Hawksmoor becomes a certified B Corp

Steakhouse restaurant group Hawksmoor has become one of a small number of UK hospitality businesses to attain B Corp status.

For a business to be certified as a B Corp it must be assessed by B Labs, a non-profit organisation that audits its ethical standards and requires a legal commitment to bring benefit to shareholders, workers, customers, and the planet.

Companies are required to re-certify every three years.

Huw Gott, co-founder of Hawksmoor, said: “This is one of our most significant achievements. Hawksmoor has always been about more than the bottom line. Sixteen years ago, we set out to start a restaurant and a business we could be proud of, doing things with integrity and having a positive impact.

“Becoming a B Corp is a statement of intent that we will always set the bar as high as possible in the interests of our team, customers and suppliers, as well as the planet. And it is a high bar – as far as we know no other UK restaurant group has achieved it.”

Hawksmoor submitted its B Corp application in September 2021 and received confirmation of its B Corp certification on 31 August 2022.

Other UK hospitality businesess to have achieved B Corp status include the Exclusive Collection hotel group, contract caterer Houston & Hawkes, the Big Mamma restaurant group and bar chain and brewer BrewDog.

Will Beckett, co-founder of Hawksmoor, said: “It’s a great feeling joining a group of businesses that are playing a part in changing things for the better. The journey hasn’t always been easy – especially over the past few years, and we know there are challenges for us and the industry ahead. Many other businesses in the industry are on the journey towards B Corp status, and we hope many more join us. There’s also so much more for us to do, we’re really excited about the next few years.”

Hawksmoor has seven restaurants in London, one each in Manchester and Edinburgh and one in New York. The group is set to open its first restaurant in Liverpool later this year and in Dublin in 2023.