Bishop Fleming commits to responsible business future with Board appointment

Top 30 firm, Bishop Fleming has become a member of the largest business-led membership organisation dedicated to responsible business.

The firm which delivers accounting, audit, tax and advisory services to businesses and individuals, has joined Business in the Community (BITC) and is undertaking a thorough, diagnostic process to put environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy at the heart of its business.

Bishop Fleming partner, Fleur Lewis has also been appointed to the BITC South West Leadership Board, where she will represent Bishop Fleming, the only accountancy firm of its size on the Board.

Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales 40 years ago, BITC work with their members to continually improve their responsible business practice. It has over 600 organisation members including the likes of Google, Tesco and Nike.

Fleur will work as part of a team of senior executives to provide strategic guidance, and work to identify the unique ways in which business’ can help innovate and create more sustainability in their communities.

Fleur said: “I am delighted that Bishop Fleming has joined BITC, making a commitment to a better way of doing business.

“I am particularly pleased to join the South West Leadership Board, where it brings like-minded organisations together, profiling best practice, sharing ideas and insight and making a difference to our people and our communities.”

Having seen its CSR activities increase significantly over recent years, earlier this year it launched a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) online hub designed to capture its impact across four pillars that cut across the business – Community, Workplace, Marketplace, and Environment.

It has also been measuring and reducing its environmental impact across a range of areas including travel, utilities, and paper usage for well over a decade, and was recognised as a plastic free champion in 2019.

The firm plans to use its involvement in BITC to develop a framework to drive, stretch, measure, and manage future CSR activity in several areas over the next few years.

Amanda Mackenzie OBE, CEO at BITC said: “Businesses can achieve more when they unite together and that’s why we’re delighted to welcome Bishop Fleming as the latest member of BITC. Our members recognise the huge benefits that come from working together to create thriving communities across the country and with our committed network of business leaders, we make that happen.

“Over the past 40 years, businesses have tackled some of the biggest social and environmental issues in the UK, but there is still more work to be done. BITC members like Bishop Fleming will help lead the way for businesses to not just address the challenges ahead, but to collectively use their expertise and leadership to bring about long-lasting change.”

Bishop Fleming was recognised as one of the Top Five Best Companies’ Accounting Firms to Work For in 2021 and is current holder of the British Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year Award.