The major risks may be summarised as follows along with the likelihood of them occurring and the steps taken to mitigate against each risk.

Financial Risk Likelihood Mitigation
Number of companies certifying
as B Corps do not reflect
budgeted
Medium ● Business development strategy is to
back many companies simultaneously
● Actively encourage new companies to
use the BIA
● Work with partners who have access to
interested companies
Existing B Corps are not able to
pay their annual fees particularly
considering the pandemic
Medium-High ● Increased debt management processes
with weekly reporting to SMT
● Aged debtor tracking process
● Keep closely informed about
companies
Costs of delivery of B Corp
programme rise
Medium ● Standardise process and systematise
our work to reduce these costs on time
and resources.
Exchange rate uncertainty for
royalty fees paid in dollars
Medium ● Budgeted on various scenarios and
have put aside reserves throughout the
year as cost of sales item
Non-financial risks Likelihood Mitigation
Back-office support insufficient
for demand
Medium ● Tracking capacity and taking remedial
action in advance.
● Recruitment plan deployed over 2020
to build capacity.
Larger companies struggle to
become B Corps owing to
complexity / perceived risk of the
process
Medium - High ● Forecasted income from these
companies is realistic
● Developing a range of support and
product offerings for larger companies
goingthrough theprocess
Reputation damage e.g. through
poor performing B Corp
Low - medium ● Due Diligence processes in place;
recertification required every 3 years;
● Keeping close contact with our
community to know our own B Corps
and address challenges;
● Early response to potential issues
flagged up with Standards Team;
● Good communications around the B
Corp movement globally
● Verification checks and on site reviews
carried out mitigate this risk.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 5

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Review of Activities and Achievements

Activities

All the activities of B Lab (UK) support the above objects.

From time to time the Trustees of B Lab (UK) have formally reviewed the activities of B Lab (UK) and are of the view that any private benefit arising from the certification scheme could be considered as a means of furthering the objects and that any private benefit is necessary and incidental. The Trustees of B Lab(UK) will continue to keep this under review.

We achieve our purpose to advance the education of the public in subjects relating to sustainable development and sustainable business by the following activities.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 6

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Activities (continued)

In order to support this work, we also engage in operational activities to support any organisation interested in “Measuring What Matters” with a comprehensive set of tools, masterclasses, peer support, and best practice exchange - all with the aim of spreading the word widely and embedding more deeply into organisations a sustainable approach to business.

We achieve our purpose to promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by undertaking the following.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 7

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Activities (continued)

All our activities support our third object, namely, to promote compliance with the law and ethical standards of conduct by maximising the material positive impact of business activities on people and the planet and minimising their negative activity. In particular, our campaign to implement changes to the Companies Act (section 172) which would embed the commitment to running all businesses for the benefit of all, not just for shareholders. This activity is undertaken in the context of supporting the delivery of B Lab (UK)’s charitable purposes of promoting compliance with the law and ethical standards of conduct by creating the governance to enable our system to go beyond the minimum requirements and to form the most ethical governance for companies to operate and comply with the law.

Rationale

We aim to redefine success in business and to promote sustainable development widely across UK institutions and organisations. We seek to create a change in the way business operates for a greater good for all, rather than just the interests of shareholders, and in so doing, bring positive impact to citizens, to communities and to the environment. This urgent need is clearly recognised now amongst a wider range of stakeholders but there are systems in place that make change hard. Our work offers an alternative way of doing business, by providing a clear road map for change (using the B Impact Assessment tool) so that trust in business can be rebuilt over time. We recognise that whilst there will always be leaders who will forge ahead with new approaches, it will take considerably longer for the systemic barriers to be lifted to achieve our end goal – namely, for the broader stakeholder approach to business eventually to become the “de facto” way of doing business. Our end goal is to maximise the material positive impact of business activities on the general public and the environment and minimise the negative effects.

One significant route for promoting sustainable development for the benefit of the public is through the ever-growing number of entrepreneurs and established businesses who certify their businesses as B Corps because they run their businesses according to the highest ethical standards of conduct. These businesses exemplify the material positive impact of B Corps, and helps consumers, clients, and potential employees distinguish good practice from good marketing within a company. By maximising the material positive impact of business activities on people and the environment, this creates a momentum for lasting change in the way capitalism distributes its proceeds for the benefit of all.

