• Swindon & Wiltshire Governance
• Wednesday June 11 2025

NSBRC becomes a B Corp – with record-breaking score

Swindon’s National Self Build & Renovation Centre has been certified as a B Corp – achieving what is believed to be a South West record-breaking score.

With a ‘B Impact Assessment’ score of 124.7, the NSBRC far exceeded the B Corp minimum of 80, and the average business score of 50.9.

As the UK’s only permanent venue for independent homebuilding advice and support, the NSBRC has helped over a quarter of a million visitors create Better Sustainable Homes, since opening in 2007.

In its drive to becoming a Better Sustainable Business, the NSBRC has reduced carbon emissions by 23 per cent over the past three years, and has also cut landfill waste by 17 per cent in 2024/25.

As a business 69 per cent owned by its non-executive employees, sustainable and ethical practices are built into the NSBRC’s core values, empowering its team to lead with purpose and long-term thinking.

The B Corp community in the UK is one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world, and the NSBRC is among the first 3,000 Certified B Corps in the UK, alongside companies like The Guardian, Innocent Drinks, Patagonia, The Big Issue and Good Energy.

With recertification required every three years, the NSBRC is committed to continuous improvement.

Harvey Fremlin, managing director of The NSBRC, said: “Building on our reputation as an employee owned business, we’re proud of this milestone, and becoming part of this global movement.

“But, we know the journey doesn’t end here. As part of the growing B Corp community, we’ll keep striving to improve and become a Better Sustainable Business”.

Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said: “We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community — from startups to multinationals and across many different industries.

“Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that positive impact is possible in any sector. Welcoming The NSBRC is an exciting moment for the Self Build & Renovation industry.

“B Lab UK and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased that The NSBRC is paving the way for a new way of doing things.”

Pictured: Clare Martin, Harvey Fremlin, and Katy Ashcroft of the National Self Build & Renovation Centre