GBC and FSB: 6 months on
It’s been over 6 months since we launched our streamlined GBC application process for small and medium sized organisations, which make up over 99.3% of all businesses, and we are delighted to see a huge number of SME’s and small public and third sector organisations gain GBC accreditation in those 6 months.
At the beginning of January 2021 we had 140 members, 78% of which were ‘small’ (an organisation with 50 or less employees). We then launched our streamlined application with Federation of Small Businesses on the 18th January 2021.
Since then, we have grown to 630 members, 576 small organisations and 54 large. This is a huge growth which we are so proud of, and would not have been possible without the support of FSB. We are very proud that so many in our organisation are small, and seek to continue to grow this demographic of GBC members and treasure small businesses and organisations.
#MyHiddenGems
FSB launched a fantastic summer campaign on the 19th July or ‘Freedom Day’ called #MyHiddenGems which highlights businesses like local cafes, restaurants and night-time venues, to help raise the profile of small firms as the country has adapted to the lift in restrictions.
They are asking supporters to share their #MyHiddenGems on social media with an image or video of small, independent tourism and hospitality businesses in their area which they think deserve wider recognition.
GBC Accreditation within the Tourism and Hospitality Sectors
One of the Good Business Charter’s 10 components requires businesses to pay their employees the real living wage which is currently £9.50 an hour (and £10.85 in London). Paying the real living wage to your staff increases the motivation and retention rates as well as improving relations between managers and their staff. In the tourism and hospitality sector, there is such an opportunity to stand out from the crowd by paying the real living wage – it will improve the reputation of your business and help differentiate yourself from others in your industry.
In these sectors where there are challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, paying real living wage, alongside other responsible business behaviour will make a positive impact. Can you commit and join the GBC today? By getting the GBC logo out on your shop or hotel window, you will raise awareness of the way you are leading the way in doing business responsibly. As more of our members do this, and we continue to promote the accreditation to the general public, more and more people will start looking for the GBC logo and reward you with their custom.
Our GBC Hidden Gems
We’d like to highlight some of our Hidden Gems GBC members, for their fantastic work through a very difficult time during the pandemic.
Galtres Lodge
Here is our CEO Jenny at Galtres Lodge in York. Galtres Lodge joined GBC in June this year, and we are delighted to have them as part of our community of members in our first GBC city! York is full of tourists and we hope that means business for Galtres Lodge can begin going back to normal. You can read more about what they’ve been doing and their GBC accreditation in this York Press article.
Knockendarroch Hotel
Knockendarroch Hotel are a hotel and restaurant based in Perthshire, Scotland, who have also been with us since June this year, who focus on providing a carefully balanced blend of quality, comfort style and service to treating guests to a panoramic view of Pitlochry.
Saorsa
Saorsa 1875 are a vegan hotel based in Pitlochry, Scotland. They believe that an appreciation for design, food, culture and connection should not come at the cost of animal welfare, and so they run their hotel free of any animal products, with a completely plant based restaurant. They are one of our founding GBC members, joining us back in February 2020 when we launched.
Eddrachilles Hotel
Eddrachilles Hotel is an independent, owner-operated, Highland hotel on the coast of North-West Sutherland, which was built centuries ago as a significant Church of Scotland manse. The hotel today allows guests to see the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and has gorgeous views over the island-studded Badcall Bay and beyond to Assynt.
Courteenhall Farms
Courteenhall Farms is an estate in South Northamptonshire who host a variety of events as well as filming and photoshoots. They have been with us since February this year, and if you would like to know more about their accreditation with us, you can listen to a podcast here we did with the CLA featuring our Founder Julian Richer and our CEO Jenny Herrera, as well as Johnny Wake and Philippa Fitzgerald from Courteenhall Estate.
Barnston Estate
Barnston Estate is one of Cheshire’s oldest family estates, and is managed by Ed Barnston. The Estate comprises a wide range of residential and commercial properties as well as dairy farming, forestry and renewable energy. They have been a GBC member since May of this year.
These are only a small selection of our members who have been working hard through the tourism and hospitality sectors during this difficult time. We are delighted to see things open up again and commend our members for their resilience.