Achievements and performance

By the end of 2020, the UK B Corp community had grown to 360 B Corps (and counting), representing 48 industries with a combined revenue of £4.3 billion and over 22,000 employees. Additionally, we have built an extensive pipeline of interested companies (12,698 companies) who are using the BIA and progressing towards certification – and are therefore “Measuring What Matters”. Whilst we realise that many of these companies in the pipeline will need considerable time and support to progress towards certification, their progress is an important indicator of success of our work and we include this as one of our Key Performance Indicators (see below).

We see ourselves as very complementary with the many other organisations operating in this sphere and have a concrete tool (the B Impact Assessment), pathway (towards certification, with score improvement) and tailored support (through our B Leaders programme and other support, seminars, masterclasses etc) and a vision of how the future could look if the potential of businesses to create positive impact is maximised. We have been grateful to have received a wide range of support, promotion, media coverage, personal recommendations, endorsements by companies, enquiries and feedback from academics, businesses, lawyers, and policy makers on our work. These lead us to believe that we are making a difference that can be clearly translated into public benefit, as we play our part to see society and business move towards a much greater alignment of interest.

Our rationale for this is that:

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 8

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Measurements of success in 2020

The following key performance indicators are used to assist us to mentor our progress towards achieving our objectives.

----- Start of picture text -----
Key Performance Indicator By end of 2018 By end of 2019 By end of 2020
Number of B Corps certified in the UK 178 272 360
Average number of new accounts
Between 30-40 Between 50-60 Approximately 95
created each week
Number of organisations interested in
measuring their impact on people and
3,325 6,961 12,698
the planet through the B Impact
Assessment tool (in our “pipeline”)
8 B Socials, 4 CEO events, 7 B Socials, 2 B Leaders 23 Events (many
Events, discussions, socials that we 3 Learn to Bs, 1 retreat, 1 courses, 1 B Inspired virtual due to
hold across the UK B Leaders course and 1 event with over 600 COVID), including
BD Bootcamp attendees community and
training events.
Website hits: 34,617 56,572 134, 252
----- End of picture text -----

Financial review

For the year ended 31 December 2020 B Lab (UK) had surplus income over expenditure of £198,752. Funds of the charity at 31 December 2020 were £452,406, £361,052 of which were unrestricted and £91,354 restricted.

Grants, donations and gifts in kind were 24% of total revenue of £1,210,340 (2019: 6.5% of £847,485). Our income earned from charitable activities has increased by 24% to £919,142 from £740,105 (2019: 64%). All expenditure is related to charitable activities.

As a licensee of B Lab Inc (US), the non– profit making organisation supporting the global development of the B Corp movement, royalty fees are paid at 10% of all income generated by B Lab (UK). The verification fees are for randomly selected on site or virtual visits to certified B Corps to ensure rigorous application of standards. B Lab UK ensures that it allows for exchange rate fluctuation in its budget.

Reserves policy

The current reserves policy is to hold a minimum of 6 months predicted regular unrestricted expenses. The unrestricted reserves at 31 December 2020 of £361,052 represents approximately 5.5 months’ unrestricted expenditure, so this falls slightly short. The Trustees are reviewing this policy in light of the change in accounting policy with regard to deferred income, the rapid growth in demand from UK organisations seeking to become B Certified, and the change in pricing structure from April 2021. The Trustees are also in the process of establishing an Investment Policy and a Treasury Policy at the same time.

Fundraising

All fundraising activity is undertaken internally and is aimed at funding specific projects. No complaints about fundraising have been received.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 9

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

Looking Forward: Plans for Future Period

In 2021, in delivering on its ambitions and in mitigation of the risks listed above, B Lab (UK) intends to:-

All of these activities and plans are consistent and reinforce our charitable objects for the public benefit.

