West Thames College is proud to be the first further education College in the country to achieve accreditation with the Good Business Charter (GBC), a prestigious recognition of its commitment to ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible business practices.
The College’s leadership team worked diligently to meet the GBC’s high standards, showcasing West Thames College’s holistic approach to responsible business practices.
The College’s Head of Human Resources Louise Owen said: “West Thames is proud to be the first further education College to achieve this accreditation. We hope that this is a clear sign of our commitment to making a positive impact in the business world. We want to continue to build on the strong foundations that we have built for our staff, and a sustainable and ethical future.”
The College’s CEO and Principal Tracy Aust said: “I am delighted that West Thames College has successfully achieved the Good Business Charter accreditation. Another first for us as a College and for Further Education. It’s really important in our role as an education provider and as a business to role model strong ethical, sustainable and socially responsible practice and this accreditation is clear recognition of this. I am really looking forward to continuing our work with GBC in sharing best practice and hopefully bringing others on board.”
The Good Business Charter (GBC) accreditation evaluates organisations across ten key components:
- Real Living Wage: Ensuring all employees and regular contractors receive the Real Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
- Fairer Hours and Contracts: Adopting fair practices regarding zero-hour contracts, including equitable shift scheduling and cancellation policies, and considering guaranteed hours contracts.
- Employee Well-being: Implementing transparent policies that promote and support employee well-being, prohibiting unreasonable penalties for legitimate sickness.
- Employee Representation: Engaging with worker representatives to ensure employees have a voice in decision-making processes.
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Monitoring and analysing data to address and eliminate workplace discrimination and disadvantage.
- Environmental Responsibility: Committing to policies aimed at reducing environmental impact and continually improving environmental performance.
- Paying Fair Tax: Pledging to pay taxes owed, avoiding tax avoidance schemes, and maintaining transparency with tax authorities.
- Commitment to Customers: Publicly declaring dedication to customer satisfaction, actively gathering feedback, and incorporating it into business practices.
- Ethical Sourcing: Ensuring supply chains adhere to ethical standards, aligning with the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code.
- Prompt Payment to Suppliers: Committing to timely payments by signing the government's Prompt Payment Code.
To achieve GBC accreditation, organisations must meet the requirements for all ten components through a straightforward online self-certification process. This comprehensive approach ensures that accredited entities uphold responsible business practices across all areas of operation.
The College was happy to receive the news during the GBC’s Good Business Fortnight (3–14 February 2025).
The Good Business Fortnight is a nationwide event dedicated to promoting and celebrating responsible business practices across the country. This fortnight aims to showcase the outstanding efforts of businesses committed to ethical operations, environmental sustainability, and positive societal impact. Each day focuses on one of the Good Business Charter's ten components, providing a platform for organisations to share their achievements and inspire others.
The event serves as a catalyst for change, encouraging businesses to adopt responsible practices and educating the public on the importance of ethical business conduct. By participating in Good Business Fortnight, West Thames College aligns itself with a broader movement striving for a fairer and more sustainable world.
As part of the GBC movement, West Thames College joins other leading organisations, including Aviva, TSB, and the University of York, in promoting responsible business practices. The College looks forward to leveraging this accreditation to further its mission and inspire others to prioritise people and the planet in its operations.
For more information about the Good Business Charter, visit www.goodbusinesscharter.com.
