Webmart, the sustainable print and marketing agency, has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise, in recognition of its outstanding achievement in sustainable development. This year, only 185 businesses across the UK have received a King’s Award – one of the highest honours a UK business can achieve.
Webmart, one of the top scoring B Corps globally, employs 41 people and is based in Oxfordshire and Yorkshire. The company, which recently celebrated its 30-year anniversary, was founded with a ‘do good, be good’ ethos to do business differently as a force for good. It is proving that commercial success can drive climate action, sustainability, social and environmental impact.
Dr Simon Biltcliffe, Founder of Webmart, said: “In 1996, when I founded the business, I wanted to build a different kind of agency – one that proved it is possible to succeed commercially while doing the right thing for people and planet. Seeing that original vision recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise is such a proud moment.”
Kelly O’Sullivan, CEO of Webmart, added: “This award belongs to our brilliant team, our clients, suppliers, communities and partners that we work with every day, and everyone who has played a part in our story. We can’t wait to bring everyone together to celebrate.”
For over three decades, the company has taken an active role in helping to reduce the marketing and print industry’s carbon footprint, launched the UK’s first climate positive postal service, and most recently launched EcoMetrics, an advanced carbon calculator tool, that helps brands to better understand and reduce the environmental impact of their marketing campaigns. As part of its B Corp re-certification, Webmart has increased its B Impact Score by nearly 50%, and reduced its own scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 70% since 2021. Surplus profits are also shared with staff.
The company has also donated over £1 million to charitable causes in the UK, and aligns its business goals of maximising emotional, financial and intellectual benefits to Webmart employees, suppliers and customers, along with wider goals of improving environmental sustainability.
In collaboration with the Scottish government, Webmart also has its own 164-acre ‘Oxygen Farm’ where it has planted thousands of trees, and created nature trails for the local community as part of its 200-year commitment to actively rewild and create a Caledonian forest in Scotland. The on-site eco-lodge is used regularly by Webmart staff and their families, and 50 holidays have been gifted to charity to help raise awareness of biodiversity.
Sustainability is integrated in its operations and within its Articles of Association, legally committing Webmart to consider people, planet, and profit in all decisions. A recent award-winning marketing campaign delivered a 57% reduction in carbon impact without a fall in response levels.
Tom Maskill, Chief Client Officer at Webmart, concluded:
“Sustainability is the backbone of our business. We are constantly innovating to reduce the marketing industry’s carbon footprint and receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development motivates us even more to scale this impact further. We want to support more clients to grow, whilst reducing their overall emissions, and inspire others across our industry to raise their sustainability ambitions.”
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed in 2023 to reflect His Majesty The King’s commitment to continuing the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II in celebrating exceptional UK businesses.
Now in its 60th year, the King’s Awards for Enterprise remain the UK’s most prestigious business accolades. Successful organisations may use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years, signalling excellence to customers, partners, and global markets.