Statement of Trustees Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees must prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 10

B Lab (UK)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020

d) state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

e) prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue to operate.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The trustees confirm that so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information (as defined by section 418(3) of the Companies Act 2006) of which the charitable company’s auditors are unaware. They have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable company's auditors are aware of that information.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the Board of Directors on 8[th] Sept 2021:

Chair ____

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 11

B Lab (UK)

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF B LAB (UK)

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of B Lab (UK) (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows and Notes to the Accounts including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the entity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 12

B Lab (UK)

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF B LAB (UK)

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 11 the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Discussions with and enquiries of management and those charged with governance were held with a view to identifying those laws and regulations that could be expected to have a material impact on the financial statements. During the engagement team briefing, the outcomes of these discussions and enquiries were shared with the team, as well as consideration as to where and how fraud may occur in the entity.

The following laws and regulations were identified as being of significance to the entity:

Audit procedures undertaken in response to the potential risks relating to irregularities (which include fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations) comprised of: inquiries of management and those charged with governance as to whether the entity complies with such laws and regulations; enquiries with the same concerning any actual or potential litigation or claims; inspection of relevant legal correspondence; review of board minutes; testing the appropriateness of journal entries; and the performance of analytical review to identify unexpected movements in account balances which may be indicative of fraud.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 13

B Lab (UK)

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF B LAB (UK)

No instances of material non-compliance were identified. However, the likelihood of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is limited by the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the entity’s controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error. As explained above, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected, even though the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK).

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Elizabeth Irvine (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of

WMT - Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor Verulam Point Station Way St Albans Hertfordshire AL1 5HE

Date 16 September 2021

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020 Page 14

Statement of Financial Activities (Incorporating income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 December 2020 B Lab (UK)

Notes
Donations and Legacies
2
Charitable Activities
2
Other Trading Activities
2
Total
Expenditure on:
Charitable Activities
3
Total
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net Movement in Funds
Reconciliation of Funds
Funds brought forward
Funds carried forward
Income and Endowments from:
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2020
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2019
£
£
£
£
£
£
8,759
282,439
291,198
9,884
45,126
55,010
919,142
-
919,142
740,105
-
740,105
-
-
-
52,370
-
52,370
927,901
282,439
1,210,340
802,359
45,126
847,485
(793,147)
(218,441)
(1,011,588)
(648,906)
(109,928)
(758,834)
(793,147)
(218,441)
(1,011,588)
(648,906)
(109,928)
(758,834)
134,754
63,998
198,752
153,453
(64,802)
88,651
-
-
-
(1,428)
1,428
-
134,754
63,998
198,752
152,025
(63,374)
88,651
226,298
27,356
253,654
74,273
90,730
165,003
361,052
91,354
452,406
226,298
27,356
253,654

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 15

Balance Sheet

For the year ended 31 December 2020 B Lab (UK)

B Lab (UK)
Notes
Fixed Assets:
Tangible assets
5
Total Fixed Assets:
Current assets:
Debtors
6
Cash at bank and in hand
Total Current assets:
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
7
Net current assets
Total net assets
Total funds of the charity
Restricted funds
8,9
Unrestricted funds
8,9
Total Funds of the Charity
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2020
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2019
£
£
£
£
£
£
4,961
-
4,961
3,101
-
3,101
4,961
-
4,961
3,101
-
3,101
292,834
32,173
325,007
158,002
35,000
193,002
772,252
69,801
842,053
617,085
(2,203)
614,882
1,065,086
101,974
1,167,060
775,087
32,797
807,884
708,995
10,620
719,615
551,890
5,441
557,331
356,091
91,354
447,445
223,197
27,356
250,553
361,052
91,354
452,406
226,298
27,356
253,654
-
91,354
91,354
-
27,356
27,356
361,052
-
361,052
226,298
-
226,298
361,052
91,354
452,406
226,298
27,356
253,654
-

Registered Charity Number : 1164694, registered Company Number : 09388752

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Under Companies Act 2006, Section 454, on a voluntary basis, the trustees can amend these financial statements if they subsequently prove to be defective. The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Approved by the Board of directors on 8th Sept 2021, and signed on its behalf

