Aventur Team

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We've been a certified B Corp for over 2 years now, and we thought it was about time to share our thoughts and insights around this incredible milestone.&nbsp; This journey has transformed not just how we operate as a business, but how we think about our impact on the world. &nbsp;Our path to becoming a B Corp has been a rewarding experience filled with learning and growth, so we wanted to take a moment to share more of what it means to be B Corp certified, our journey toward certification and where we're headed next! &nbsp;<h2>What does it mean to be a B Corp? &nbsp;</h2>B Corporations are certified by the non-profit organisation B Lab, which has developed a standardised assessment that measures how well a company performs against rigorous third-party standards across five key impact areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. &nbsp;B Corp certification is not just a badge or tick box exercise for us. It forms part of our core values and cultural identity, influencing every decision we make from hiring practices to supply chain management.&nbsp; We are proud to be part of a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. &nbsp;The certification represents our commitment to considering the impact of our decisions on our workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.&nbsp; It's about embedding purpose into the DNA of our company and recognising that business can—and should—be a force for good. &nbsp;Since we joined, the B Corp community has grown from 6,000 to over 9,500 businesses across 86 countries and over 160 industries.&nbsp; These businesses also meet the high standards of independently verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, creating a sustainable balance between profit and purpose. &nbsp;Becoming certified wasn't the end of the journey for us – it was the beginning of a continuous improvement process that challenges us to do better every day!&nbsp;<h2>Our journey to B Corp certification</h2> The decision to pursue B Corp certification aligned naturally with our existing values, but the process itself was both rigorous and illuminating, requiring us to examine every aspect of our business through a new lens. &nbsp;Becoming a B Corp means that we have committed ourselves to addressing some of the world's most pressing problems through our business model and practices.&nbsp; The comprehensive B Impact Assessment evaluates how our operations and business model impact our workers, community, environment, and customers. &nbsp;Our initial score exceeded the 80-point minimum required, and during the verification process we were able to confirm that we scored 84.5. &nbsp;We were really excited by this achievement, as the average score for ordinary businesses who complete the assessment is currently 50.9. &nbsp;This places us above the baseline for certification and gives us a strong foundation to build upon, and when we benchmark ourselves against the rest of our industry, we outperform in all categories. &nbsp;It has been a long process to become certified—taking approximately 10 months from initial assessment to final verification—but it enabled us to fully understand our impact with people, the environment, and the community. The process involved: &nbsp;<ul><li>Completing the comprehensive B Impact Assessment &nbsp;</li><li>Gathering and submitting documentation to verify our practices &nbsp;</li><li>Making necessary changes to improve our score &nbsp;</li><li>Engaging in multiple rounds of review with B Lab analysts &nbsp;</li><li>Implementing new policies and practices &nbsp;</li><li>Legally embedding stakeholder considerations into our company governance &nbsp;</li></ul>The certification process helped us to evolve our practices and procedures, and we are proud to have introduced several key policies around governance, the environment, our customers, and our employees. &nbsp;<h2>So, where do we go from here?</h2> The B Corp community includes companies that are aiming to balance purpose and profit, but maintaining this certification requires ongoing commitment and improvement. &nbsp;Now that we are certified, we have been working hard to evolve and actively identify ways in which we can be a force for good and promote our purpose.&nbsp; &nbsp;We’re working on recertification this year, which means we'll be continuing to work to improve our score and expand our positive impact. &nbsp;One of our first positive impact initiatives was the development of a solely ESG portfolio.&nbsp; This enabled our clients to actively invest in companies that are aimed towards improving environment, social and governance practices, as well as being environmentally sustainable and socially responsible businesses.&nbsp; &nbsp;The portfolio attracted significant interest, demonstrating that our clients share our commitment to responsible investing. &nbsp;In addition to our ESG portfolio, some other initiatives we have planned include: &nbsp;<ul><li>B Corp Ambassadors: Having one person within each of our internal teams who has volunteered to go that extra mile in educating themselves about B Corp, and being proactive in communicating it to both clients and their own networks &nbsp;</li><li>Sustainable Office Initiative: Working toward a zero-waste office environment by 2030 &nbsp;</li><li>Renewable Energy Initiative: Working towards having all remote colleagues on a renewable-based energy tariff by 2030 &nbsp;</li></ul>We have many more exciting initiatives planned that will enable us to uphold and exceed the standards of the B Corp certification.&nbsp; &nbsp;Our impact score has improved by 4% in the time that we have been certified, and our goal is to increase that by our next recertification, aiming to eventually place within the top-performing B Corps globally. &nbsp;<h2>B Corp and our Business</h2> While our primary motivation for pursuing B Corp certification was alignment with our values, we've discovered numerous business benefits as well:<ul><li>Enhanced brand reputation and trust with clients &nbsp;</li><li>Improved ability to attract and retain top talent who share our values &nbsp;</li><li>Access to a network of like-minded businesses for collaboration and learning &nbsp;</li><li>Stronger relationships with investors who recognise the value of purpose-driven business &nbsp;</li></ul>Our experience demonstrates that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive – in fact, they reinforce each other. &nbsp;<h2>Join Us on our Journey!</h2> We believe that business can be the greatest force for positive change in the world, and we're committed to leading by example.&nbsp; &nbsp;Whether you're a client, partner, employee, or fellow business, we invite you to join us in this movement toward a more sustainable and inclusive economy. &nbsp;Watch this space for regular updates on our B Corp journey and announcements about our latest impact initiatives or follow us on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareaventuruk/?viewAsMember=true">LinkedIn </a>or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WeAreAventur">Facebook</a>, or <a href="https://www.aventur.co.uk/blog/who-are-aventur">read more about our how we began</a>!

