The rhythm of running a business is, more often than not, fast paced and at times, frantic! So much so that it can be difficult to pause and reflect on learnings, achievements and plans for the future which is why I am enjoying the regularity of writing this impact report - it presents us with a real opportunity to hold up the mirror and review our ways of working and thinking when it comes to our impact strategy at North Star.
Coincidentally, it also times well with the start of a new financial year for us, allowing us to really capture a point in time and align it with our overall thinking about what the future may hold.
The last 12 months seem to have flown by and it can, at times, be difficult to maintain momentum when it comes to big sustainability milestones. This is not for lack of intent or engagement, it is often due to the resource we have as a small business and the necessity to implement a lot of deep-rooted changes to our systems and processes to actually deliver on our goals.
It struck me when thinking about impact for this report that there is somewhat of an ‘Impact Iceberg’ at play (credit to the Mission Works for introducing me to this term) - there are the visible, marketable, PR generating activities such as charitable donations, tree planting schemes, volunteer days etc but there are all the initiatives that have to happen internally and ‘beneath the surface’ to deliver meaningful and sustainable gains following the implementation of these activities.
The theme of the past 12 months for us has been ‘change’...and lots of it! We have worked so hard collectively to make some positive strides towards becoming the business we have always dreamt of becoming. One that truly contributes positive value to people and planet with a growth strategy entwined with impact and a culture that brings together talented people who enjoy themselves, are driven to excel together, who trust each other and the business and who operate with accountability and support.
We have added 5 new roles to the business this year and have seen a lot of longer standing members of the team move on to pastures new, opening up opportunities to welcome a new era of North Star’s to the fold. At times it has felt turbulent but writing this report really showcases all that we have managed to achieve! I am so excited to see that our hard work has really paid off with an overhaul of internal systems and structures and a resulting improved B Corp score that has risen from 85.9 to 105.2!
It is these developments that will very much take the focus of this year’s impact report and, as a result, I am brimming with excitement to see what the team deliver over the next 12 months.
Hols* (CEO, Co-Founder)