Name: ___ Signature: ____ Mary Johnstone-Louis Name: ___ Signature: ___ Mark Cuddigan

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 16

Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 December 2020 B Lab (UK)

Notes
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash flow from operating activities
10
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
5
Net cash flow from investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward
Analysis of changes in net debt
Cash at bank and in hand
Loans falling due within one year
Loans falling due after more than one year
2020
2019
£
£
230,539
128,539
(3,368)
(2,723)
227,171
125,816
227,171
125,816
614,882
489,066
842,053
614,882
At 1 Jan 2020
Cash flows
Non cash
changes
At 31 Dec 2020
£
£
£
£
614,882
225,663
1,508
842,053
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
614,882
225,663
1,508
842,053

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 17

Notes to the Accounts

For the year ended 31 December 2020 B Lab (UK)

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation and assessment of going concern

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (2[nd] Edition effective January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis. B Lab (UK) has reserves of £452,406 at 31 December 2020 including net current assets of £447,445 and cash at bank of £842,053.

The Trustees have reviewed the financial position of the charity at 31 December 2020 and considered their forecasts in relation to the potential impact of COVID-19 and they consider the charity is a going concern. After review of forecast trustees conclude that there is no material uncertainty about this basis.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements particularly with respect to the expected significant impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the charity’s income source. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the levels of reserves for the Charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

Income

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Trust is legally entitled to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Customers are recertified every three years. In the year that they recertify, income is only recognised if the recertification is successful. Interim annual fees to retain certification (which do not require a certification test) are recognised according to the time period in which the customer has received benefit of certification, to the nearest month. Certification fee income is deferred if it relates to a time period after the year end.

Donated services are included within the accounts at fair value.

Grants Received

Income from grants and donations is recognised where the charity is entitled to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount receivable can be quantified. Where there are specific terms or conditions attached to grants and donations, these must be met before the income is recognised. Where terms or conditions have not been met or uncertainty exists as to whether they can be met then the relevant income is not recognised in the year but is deferred and shown on the balance sheet as deferred income receivable.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.

Unrestricted Funds

General unrestricted funds represent unrestricted income which is expendable at the discretion of the Trustees.

Irrecoverable VAT

Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.

Charitable activities

Costs of charitable activities include governance costs and support costs. Salary costs are apportioned to governance costs depending on time spent by staff on governance matters.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

The cost or valuation of tangible fixed assets is their purchase cost or valuation, together with any incidental expenses of acquisition. Only tangible assets with a cost of over £200 will be capitalised.

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets, less their estimated residual values, on a straight line basis over the expected useful economic lives of the assets concerned, as follows:

Computer and Office Equipment: 4 years

Debtors

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment losses.

Creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 18

Notes to the Accounts continued

Financial Instruments

The Charity only enters into basic financial instrument transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities such as debtors and creditors. Financial instruments are initially measured at transaction value. They are assessed at the end of each report period for objective evidence of impairment. If objective evidence of impairment is found, an impairment loss is recognised in the SOFA.

Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities as at the balance sheet date and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during the period. The nature of estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. There are no judgments made that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

Realised gains and losses

All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value.

Legal status of the Charity

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member.

Trustee expenses and remuneration

The trustees all give freely their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind. During 2020 two trustees had travel expenses reimbursed of £1,377 and £3,118 (2019: two trustees, £2,204 and £1,462).

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 19

Notes to the Accounts continued

2. Income

(a) Income from Donations and Legacies

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total 2020 Unrestricted Restricted Total 2019
£ £ £ £ £ £
Grants - 176,202 176,202 45,126 45,126
Donations 8,759 106,237 114,996 9,884 9,884
Total Income from Donations and Legacies 8,759 282,439 291,198 9,884 45,126 55,010
----- End of picture text -----

Donated services

In 2020, an amount of £227 was received as donated services from Leap Media Ltd for design consultancy (2019: £3,364).

Details of Restricted Income

Thirty Percy

In 2017 a grant of £50,000 was received from the Thirty Percy Foundation to develop partnerships in Europe over a three year period. In 2019 a further £10,000 was received for the same purpose and in 2020 a further £5,000.