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Aventur: Our B Corp Journey

In recent years, more and more companies have been promoting their products as "green" or "eco-friendly."&nbsp; While this may seem like a positive trend, it's important to be aware of greenwashing – the practice of making false or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or service. &nbsp;Greenwashing can be harmful in several ways. It can mislead consumers into thinking they are making a more sustainable choice, when in reality the product may have little or no positive impact on the environment.&nbsp; It can also undermine the efforts of truly sustainable companies, who are working hard to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint. &nbsp;So how can you spot greenwashing, and make more informed choices as a consumer? Here are some tips: &nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:0;">Look for Specific Claims and Certifications &nbsp;</h2>Be wary of vague or general statements like "eco-friendly" or "sustainable." Look for specific claims about the product's environmental benefits, such as "made from 100% recycled materials" or "reduces water usage by 50%." &nbsp;Additionally, look for third-party certifications such as Energy Star, USDA Organic, or Fair Trade. These certifications are awarded by independent organizations and can provide more assurance that a product is truly sustainable. &nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:0;">Check the Ingredients or Materials &nbsp;</h2>If a product claims to be environmentally friendly, check the ingredients or materials used to make it. Are they renewable, biodegradable, or non-toxic? If the company doesn't provide this information, it may be a red flag. &nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:0;">Research the Company's Environmental Record &nbsp;</h2>Do some research on the company's environmental practices. Do they have a sustainability report or environmental policy? Have they been involved in any environmental controversies or lawsuits?&nbsp; If a company is truly committed to sustainability, they will likely have a transparent record and be willing to share their efforts with consumers. &nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:0;">Look for Independent Reviews or Ratings &nbsp;</h2>Check for independent reviews or ratings of the product or company. Sites like GoodGuide, EcoLogo, or Green Seal provide ratings and information on the environmental impact of products and companies.&nbsp; Additionally, look for reviews from other consumers who have used the product and can provide honest feedback. &nbsp;By following these tips, you can avoid falling victim to greenwashing and make more informed choices as a consumer. Remember, every purchase you make has an impact – so choose wisely! &nbsp;<h2>ESG and Aventur &nbsp;</h2>Aventur offers all clients access to our specifically curated ESG investment portfolio. So, if you want your investments to make a positive impact on the planet <a href="https://www.aventur.co.uk/contact">get in touch</a> today to find out more! &nbsp;

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How to Spot Greenwashing (and How to avoid it!)

Our mission at Aventur is to change the future for financial advice by giving you total control of your money, allowing you to be more informed and better provide for both you and your loved ones. &nbsp;We want to transform the outdated, traditional Financial Advisor model and reduce costs through intelligent back-office systems, so that we can charge lower fees to our clients. We have completely changed the way financial advice can be accessed - meaning no more reports in the post or waiting for a meeting!&nbsp; &nbsp;Our technology solution empowers users to make financial decisions through a uniquely transparent blend of information, education and sophisticated and automated machine learning.&nbsp; Users can set life goals, and allocate finances such as savings, pensions and investments to achieve them and take control of their financial future. &nbsp;<h2>How did we get started?</h2> The founding team behind the company, Stacey Body and Thomas Young, came together in 2020 and combined over 40 years of financial services experience to form a company to disrupt financial services.&nbsp; They had a clear vision to introduce innovation to a very traditional industry – which had long resisted change. To them, it was simple: expensive fees, long and inefficient processes, a lack of transparency and limited use of technology were holding the industry back.&nbsp; They knew that the IFA market had been particularly slow to adopt technology, and relied on traditional practices that were both inefficient and costly. &nbsp;With an estimated 15,000 financial advisors planning to retire in the next 5-10 years, they also noticed that the UK would soon be facing a serious financial advice gap. &nbsp;With less competition on the market, advisors were sure to increase their fees and make financial advice even more unaffordable than it already is. The outcome? An increasing number of people unable to afford financial advice - most likely to be those that need it most. &nbsp;Our founders couldn't let this happen. After discovering that they shared the same frustrations, and that they shared a dream to provide a solution to these issues experienced by customers, they combined forces to create Aventur! &nbsp; &nbsp;They built the business from the ground up with the intent of doing things differently, and believe that anyone - regardless of their financial position - should have total access to all their financial data, the opportunity to educate themselves around their finances and be able to seek quality and trustworthy financial guidance. &nbsp;Everything we do is built upon this belief. We embrace technology to simplify processes and increase efficiency, giving clients true value for money, control, and confidence.&nbsp; Our mission is to bridge the advice gap and teach investors what they need to know, reduce the cost of servicing clients and help people to access advice at a lower cost than has ever been possible, all while giving them complete control of their finances. &nbsp;<h2>What’s next for Aventur?</h2> We are both challenging the outdated financial services industry, and demanding a better client experience by increasing transparency, knowledge, and wealth, all while reducing investment risk and most importantly, costs! &nbsp;Our mission is to focus on meeting the growing demand for a more modern, transparent, and affordable financial advice solution, and to address many of the problems in the industry, most of which have been further exacerbated by the recent global crisis. &nbsp;We are also passionate about our social and environmental responsibilities, and believe in putting the environment and wider society at the centre of how we operate, by balancing purpose and profit, which is why we are a certified B Corp organisation and offer clients a dedicated ESG investment portfolio. &nbsp;Ready to take control of your financial future? Join us on our mission to revolutionise financial advice and empower individuals like you. <a href="https://www.aventur.co.uk/contact">Contact us today</a> to learn more and start your journey towards financial freedom and transparency. &nbsp;

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