Haymarket Media Group, a global media, data and information business, today announces it has achieved B Corp certification across its entire business, on an international scale.
Haymarket says this achievement positions the business as a leading force for good, balancing profit with purpose to benefit workers, customers, communities and the planet. It is a testament to Haymarket’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
Haymarket - which owns more than 90 brands including Campaign, What Car?, MyCME, GP, Wonderly and Asian Investor - has more than 1300 employees, spanning offices in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore and India.
The certification marks an almost three-year effort, Haymarket continued. Reaching this point entailed significant investment by the business and its employees. From the introduction of new policies spanning key areas including sustainable travel, environment, procurement and business ethics, to mandatory employee training and enhanced Learning & Development (L&D) offerings.
Haymarket has continued to set ambitious targets to support its commitment to reducing emissions and improving outcomes for the communities it serves. Crucially, measurement and progress is publicly reported in the company’s annual Impact Report.
Speaking about the certification, Kevin Costello, global chief executive at Haymarket said: "Achieving B Corp certification is a moment of immense pride for everyone at Haymarket. This milestone is not only a huge achievement for us but within our industries too.
“This was the result of a company-wide effort that demanded new commitments and formalised ways of working. The process emphasised global collaboration across continents and teams, ensuring our commitments to being a force for good are embedded in our daily decision-making.
“As a privately-owned, family business, our people are our greatest asset. We have long been confident in our commitment to shaping a better future but today proves we walk the talk. We are setting a new standard amongst our peers - and we are excited for all that’s to come.”
Continuous improvement is at the foundation of being a B Corp, and Haymarket says it commits to fully embedding these principles, with mandatory recertification required every three years.
The B Corp certification process, administered by the non-profit B Lab, involves an evaluation of a for-profit company's entire social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, with Haymarket amending its legal Articles of Association.
Chris Turner, executive director, B Lab UK added: “We are delighted to welcome Haymarket to the growing community of Certified B Corporations. The rigour of the B Impact Assessment ensures that companies like Haymarket are truly balancing profit with purpose to benefit workers, customers, communities, and the planet. For a global media company of Haymarket's stature to make this commitment shows the increasing momentum of the movement and its reach across all sectors."
Haymarket says it has long held a deep commitment to responsible business, sustainability and inclusive practices. Haymarket Impact, launched in 2023, is centred around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and ensures all its colleagues, brands and divisions are aligned and committed to the company’s global purpose of shaping a better future.
From its longstanding commitment to its charity partners, investment in learning and the next generation of talent with its apprenticeship and intern programmes, to being a Disability Confident Employer in the UK, Haymarket has an average tenure of over seven years and is award-winning as an employer of choice. The company holds ISO 14001 accreditation for Environmental Management in the UK, US, and Asia, as well as being one of the only ISO 20121 accredited media companies in the UK.
Haymarket now joins a community of more than 10,000 B Corps around the world, including Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, Danone and Innocent.
Keep up-to-date with publishing news: sign up here for InPubWeekly, our free weekly e-newsletter.