Friends Provident

In 2019 a grant of £75,000 was agreed from Friends Provident Foundation. The grant will be spread over a period of 3 years to 30[th] September 2021. An amount of £25,000 was received in 2020 that has been attributed to 2020 income. A further £15,000 is expected in 2021.

Climate Task Force

The Climate Task Force project is a collaboration between the B Lab companies across the world in driving change to improve social corporate responsibility and the enviroment. During 2020 B Lab Company Inc gave a grant of £25,923 and a private donation was received of £50,000, both for the purposes of this project. The B Lab companies across the world have contractual commitments to B Lab Company Inc but are not linked to each other or B Lab Inc in a legal structure.

Project Portal

Project Portal is a project carried out by B Lab Company Inc to which B Lab (UK) contributed via donations and advertising. An amount of £48,237 was received from private donations which included donations from two trustees, totalling £42,237. £8,000 was received from the Stewardship Foundation and £10,000 from B Lab Company Inc.

ALV Stiftung

In 2020, a grant of £60,279 (€68,000) was received from a German foundation, ALV Stiftung, to further education on sustainable development by exploring the opportunities to develop the B Corp movement in Germany. B Lab UK paid €64700 to B Lab Europe to assist in delivery of the project.

(b) Income from Charitable Activities

(b) Income from Charitable Activities
Certification fees
B Corp retreat
B Leaders
B together
Other income: consultancy, workshops and
promotional items
Total Income from Charitable Activities
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2020
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2019
£
£
£
£
£
£
895,743
-
895,743
567,989
-
567,989
-
-
-
89,275
-
89,275
15,998
-
15,998
17,560
-
17,560
-
-
-
715
-
715
7,401
-
7,401
64,566
-
64,566
919,142
-
919,142
740,105
-
740,105
(c) Income from other trading activities
Sponsorship
Total Income from other trading activities
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2020
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2019
£
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
52,370
-
52,370
-
-
-
52,370
-
52,370

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 20

Notes to the Accounts continued

3. Charitable Expenditure

Operation of certification program
Community
Product Development
Communications
Business Development
Consulting
Marketing
Total Operation of certification program
Grants
B Lab Company Inc for Project Portal
B Lab Europe
Total grants
Total Direct costs of charitable activities
Support Costs
Programme royalty, verification and referral fees
Salaries, pension & Er’s NIC’s
Staff costs - training and development
Depreciation
IT
Rent
Conference Fees
General Office Expenses
Bad debt charge
Accountancy and payroll costs
Consultancy
Total Support Costs (excl governance costs)
Governance costs
Salaries, pension and Er’s NIC’s
Audit fees
Legal Fees
Total Governance costs
Total Support Costs (including governance costs)
Total cost of charitable activities
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2020
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total 2019
£
£
£
£
£
£
14,541
-
14,541
95,044
-
95,044
83,993
-
83,993
13,890
37,134
51,024
6,990
-
6,990
1,064
1,800
2,864
9,771
-
9,771
356
-
356
38,011
-
38,011
53,060
461
53,521
5,615
-
5,615
17,732
7,300
25,032
158,921
-
158,921
181,146
46,695
227,841
-
37,237
37,237
-
-
-
-
60,279
60,279
-
97,516
97,516
-
-
-
158,921
97,516
256,437
181,146
46,695
227,841
169,033
-
169,033
179,531
-
179,531
379,932
25,000
404,932
174,145
30,589
204,734
7,273
-
7,273
478
-
478
1,509
-
1,509
694
-
694
4,989
-
4,989
2,913
2,913
24,295
-
24,295
28,275
-
28,275
6,069
-
6,069
11,097
-
11,097
8,696
-
8,696
8,712
-
8,712
5,000
-
5,000
35,000
-
35,000
11,535
-
11,535
9,442
-
9,442
5,425
95,925
101,350
-
32,644
32,644
623,756
120,925
744,681
450,287
63,233
513,520
-
-
-
6,828
-
6,828
9,312
-
9,312
8,837
-
8,837
1,158
-
1,158
1,808
-
1,808
10,470
-
10,470
17,473
-
17,473
634,226
120,925
755,151
467,760
63,233
530,993
793,147
218,441
1,011,588
648,906
109,928
758,834

Audit fees for 2020 were £9,000 + VAT. An amount of £312 relates to Independent Examiners fees for 2019.

