BSQ GROUP STARTS THE YEAR STRONG WITH B CORP CERTIFICATION

UK-BASED holding company BSQ Group and parent to leading company formation agent 1st Formations, has started the year on a high by achieving B Corporation (B Corp) Certification. This milestone underscores the Group’s commitment to balancing commercial success with verified social and environmental impact.

The Group achieved an overall impact score of 87.6, joining a global movement of more than 9,000 certified B Corps recognised for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

BSQ Group focuses on entrepreneurship, technology, marketing and corporate services. Alongside 1st Formations, its portfolio includes two additional market-leading company formation brands: Rapid Formations and Quality Company Formations (QCF). Together, they support thousands of entrepreneurs each year with expert guidance and ongoing services to help businesses start and grow.

Graeme Donnelly, founder of BSQ Group and 1st Formations, said: “We didn’t pursue B Corp certification for a badge. We did it to formalise the values that already guide our decisions and to hold ourselves to a higher standard in how we support entrepreneurs, care for our people, and reduce our impact on the planet.

“This certification reflects more than a year of collaboration and scrutiny across the business. It’s an important milestone, but it’s also the start of a longer commitment to continuous improvement and responsible growth.”
The B Corp network includes global brands such as Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, The Body Shop and TOMS, alongside a growing number of small and medium-sized businesses redefining how success is measured.
Achieving certification took BSQ Group 17 months and involved a rigorous assessment of its governance, employee policies, environmental management practices, operations, and more. During the assessment, the Group demonstrated a commitment to social impact embedded into its Articles of Association, board-level ethics frameworks, a commitment to the Real Living Wage, inclusive and family-friendly policies, and flexible benefits for staff.

The Group also operates with zero waste to landfill and actively tracks its Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

B Corp certification evaluates a company’s overall impact across five key areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Its rigorous standards of evaluation include assessing how the business is managed and held accountable at leadership level, how it engages its workforce and positively contributes to employees’ wellbeing, its involvement with the local community, and its supply chain strategy. The assessment also measures environmental responsibility, including sustainability practices and resource management.

Community engagement is central to BSQ Group’s approach, with employees receiving paid volunteering time to give back. The Group partners with a range of charities, including ASTOP, donating over 3,000 sq. ft. of fully serviced office space and providing a base for 13 charities that would otherwise struggle with London’s high rents.

Other initiatives in 2025 included supporting Race Against Dementia with its international prize draw, donating £5,000 worth of Christmas presents to children at four local charities, and donating £100,000 to WONDER Foundation to empower women and girls, with another £100,000 pledged for the next two years.

For customers, the business prioritises transparent pricing, clear communication and structured feedback to drive continuous improvement. BSQ Group applies strong quality assurance standards to its services, backed by clear guarantees that give customers confidence.

Looking ahead, BSQ Group will undergo recertification every three years, with a focus on strengthening its impact across the five assessment areas.

Graeme added: “B Corp has given us a clear framework to measure progress, not just intent. It’s helped us embed sustainability into everyday decision-making and sharpen how we deliver value.

“For us, certification isn’t a finish line but a promise to hold ourselves to higher standards while marking the next step in how we lead responsibly. For our customers, it means partnering with a company built on transparency, integrity, and the belief that good business and growth go hand in hand.”