TLDR (too long didn’t read): What you need to know
Harland Accountants is now a certified B Corp, a milestone that reflects our belief in building businesses that are both profitable and purposeful. To celebrate, we’re offering a limited number of free Profit AND Purpose Power Hour sessions – a 60-minute one-to-one with a senior business and marketing adviser to help impact-driven founders strengthen their financial sustainability, so they can grow both their business and their impact.
Harland proves profit and purpose can align
Back in July 2025, we reached a milestone that means a lot to us. Harland Accountants became a certified B Corporation, joining thousands of businesses around the world that are committed to making a positive difference for people and the planet.
This isn’t a common achievement in our industry. With a B Impact score of 97.6, Harland is one of only 67 accountancy firms worldwide, and just 23 in the UK* to meet the rigorous standards for B Corp certification. Here in Cornwall, we’re proud to be part of a thriving B Corp community, now the largest outside London.
We see this not as the finish line, but as the start of an exciting new chapter in how we work, who we work with, and the impact we can create together.
* Source: B Corporation website, August 2025, https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/
Celebrate with us and apply for your free Profit AND Purpose Power Hour
To mark our B Corp certification, we’re offering a limited number of free Profit AND Purpose Power Hour sessions for impact-driven business owners. In this 60-minute one-to-one with a senior business and marketing adviser, we’ll help you strengthen your financial sustainability so you can grow your business and your impact with confidence. Places are limited and applications close 1 November 2025. Find out more and apply here.
Why we set out on the B Corp journey
For us, becoming a B Corp was never just about the accreditation. It was about making sure the way we run our business reflects our values and supports the kind of change we want to see in the world.
As an accountancy practice, we’re in a privileged position. We talk to hundreds of business owners every day, which means we have an incredible opportunity to help those businesses grow in ways that are financially sustainable and socially responsible.
And we genuinely care about this stuff. Our directors bring experience from values-led organisations like The Eden Project, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, and Crowdfunder. Our team is made up of parents, nature-lovers, and active community members. We talk openly about climate change, carbon footprints, and what kind of world we want to leave for our children.
We wanted to become a B Corp because:
- We love working with like-minded, purpose-driven businesses.
- We believe in what B Corp stands for.
- We want to raise awareness of the movement so more businesses join in.
- We’re forward-thinking and determined to help create a better future for people and the planet.
- We know financial sustainability is the foundation that allows good businesses to thrive.
As David Harland, one of Harland’s Directors, puts it:
“There’s a misconception that profit and purpose can’t co-exist. But the truth is, profit is the wind in your sails. Without it, your purpose stays anchored in the harbour. A healthy, sustainable profit gives you the momentum to reach your destination and make the impact you set out to achieve.”
The changes we made to get here
Becoming a B Corp means looking at your business under a microscope. We examined everything, from our governance and environmental footprint to our community engagement and internal policies.
Some of the changes we made along the way include:
- Introducing a procurement policy that prioritises ethical, local, and sustainable suppliers.
- Creating a travel policy to reduce unnecessary journeys and encourage lower-carbon transport.
- Strengthening workplace wellbeing, with Mental Health First Aiders and Workplace Wellbeing Champions.
- Increasing our community engagement through supporting a charity of the year, and creating a community impact working group.
We also keep challenging the outdated idea that profit is a bad word. To us, good business finance is the foundation of every successful, impactful business. Without financial sustainability, your ability to create positive change is limited.
As Practice Director Deborah Edwards says:
“We’ve always believed accountancy should go beyond compliance. It’s about helping businesses grow in a way that’s financially sustainable and aligned with their values, so they can create meaningful impact that lasts.”
A conversation with Susan Wilson, our B Corp project lead
Q: What inspired you to lead Harland’s B Corp journey?
I’ve always been passionate about sustainability and community impact, but B Corp gave us a clear framework to bring those values into every part of the business. It wasn’t just about meeting the criteria, it was about making changes that will stick for the long term.
Q: What was the most challenging part?
The scope of it all. You have to look at absolutely everything, from governance and diversity to environmental practices. But that’s also what makes it so worthwhile, you end up seeing your business as a whole ecosystem.
Q: What are you most proud of?
How the whole team got involved. This was never a one-person project. Everyone contributed ideas and feedback. Our B Impact score of 97.6 is the result of that collective effort.
Why this matters for Cornwall
Cornwall is fast becoming a hub for purpose-led business. With the highest concentration of B Corp accredited businesses outside of London, there’s a strong and supportive community here that’s showing the rest of the UK what’s possible when profit and purpose come together. By joining this network, we can share knowledge, collaborate with like-minded businesses, and support more SMEs on their own B Corp journeys.
Apply for a free Profit AND Purpose Power Hour
To celebrate our B Corp certification, we’re offering a limited number of free Profit AND Purpose Power Hour sessions, a focused 60-minute one-to-one with a senior business and marketing adviser. We’ll help you strengthen your financial sustainability so you can grow your business and your impact. Places are limited and applications close 1 November 2025. Apply now.
