Business

First UK garden centre certified B corp

Thetford Garden Centre has achieved Certified B Corporation (B Corp) status, joining the global movement of like-minded businesses pushing for change.

Thetford Garden Centre

In order to obtain B Corp certification, a company must satisfy a number of criteria, which entails conducting a thorough evaluation of its effects on all stakeholders and undergoing verification of this assessment by B Lab. B Lab is the nonprofit network behind the BCorp movement, which aims to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet.

Founded in 1982, by Jean and Paul Nixon, Thetford Garden Centre in Norfolk has been built up into thriving business, now certified as a B Corp – the first garden centre in the UK to have the certification.

“We are extremely proud to be the first Garden Centre in the UK to receive this certification. Gaining B Corp has been a two-year journey. While it doesn’t mean we are perfect, it demonstrates our commitment to doing good. We have implemented practices and processes that align with B Lab’s high standards, enabling ethical decision-making. We are now part of a global movement that views business as a force for good. We hope to inspire other small and medium-sized family businesses, whether in our region or industry, to pursue this certification. It’s truly the way business should be done,” explained Lucy Nixon, Managing Director at Thetford Garden Centre.