Social impact
and giving back
We believe business should be a force for good.
At 1st Formations, giving back is part of who we are. From supporting global education to creating opportunities and championing sustainable practices, we’re committed to using business as a force for lasting, positive change.
Certified B Corporation
A more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative way of doing business.
We’re proud to share that BSQ Group, our parent company, is now a Certified B Corporation, joining a global community of businesses committed to balancing purpose and profit.
Certified B Corps meet some of the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. This achievement reflects how we work, the impact we create, and the values we live by every day.
The certification involved:
- A 17-month assessment
- Five impact areas
- Long-term accountability
We’re joining a network of over 9,000 purpose-led organisations.
Great organisations like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, and The Body Shop, all committed to using business as a force for good.
For us, being a B Corp is a framework for continual improvement, guiding how we grow responsibly and ensuring that purpose stays at the heart of everything we do.
“Becoming a Certified B Corp isn't just a badge. We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards: choosing suppliers carefully, supporting our customers, caring for our people, and protecting the planet. This certification marks not an endpoint, but the start of our ongoing commitment to responsible, sustainable, long-term growth.”
Keziah Cowan,
Associate Director, CSR Spokesperson
Our commitment to sustainability
Four years of climate action
We’re proud to have been certified Carbon Neutral through Carbon Neutral Britain for four consecutive years. Being a carbon neutral company means we calculate all emissions from our operations, travel, and supply chain (including direct emissions, indirect energy emissions, and value chain emissions) and fully offset them through verified environmental projects.
We measure
what matters.
In 2023, our total emissions were 272.36 tonnes CO₂e, reduced to 265.76 tonnes CO₂e in 2024, a net reduction of 6.60 tonnes CO₂e (2.42%), even as our team and revenue grew.
By adopting digital-first systems, such as our digital mailroom, improving energy efficiency in our Covent Garden office, and sourcing recycled materials wherever possible, we continue to lower our footprint year after year.
272.36t
2023 total emissions265.76t
2024 total emissions6.60t
Net reduction achievedSupporting global restoration projects
Through Carbon Neutral Britain’s Woodland Fund, we support projects certified to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard, and UN Sustainable Development Goals. The initiatives are to:
Restore ecosystems
Protect biodiversity
Create local employment opportunities
“Saving the environment is the number one issue, but global progress is moving too slowly as people continue putting the economy before the planet. I’m disappointed by the apathy of most politicians and businesses. We all can make a difference and become carbon neutral.”
Graeme Donnelly,
CEO & Founder, 1st Formations
Building a better future for women and girls
Our WONDER Foundation partnership
The WONDER Foundation is an organisation dedicated to helping women and girls thrive through education and employment, so they can exit poverty for good. Since 2012, WONDER has:
- Worked with over 30 partners across 23 countries
- Provided 100,000+ women and girls with access to quality education, training and life skills
Education changes everything
We’ve been an official partner since 2021, focused on Colegio Junkabal, a school in Guatemala City that supports young women from the Basurero community, one of the city’s poorest areas. Through donations, 1st Formations is helping fund scholarships that allow girls to continue their education, opening doors to future employment and long-term stability.
By investing in education, we’re helping women build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Studies from the Department for International Development show that a 1% rise in female literacy is three times more likely to reduce child mortality than a 1% increase in the number of doctors. That’s just one of the reasons we’re proud to support WONDER – using education as a catalyst for lasting change.
“We are proud to be a corporate partner of the WONDER Foundation. Through our partnership, it has been excellent to educate and engage our team on their amazing work”
Graeme Donnelly,
CEO & Founder, 1st Formations
Opening our doors
Being based in central London ourselves, we know office space here is some of the most expensive in the city. That’s why we offer our spare office space to charities. Our Covent Garden offices at 71-75 Shelton Street include workspaces for up to 33 people, with cycle storage, showers, and a communal kitchen, all accessible completely free of charge.
We have:
- Donated over 3,000 sq. ft. of fully serviced office space
- Provided a base for 7 charities that would otherwise struggle with London’s high rents
One of the charities currently using our space is Race Against Dementia. They host Lunch & Learn sessions for our team, sharing the charity’s origins and inspiring mission.
There’s no financial gain for 1st Formations with this initiative. This is a values-led commitment to support the community we’re a part of.
“At 1st Formations, we have a real understanding of what it takes to get a charity, or any small enterprise, off the ground. We know there are countless people out there trying to be a force for good, so we want to do what we can to alleviate the burdens preventing them.”
Keziah Cowan,
Associate Director, CSR Spokesperson
1st Formations x LSE Generate
Empowering the next generation of socially responsible entrepreneurs.
We’re proud to partner with LSE Generate, the London School of Economics’ global entrepreneurship centre, to help build a more inclusive and impactful startup ecosystem.
Through this partnership, we support initiatives that break down barriers for underrepresented founders. This includes the Founder of Colour and Neurodiversity Clusters, which provide mentorship, funding opportunities, and tailored resources for diverse entrepreneurial talent.
Our sponsorship of the LSE Start Up Competition also gives emerging founders the chance to pitch their ideas and secure funding to grow their ventures.
Together, we’re empowering the next generation of socially responsible entrepreneurs to create businesses that drive real change.
“My focus has always been women and the environment – menstrual hygiene stood out as a powerful intersection of both.”
Haja Isatu Bah,
Founder of Uman4Uman and winner of LSE Generate's Startup Competition
Doing good through the way we do business
Small steps that make a big difference
At 1st Formations, sustainability starts with the choices we make every day, including who we work with. From our local lunch suppliers to the oat milk in our coffees, we partner with businesses that share the same values as us: independent, ethical, and committed to doing good.
We’ve partnered with atis to bring locally sourced, plant-powered lunches to our space. The restaurant shares our commitment to sustainability, working with trusted suppliers to serve seasonal ingredients and low-impact proteins in every dish. By choosing a partner that puts the planet first, we aim to:
- Support better food systems
- Reduce waste
- Offer our staff meals that are both nourishing and responsibly made
“Sustainability drives our supply choices. Ensuring our waste and impact is minimised, and we are supporting a circular economy”
Keziah Cowan,
Associate Director, CSR Spokesperson
Making a meaningful difference
At 1st Formations, doing good is part of doing business. From helping girls complete their education to giving charities a place to grow, we believe long-term success should create long-term impact, for people, communities, and the planet.
Our social and environmental commitments aren’t one-time campaigns. They’re part of how we operate, every day, as we continue finding ways to give back through business.
Partner with a company that puts purpose into practice. Join over one million entrepreneurs who trust 1st Formations to start and grow their companies responsibly.