An amount of £nil (2019: £918) was paid to the auditors for tax advice, which is included in Legal Fees.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 21

Notes to the Accounts continued

4. Employee costs

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total 2020|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total 2019| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Salaries|339,815|22,196|362,011|155,789|27,895|183,684| |Social security costs|33,277|2,262|35,539|20,467|2,170|22,637| |Pension costs|6,840|542|7,382|4,716|524|5,240| |Total Employment Costs|379,932|25,000|404,932|180,972|30,589|211,561| |Employment Information| |Key management personnel compensation|96,837|68,284| |Average number of employees during the|8|5| |period:|

----- End of picture text -----

In 2020, one employee received total remuneration between between £80,000 and £90,000 (2019: one employee £60,000 to £70,000)

5. Fixed assets

----- Start of picture text -----
Computer Fixtures and
Total
Equipment Fittings
2020 2020 2020
£ £ £
Computer Equipment
Cost
Opening balance 5,384 - 5,384
Additions 1,834 1,534 3,368
Closing balance 7,218 1,534 8,752
Depreciation
Opening balance 2,283 - 2,283
Depreciation charge for the year 1,428 80 1,508
Closing balance 3,711 80 3,791
Net book value 31 December 2020 3,507 1,454 4,961
Net book value 31 December 2019 3,101 - 3,101
----- End of picture text -----

All fixed assets belong to unrestricted funds.

6. Debtors

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total 2020|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total 2019| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Trade debtors|290,578|16,870|307,448|145,802|-|145,802| |Prepayments and Accrued Income|-|15,303|15,303|10,000|35,000|45,000| |Other debtors|2,256|-|2,256|2,200|-|2,200| |Total Debtors|292,834|32,173|325,007|158,002|35,000|193,002| |7. Creditors| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total 2020|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total 2019| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Trade creditors|90,396|-|90,396|73,963|3,000|76,963| |Accruals and deferred income|579,640|10,620|590,260|436,136|2,441|438,577| |Taxation and Social Security|38,959|-|38,959|41,791|41,791| |Total Creditors|708,995|10,620|719,615|551,890|5,441|557,331|

----- End of picture text -----

Deferred income and accruals analysis

----- Start of picture text -----
||| |---|---| |£| |Deferred income balance 1 Jan 2019|188,729| |Release: certification fee income invoiced in 2018 but relating to 2019|(188,729)| |Deferral: certification fee income invoiced in 2019 but relating to 2020|406,365| |Deferred income balance 31 Dec 2019|406,365| |Release: certification fee income invoiced in 2019 but relating to 2020|(406,365)| |Deferral: certification fee income invoiced in 2020 but relating to 2021|554,872| |Deferred income balance 31 Dec 2020|554,872| |Accruals|35,388| |Total accruals and deferral income at 31 December 2019|590,260|

----- End of picture text -----

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 22

Notes to the Accounts continued

8. Reconciliation of Funds

----- Start of picture text -----
Friends Climate Thirty Total
2020 Provident Taskforce Santander Percy [Project Portal] [ALV Stiftung] Restricted Unrestricted Total 2020
£ £ £ £ £ £ £
Balance b/f - - - 27,356 - - 27,356 226,298 253,654
Income 25,000 75,923 50,000 5,000 66,237 60,279 282,439 927,901 1,210,340
Expenditure (25,000) (33,449) - (33,476) (66,237) (60,279) (218,441) (793,147) (1,011,588)
Transfers between funds - - - - - - - - -
Total funds - 42,474 50,000 (1,120) - - 91,354 361,052 452,406
Friends Scotland Thirty Total
2019 comparative Unrestricted Total 2019
Provident Can Be Percy Restricted
£ £ £ £ £
Balance b/f - 40,730 50,000 90,730 74,273 165,003
Income 35,000 126 10,000 45,126 802,359 847,485
Expenditure (35,000) (42,284) (32,644) (109,928) (648,906) (758,834)
Transfers between funds - 1,428 - 1,428 (1,428) -
Total funds - - 27,356 27,356 226,298 253,654
----- End of picture text -----

