The Buckinghamshire Business First Group has a track record of dedicated support for our employees, the business community, the environment, our suppliers, and charity and community groups.

The below accreditations and commitments provide reassurance to our members, partners and funders that we are a safe pair of hands in the delivery of projects and business support activity, and that we are dedicated to achieving a fair, healthy and prosperous future for our employees and society as a whole.

We endeavour to 'walk the talk' on corporate social responsibility, and we encourage other businesses and organisations to pursue these accreditations too.

Because in our connected and collaborative business community, we are all part of something bigger, and we can leave a lasting legacy.

This is a public commitment to support existing employees who may have a disability; ensure that our recruitment process is accessible and supportive for all, regardless of disability, ill health, or other challenges; and consider ways of deploying ‘disability confidence’ within our processes and procedures.

We share good practice with other employers and encourage them to become Disability Confident too.

Learn more about becoming a Disability Confident Employer >

As signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, we are committed to treating those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, fairly. We also aim to encourage other businesses to support these individuals.

We're proud members of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze award, pledging our commitment to defence values and the Armed Forces Covenant.

Here in Buckinghamshire, which is home to RAF Halton, one of the largest RAF stations in the UK, let's also inspire others to honour and support our brave defenders.

Learn more about the Armed Forces Covenant >

We are part of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust's DICE Club, which promotes the 4 Paralympic virtues: Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality (hence DICE!). Our aim is to be seamlessly inclusive as an organisation.

Learn more about the DICE Club and becoming a Champion of Paralympic Heritage >

We have been awarded the Innovation in Education Award at the National Enterprise Network Awards 2024.

This prestigious award recognises our outstanding impact through the Green Schools Challenge. The challenge bridges the gap between education and business by having students collaborate with local businesses on ideas to reduce their schools' carbon footprint. This equips students with a range of green skills, as well as employability, technical, creative and academic skills.

Our team at Buckinghamshire Skills Hub have worked tirelessly to make this initiative a success. Their dedication, along with the support of our partners, educators, and the brilliant students and businesses who participated, has been instrumental in this journey.

We have been awarded the Gold UK CSR Excellence Award for the second time.

This award recognises our efforts towards having a positive impact on society as a whole, including providing mental health support to staff, having a diversity policy that we abide by, and reducing our carbon emissions.

There are three levels of accreditation: Bronze, Silver and Gold - we are particularly proud to have been awarded the highest possible level of accreditation, something that reflects our commitment and drive to produce the best outcomes not just for businesses, but for people, communities, charities and the environment.

We have also received the Gold International CSR Excellence Award to boot!

Gain accreditation for your business!

CSR Accreditation is a great way for organisations to be recognised for their work in supporting communities, charities, their own people, and more.

Learn more about gaining CSR accreditation for your business >

We have made a 'Climate Commitment', recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, to help reduce climate change by halving our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Read all about our Climate Commitment here >

What's good for the planet is good for business

Our Net Zero Bucks programme supports businesses to reduce their emissions and pursue a healthier future for all. Learn more on the Net Zero Bucks webpage >

We believe that a good day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.

The BBF Group is an accredited Living Wage Employer, meaning every member of staff earns a Real Living Wage.

The Real Living Wage is higher than the government’s minimum, or National Living Wage, and is an independently-calculated hourly rate of pay based on the actual cost of living. It is calculated each year and announced by the Living Wage Foundation, which also runs the annual Living Wage Week.

In October 2023, the new Real Living Wage was announced as £12 per hour. (It is £13.15 in London.) Accredited employers have until 1st May 2024 to implement the new rate of pay.

Read more about becoming a Living Wage Employer >

When invoices are not paid on time, businesses (particularly small ones) really suffer.

We are signed up to the Prompt Payment Code, showing a commitment to paying our suppliers promptly and encouraging other organisations to do likewise.

Learn more about the Prompt Payment Code >

We have achieved Cyber Essentials accreditation, demonstrating to suppliers, members and employees alike that we can be trusted with their data and have robust cyber security practices in place.

Learn how to become Cyber Essentials accredited >

Membership of the Heart of Bucks Community Investor scheme recognises our commitment to, and support of, local charities and communities within Buckinghamshire.

Learn more about becoming a Heart of Bucks Community Investor >

We are proud to be accredited by the Good Business Charter (GBC), which consists of the 10 components below. More detail on each of these components can be found online at: www.goodbusinesscharter.com

1. We are a Living Wage Employer who pays directly-employed staff and regular contracted staff the regular Living Wage.
2. We commit to a fair approach to zero or minimal hours contracts, including giving at least two weeks’ notice for scheduling shifts and still paying shifts cancelled at less than two weeks’ notice. We commit to give proper consideration to providing contracts with guaranteed hours. Both of the above are necessary unless requested otherwise by the employee of their own free will.
3. We will have clear, fair and transparent policies that support and encourage employee wellbeing and ban unreasonable penalties for legitimate sickness.
4. We will engage with worker representatives and ensure there is a voice that represents employees around the boardroom table.
5. We will commit time and money to creating an inclusive workplace. We will monitor the diversity of our workforce, commit to close the gender, disability and ethnicity pay gaps and narrow the CEO/worker pay gap.
6. We care about the environment and have an environmental policy which demonstrates the ways in which we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance.
7. We commit to pay our taxes, not engage in tax avoidance, and to be transparent in our relationship with HMRC.
8. We recognise our commitment to our customers. We publish this commitment on our website and gather and monitor customer feedback, reporting to the board and addressing concerns.
9. We commit to the standards set out in the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code where relevant to our organisation. 
10. We are signatories of the government’s Prompt Payment Code.

Read more about what signing up to the Good Business Charter means to Buckinghamshire Business First.