Launching our 2022-23 Impact Report

We are excited to announce the release of our 2022 Impact Report.

Today is a big day for us here at Useful Studios and our parent brand, the Useful Simple Trust!

We are excited to announce the release of our B Corp UK impact report document. As a B Corporation, we are committed to using the power of the built environment to solve social and environmental problems. This report details the ways in which we are working to make a positive impact on the world through our skills, services, and operations.

In this report, you will learn about our progress in key areas such as sustainability, education and inclusion, and community engagement. You will also see our ambitious plans to reduce our environmental footprint and support the communities where we do business.

We believe that companies have a responsibility to do more than just make a profit. We are proud to be part of the B Corp community and to be working towards a better future for all.

Thank you for your support and for helping us to make a difference.

Grab yourself a full copy of the report here.

Berkeley Foundation football match

Raising money so young people and their communities will have the tools and resources to thrive and be a force for change.

We were delighted to join the Berkeley Foundation, Demelza Hospice Care for Children, and our colleagues from across the Useful Simple Trust for a friendly five-a-side football match.

The Berkeley Foundation is the independent charitable foundation set up by the Berkeley Group in 2011. All their resources are used to support organisations, young people and communities to have a positive impact in the areas where the Berkeley Group works.

Volunteering at BeeUrban

Volunteering with our colleagues at the Useful Simple Trust for our annual Summer Social.

Taking a break from business as usual to join our colleagues at the Useful Simple Trust for a buzzing volunteering experience at BeeUrban.

The Social Enterprise aims to work with communities to improve the environment for the benefit of us all with a focus on responsible urban beekeeping, horticulture and community growing.

As part of our volunteering, we learnt all about mulching, composting, and harvesting while assisting to make new pathways, construct beehives, creating a green roof, pruning and clearing the site at Kennington Park.

Joining Grosvenor’s Supplier Mentoring Programme

We are committed to achieving the gold standard of climate pledges and taking meaningful climate action.

As part of our net zero commitment, we are proud to be part of the Grosvenor’s Supplier Mentoring Programme, working alongside over 29 SME’s across the UK as they work towards a science based target.

The Programme aims to take SMEs on a net zero journey, connecting them with experts in sustainability to learn at five workshops over eight months, with clinic sessions in between. This is covered across five areas:

  1. The business case for net zero and committing to a science based target,
  2. Calculating a baseline,
  3. Setting an action plan,
  4. Achieving a validated science based target,
  5. Offsetting

By joining the mentoring programme, we are committed to achieving the gold standard of climate pledges and taking meaningful climate action.

Visiting the Round Foundry

Members of the Studio joined fellow B Corp businesses for a site visit at the zero carbon refurbishment in Leeds.

Members of the Studio joined two fellow B Corp businesses on site at the Round Foundry in Leeds to complete an audit of reuse opportunities in the  media centre.

Walking around the listed industrial building, we were delighted to discover the beautiful chunky steelwork in the roof void, see progress with the Igloo Regeneration Ironworks scheme next door, and appreciate the ribbon of gorgeous green developing around the building, designed by PlanitIE.

Our zero carbon refurbishment has some amazing neighbours and the district is surely raising the bar with a B Corp community.