Cubo, the UK’s fastest-growing flex office operator, has been awarded Certified B Corporation (or B Corp) status, joining a growing movement of businesses committed to using business as a force for good.
The company, which operates 13 sites across the UK including at Aurora on Bothwell Street in Glasgow, now stands among a select group of businesses that meet these high standards of social and environmental performance.
This certification, verified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, demonstrates that Cubo meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability alongside a commitment to goals beyond shareholder value.
The news comes as the ongoing climate crisis and widening social inequality continue to pose urgent challenges to the economy.
To achieve B Corp certification, Cubo was required to undergo a rigorous assessment of its entire business operations covering impact areas related to practices across five key areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers.
Companies are required to provide evidence on performance while legally embedding their commitment to purpose as well as profit in their company articles.
In order to qualify for certification, companies must achieve a minimum score of 80 points on the B Impact Assessment. Cubo met this threshold, reflecting its proactive initiatives in sustainable design and fit-out, energy efficiency, employee wellbeing initiatives, diversity and inclusion policies, supply chain management, community engagement, and client sustainability.
This compares to a median score of 50.9 for ordinary businesses who complete the assessment.
Cubo was founded in 2020 and has rapidly expanded its footprint with a network of 13 flex offices across major UK cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
Its innovative approach to flexible workspaces, combining premium, design-led environments with personalised services, has attracted a diverse membership base from startups and SMEs to multinational corporations.
Cubo is now part of a growing community of over 10,000 businesses globally that have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK is the largest and fastest growing in the world, with over 2,500 companies spanning a range of different industries and sizes.
Names include The Guardian, Innocent Drinks, Patagonia, Tony’s Chocolonely, The Big Issue, Finisterre, Elemis, and Sipsmith Gin.
Commenting on achieving the accreditation, Marc Brough, CEO of Cubo, said:
“Becoming a B Corp is a significant achievement for Cubo. From day one, it has been our aim not only to revolutionise flexible working but to build a business that genuinely contributes to a more sustainable and equitable world. The certification is external validation of the principles we’ve embedded in our operations – and a promise to keep improving.
“We believe the future of business is about balancing profit with purpose. As we expand, we want Cubo to lead the way in demonstrating that flexible workspace operators can, and must, play a central role in creating a sustainable economy.
“B Corp certification will help us identify where we’re excelling and where we can improve further to help our members thrive in a way that benefits people and the planet.”
Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, added:
“We are delighted to welcome Cubo to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies that are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good.
“We know Cubo is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.
“Its commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and will help spread the notion that success in business is as much about people and planet as it is profit.”
With B Corp certification in place, Cubo will further integrate sustainability and social responsibility into its growth strategy – from more sustainable site developments to greater support for local economies and innovative member services promoting environmental stewardship.
For more information about Cubo’s flexible workspace solutions and sustainability initiatives, visit www.cubowork.com.