At Penguin Learning, our mission has always been rooted in fostering growth and empowering individuals. We believe in building strong foundations, much like the effective strategies we advocate in utilising the Apprenticeship Levy to cultivate future leaders. Today, we’re thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our own journey: Penguin Learning is now a Certified B Corporation®!
This certification marks a pivotal moment for us, formalising our long-standing commitment to operating our business with a purpose beyond profit. It signifies that we meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Just as we guide organisations to invest strategically in their people through initiatives like apprenticeships, we too have embarked on a journey of rigorous assessment and continuous improvement to achieve this recognition. Our access to TTI Success Insight’s psychometric suite has informed our understanding of team dynamics and individual development throughout this process. These tools, which can be invaluable for recruitment, team building, personal development, and coaching, help us – and our clients – gain deeper insights into behavioural and communication preferences.
The path to becoming a B Corp, like any meaningful development journey, presented its share of straightforward and more complex aspects.
On the smoother side, we found that many of our foundational practices already aligned with the B Corp ethos. When we began the process of onboarding our growing team, we naturally developed employee handbooks and a robust code of ethics. These weren't just tick-box exercises; they were about creating a supportive and principled environment for our colleagues – a cornerstone of the B Corp’s ‘Workers’ pillar. Similarly, our established partnering process, which emphasises the use of subject matter experts and thorough Learning Needs Assessments (LNAs) to ensure the right client fit, echoed the B Corp’s commitment to ethical and impactful service delivery. It was reassuring to see that our inherent values were already embedded in our day-to-day operations.
However, the journey also presented us with challenges that required careful consideration and adaptation, much like navigating the complexities of the skills gap or effectively managing your Apprenticeship Service Account. One notable hurdle involved an existing client in the pharmaceutical sector. While this client’s work was focused on “making life better for those battling severe immune and inflammatory diseases,” the B Corp framework has specific restrictions on certain industries. This required thoughtful internal discussions and a realistic assessment of the potential future revenue from this partnership. Transparency and adherence to the B Corp principles were paramount, even when faced with difficult decisions.
Another significant shift occurred during the certification process itself. Initially, Penguin Learning was structured around Phil and me, supported by our trusted network of preferred partners. As our impact grew, so did our team, and we welcomed two new employees. This positive growth meant we suddenly had new criteria to meet under the B Corp’s ‘Workers’ and ‘Governance’ pillars. Adapting our policies and processes to reflect our expanded team required agility and a renewed focus on employee well-being and inclusive practices.
To further strengthen our commitment and gain expert guidance, we brought in an external Social and Environmental Director. Their insights and expertise were invaluable in steering our business towards meeting the comprehensive B Corp requirements. This mirrors the strategic partnerships we encourage businesses to forge when developing their talent through apprenticeships. For instance, the ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management apprenticeship, typically lasting 12-15 months, including the end-point assessment, requires not only dedicated learning but also consistent employer support, such as providing time for workshops and opportunities to apply new skills.
Finally, we dedicated significant effort to establishing a framework for assessing the skills and behaviours of our subcontractors and setting specific environmental targets for our operations. Our approach to understanding behaviours is informed by tools like TTI Success Insight’s DISC report. It's important to remember that DISC isn't a ‘personality’ test; instead, it highlights an individual's behavioural and communication preferences across four distinct behaviours. It doesn't categorise people but rather measures where they fall on a spectrum of these behaviours. There isn't a ‘better’ or ‘worse’ behaviour, just different ways of approaching situations, which might present areas of consideration for personal development plans (PDPs).
Our “Know Yourself Workshops” specifically use psychometric assessments to provide data-driven insights into these behaviours. The aim isn't for managers to simply learn about themselves, but rather to gain an understanding of their behavioural style, how they might be perceived by others, and strategies for more effective collaboration. Simply knowing these behaviours doesn't automatically improve team dynamics. However, by using this knowledge, managers can gain valuable perspectives on their team's communication preferences and tailor their approach accordingly. While psychometric assessments aren't 100% accurate (TTI SI’s reports maintain an impressive 87% accuracy through regular recalibration), they offer a robust framework for understanding these dynamics.
Becoming a B Corp is not the finish line; it’s an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and a reinforcement of our belief that business can be a force for good. Just as the Apprenticeship Levy offers a unique opportunity for businesses to invest in their future, B Corp certification provides a framework for us to invest in a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
We are incredibly proud of this achievement and excited to embark on this next chapter as a Certified B Corporation®. We believe this aligns perfectly with our values and strengthens our ability to partner with organisations that share our commitment to making a positive impact, one learning journey at a time.
If you’re interested in exploring how Penguin Learning can help your organisation develop its future leaders through the strategic use of the Apprenticeship Levy or how our insights from TTI Success Insight’s psychometric suite can support your recruitment, team building, and personal development initiatives, please get in touch. We’re always happy to share our experiences and help you build a brighter future for your business and beyond.
To find out more, please visit - www.penguinlearning.co.uk
