Goram Homes celebrates B Corp certification

We are thrilled to have been awarded the prestigious B Corp Certification for our work to create environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable communities in Bristol.

B Corp recognises companies with a shared mission to use ‘business for good’.  And we are one of only a small handful of UK developers to meet the rigorous social and environmental standards required to gain certification.

These include well-known brands like Patagonia, Alpro, Triodos Bank, and Innocent. To become a B Corp, an organisation must pass a series of rigorous tests in five key categories: governance, workers, customers, community, and environment.

Our MD, Stephen Baker, says:

“Becoming a B Corp is testament to our talented and passionate team, who want to create sustainable homes and communities that people love to live in.

“The B Corp status recognises the part we’re playing in tackling the housing crisis by building affordable homes in the high numbers really needed in this city. As well as our commitment to building beautifully designed, net zero homes that exceed standards for biodiversity and improve nature wherever we build.

“Our focus now is to continue to improve as a business, stick to our values, and do good for our people, our partners, and our planet.” 

Goram Homes was set up by Bristol City Council to regenerate council land into new communities with the high levels of council-owned housing that commercial developers often struggle to deliver alone.

We plan to build around 3,000 new homes for Bristol in the coming years, around half of which will build will be for council-owned housing – a mix of social rent and shared ownership homes.

Getting B Corp certification means we join around 1,600 other for-profit, mission-driven organisations in the UK, all are committed to using their business for social and environmental good.

Cllr Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homelessness adds:

“I’m incredibly proud that our housing company has been recognised for its purpose-led ethos and its commitment to sustainable, council owned affordable homes. The team is committed to creating communities where people and nature can thrive and becoming a B Corp is proof of that.

“Goram Homes’ first homes added to the more than 12,500 new homes already built in Bristol between 2016 and 2023. Their pipeline of around 3,000 new homes, on brownfield sites, will help continue to tackle the housing crisis and build a city where nobody is left behind.”

We celebrated finishing its first homes at One Lockleaze in December 2023. The eco-focused homes all have air or ground source heat pumps, which produce much lower levels of carbon emissions than traditional gas boilers.

A new public park and nature area will link the new development with neighbouring Stoke Park, providing attractive walking and cycling routes and a wildlife corridor to improve the biodiversity of the area. And Our on-site skills academy has already trained more than 260 people who are either unemployed or earning less than the minimum wage, helping to kickstart careers in construction.

This first development will provide a blueprint for Goram Homes developments across the city and proves that the construction industry can make a positive impact on the environment and communities in which it builds.

Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, says:

“We are delighted to welcome Goram Homes to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Goram Homes is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”. 

Goram Homes will continue on its B Corp journey and will undertake the assessment and verification process every three years to retain their B Corp status.