Be prepared for a better future

To quote the fabled NFL coach, Vince Lombardi: ‘individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work’.

This belief lies behind the formation of Be. Partners, a collective of six motivated people wanting to make a positive difference to the Northamptonshire business community and beyond.

Be. Partners brings together an experienced and diverse team:

• Alexina Cassidy – a B Corp specialist and founder of ActNow Consulting who works with SMEs on ESG, carbon literacy and net zero plans, and coordinator of the Northamptonshire People, Planet, Pint initiative.
• Stephen Bell – former senior Operations Manager and Training Manager with Mercedes Benz Retail, founder and Managing Director of Red Kite Training, and well known as the Musical Director for award-winning choirs and orchestras.
• Tim Grantham – former senior leader and head of distribution at Howden’s Joinery, where he was responsible for high performing teams in a business growing at over 20%pa.
• Adrian Pryce DL – an Associate Professor in Strategy and Society at the University of Northampton and ESG specialist working with boards on strategy, governance and social impact issues.

Also in the team are Data and EDI specialist Tade Mustapha, a graduate of the University’s MSc Project Management, and Jacob Pryce, a marketing professional who runs his own design agency, Celer Studios.

The time is right

Chairman Adrian Pryce DL, a trained B Leader who sits on the Institute of Director (IOD) National Sustainability Taskforce, said:

“It is clear that businesses will increasingly have to act on both their environmental and social footprints, addressing and reporting on their impacts. Having been banging this drum for some time, I am pleased to see growing interest from local businesses to do some- thing more structured and strategic.

“Local companies score themselves at just three out of 10 in terms of actual-to-potential impact, yet 70% say they would like to do more. This, along with pressures on and within businesses to act, mean that the time is right to launch Be. Partners.”

Alexina Cassidy, Managing Consultant, summarises why she is enthused about her work:

“Because of the challenge of working with responsible and mindful businesses who are keen, yet perhaps struggling to find a way to balance business success with the desire to have a positive social and environmental impact on all their stakeholders.”

Thats where Be. Partners can really help. By partnering with businesses to navigate today’s complex business environment, and more than just ‘do good’ helping business ‘Be responsible,’‘Be inclusive, ‘Be good’ and, ultimately, ‘Be better,’ all with a strategic focus linking ESG to financial success.

Stephen Bell, Learning and Development Director, said:

“It’s always through people that great things get done. That’s why we have a strong focus on organisational development as well as learning and development.”

Passing the CFO test

Keen to make sure that Be. Partners supports its clients’ objectives of growth, profit and innovation, Tim Grantham, the COO, is laser focused on developing clear and relevant processes that link people and planet issues with profit.

Tim said:

“Whatever we do must pass the CFO test – there must be a business case for ESG activities.” Tim is responsible for supporting clients on their performance and productivity issues.

Be. Partners, which launched in November, operates on a lean, low-overhead basis. It is a signatory to the Better Business Act Campaign and the University’s Northampton Accord, is accredited to the UK’s Good Business Charter scheme and is pursuing B Corp accreditation.

With the talent and experience in the core team and access to a wide network of specialists in environmental management systems, health and safety, sustainable procurement and much more, Be. Partners helps businesses develop a strategic approach to ESG and then supports the operational implementation in a way that has both high impact and high return on investment.

Be. Better. Pure and simple.