Hiring an impact consultant: Support to become B Corp certified 

“Impact consultants empower organisations to turn ambition into B Corp success and meaningful change.” 

B Corp certification is widely regarded as the gold standard for sustainable business practices, combining measurable impact with accountability to stakeholders. The certification journey, however, demands thorough preparation and navigation of evolving standards. This guide explains the value of B Corp certification, how impact consultants clear the path, and how the new requirements shift the process for organisations today. 

Why B Corp is right for your organisation 

What is a B Corp?

Certified B Corps demonstrate high social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. B Corp benefits include stronger brand reputation, greater trust from customers and partners, and alignment with future market trends (1). UK businesses also note improved resilience and employee engagement, core tenets of the B Corp philosophy. 

With growing regulatory expectations and stakeholder scrutiny, B Corp offers both formal recognition and practical tools for advancing sustainable business practices and governance (1). The B Corp community unites thousands of companies striving for positive impact across industries. 

Benefits of engaging a B Corp certification consultant

Getting certified as a B Corp requires much more than good intentions. Consultants set your journey up for success by:

• Clarifying eligibility, documentation, and legal requirements.
• Mapping the B Impact Assessment for efficiency and impact.
• Supporting evidence-gathering and improvement action plans tailored to your sector.
• Guiding you through submission, external verification, and preparation for new annual and recertification cycles (2).

A seasoned certification consultant brings transparency, reduces complexity, and maximises your potential for passing B Corp requirements with confidence. With external standards continually updating, businesses benefit from expert insights and ongoing advisory (2).

The importance of choosing a certified B Corp Way partner

Selecting the right consultant amplifies these benefits, especially when the firm is formally recognised by B Lab Europe like Nexio Projects. Here’s what to look for:

• Official B Lab recognition: Choose consultants listed as B Corp Way partners in the official B Lab Europe directory. This guarantees up-to-date expertise with the B Corp assessment and full alignment with B Lab’s mission and processes (3).
• Proven track record: Prioritise consultants with a history of helping clients achieve high B Impact scores. Ask for evidence in the form of case studies, testimonials, or references.
• Service offering: Make sure your consultant provides detailed gap analysis, multi-year improvement roadmaps, implementation support, post-certification impact improvement planning, and employee and leadership training, matching your exact business needs.
• Geographical and sector expertise: Given Europe’s diversity in regulations and markets, select consultants with local knowledge and sector-specific experience, including relevant languages and legal systems.
• Transparency and collaboration: B Corp certification is a journey, not a box-ticking exercise. Seek partners who focus on open communication, tailored strategies, and true commitment to your organisation’s long-term sustainability and impact.

For a current and authoritative list, B Lab maintains an updated directory of accredited B Corp Way partners, the strongest resource for finding the right support for your B Corp journey in Europe.

The B Impact Assessment: Your certification gateway 

The B Impact Assessment (BIA) is the backbone of B Corp Certification. Companies must demonstrate high performance across governance, workers, environment, community, and customers, and achieve a minimum score of 80 (3). Consultants help you: 

• Assess readiness and close gaps in policies and practices 
• Gather required evidence and draft clear responses 
• Prepare for legal changes, such as adopting stakeholder governance principles 
• Build teams and processes to sustain continuous improvement beyond initial certification 

Specialist consultants facilitate workshops, readiness audits, and strategic action planning so your organisation can navigate the BIA confidently and improve scores year-on-year (3). 

Read more in our article that breaks down each pillar of the assessment.

New standards, deadlines, and what has changed 

Recent changes to B Corp standards mean certification now requires: 

• Meeting foundation requirements: Companies must be incorporated, have operated for at least 12 months, and adopt stakeholder governance principles (2).
• Completing risk assessments with B Lab’s profiling tool to determine additional requirements 
• Fulfilling differentiated standards based on business size, sector, and location, with mandatory improvements at certification, Year 3, and Year 5 (2). 
• Continuous improvement: B Corps are expected to evolve practices to stay at the forefront of impact leadership (2).

Here are the updated impact topics for the assessment:

Deadlines are strictly defined, especially for those seeking recertification in 2025–2026. Preparing early — ideally with the help of a consultant — keeps organisations on track and ahead of regulatory shifts. 

Not sure where you stand after the changes in the standards? Take our Take our short survey to understand your next actions in the recertification journey!

Nexio Projects: Your B Corp partner 

Nexio Projects is a certified B Corp and full-service sustainability consultancy, committed to guiding clients from compliance to genuine impact. As a B Corp Way partner since 2019, Nexio Projects brings a proven methodology and hands-on support: 

• Certified B Leaders and consultants with deep technical and strategic expertise 
• Recognised as a top 10 global boutique ESG consultancy by Verdantix 
• EcoVadis strategic partner since 2018 
• Support across all milestones: From gap analysis and evidence collection to BIA submission, recertification, and capacity building 
• Track record: 400+ clients, 1000+ projects in over 25 sectors 

Through our sustainability experts, organisations receive tailored consulting, measurable results, and lasting partnership, making the journey to B Corp certification efficient, credible, and inspiring. 

Achieving a sustainable business certification such as B Corp is a strategic decision for any organisation determined to lead in sustainability and responsible governance. Impact consultants make this journey accessible and successful, especially with the evolving landscape of standards, requirements, and continuous improvement. Nexio Projects stands ready as your specialist partner for B Corp success. 

Interested to know more? Book a free consultation call with one of our B Corp consultants and get clartiy on where your organisation stands.

If you would like monthly updates on B Corp, EcoVadis, climate and more ESG topics, sign up to our newsletter!

References:

1. B Corp Certification demonstrates a company’s entire social and environmental commitment. B Corporation. (2024) Available at: https://www.bcorporation.net/certification/
2. Explore B Lab’s new standards. B Corporation. (2019) Available at: https://www.bcorporation.net/standards/performance-requirements/
3. How to become a B Corp? B Lab Europe. (2025) Available at: https://bcorporation.eu/become-a-b-corp/how-to-become-a-b-corp/