9. Analysis of Funds

2020 Friends
Provident
Climate
Taskforce
Santander
Thirty
Percy Project Portal ALV Stiftung
Total
Restricted
Unrestricted
Total 2020
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
Fixed Assets
Debtors
Cash at bank
Creditors
Total funds
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,961
4,961
6,250
25,923
-
-
-
-
32,173
292,834
325,007
(6,250)
27,171
50,000
(1,120)
-
-
69,801
772,252
842,053
-
(10,620)
-
-
-
-
(10,620)
(708,995)
(719,615)
-
42,474
50,000
(1,120)
91,354
361,052
452,406
Friends
Provident
Scotland
Can Be
Thirty
Percy
Unrestricted
Total 2019
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
3,101
3,101
35,000
-
-
158,002
193,002
(32,000)
-
29,797
617,085
614,882
(3,000)
-
(2,441)
(551,890)
(557,331)
-
-
27,356
226,298
253,654
2019 comparative
Fixed Assets
Debtors
Cash at bank
Creditors
Total funds

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 23

Notes to the Accounts continued

Details of Restricted Funds

Thirty Percy

The Thirty Percy Foundation, alongside a private donation, are supporting a three year program to build a portfolio of philanthropic partners to raise funds for B Lab's five year strategy. The program will finish in 2021.

Friends Provident

The Friends Provident Foundation are supporting marketing costs for B Lab (UK) over a three year period. The grant is paid in arrears in instalments and covers costs such as marketing staff and publicity expenditure. The grant commenced in January 2019 and will finish in September 2021.

Climate Task Force

The Climate Task Force project is a collaboration between the B Lab companies across the world in driving change in various areas. The B Lab companies are linked by their contractual commiments to B Lab Company Inc but are not legally associated with one another.

Santander

Santander are funding the cost of one employee to work on the Climate Task Force project (as described above) from April 2021 to March 2022.

Project Portal

Project Portal is a project carried out by B Lab Company Inc to which B Lab (UK) contributed via donations and advertising. The Project Portal team convened a global group of 300-500 experts in economic systems change in order to co-create a set of ‘Imperatives’ for an economic system that is regenerative and just. Project Portal then went on to ensure the effective distribution of these principles globally.

ALV Stiftung

In 2020, a grant of £60,279 (€68,000) was received from a German foundation, ALV Stiftung, to further education on sustainable development by exploring the opportunities to develop the B Corp movement in Germany. B Lab UK paid E64700 to B Lab Europe to assist in delivery of the project.

10. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Adjustment for:
Depreciation charges
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash used in operating activities
Net income for the year as per Statement of
Financial Activities
2020
2019
£
£
198,752
88,651
1,508
694
(132,005)
(167,195)
162,284
206,389
230,539
128,539

11. Related Party Transactions

5 trustees are employed by companies that pay the normal membership fee to be part of the certification scheme (2019:4)

Louise Harman and Luke Fletcher, trustees, are both partners in the firm Bates, Wells, Braithwaite LLP, who were paid £695 + VAT for registered office and company secretarial services during 2020 (2019: £599 + VAT).

During the year two trustees made donations of £45,769 (2019: one trustee donation of £10,000)

Heliotropy, a private limited company, received £22,977 from B Lab UK for consultancy on the Climate Task Force. Charmian Love, the Chair of B Lab UK during 2020, is a Director of Heliotropy.

B Lab Company Inc, a US company, charges B Lab UK a royalty fee on income from UK certification fees, and also recharges the costs of some global software licences and similar costs. The B Lab companies are linked by their contractual commitments to B Lab Company Inc but are not legally associated with one another.

12. Fundraising

B Lab (UK) undertakes no public fundraising activities. All fundraising activity is undertaken internally and is aimed at funding specific projects. No complaints about fundraising have been received.

B Lab (UK) Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2020

Page 24