PGL Beyond, the leading educational travel business committed to expanding opportunities for young people across the UK, has been awarded B Corporation ™ certification, marking a major milestone in the company’s history.
With a score of 84.1, awarded by B Lab following a detailed assessment of PGL Beyond’s working practices, the certification recognises high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Over the past three years, PGL Beyond has introduced improved frameworks and accountability to measure impact, whilst embedding socially and environmentally responsible practices into every part of the business. The certification recognises PGL Beyond’s purpose-led approach with a business-wide commitment to balancing purpose with profit, verifying its responsible practices and measurable impact, and setting a clear standard for the sector.
B Corp certification has driven a step change in governance and transparency across the organisation, ensuring ESG performance and reporting are embedded throughout PGL Beyond – from procurement to board-level decision-making. By strengthening cross-functional collaboration and ensuring responsibility and accountability are shared across teams, the organisation has improved its framework to enable informed, consistent, and accountable decision-making while minimising risk and driving long-term business resilience. Beyond its own operations, PGL Beyond is also collaborating closely with its supply chain to improve standards, uphold sustainable procurement regulations, and support the long-term sustainability of the business.
PGL Beyond is committed to closing the disadvantaged gap, breaking down the barriers to access outdoor education for all young people, including equal opportunities for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This includes initiatives such as its Breakthrough Fund, which to date has provided over 17,000 children from low-income backgrounds, who would otherwise miss out, with free or heavily subsided school trips. PGL Beyond is also contributing to wider conversations around social mobility through partnerships such as the Purpose Coalition, a UK-based initiative that brings together like-minded organisations to break down barriers to opportunity and drive social impact.
The transformation has also seen the introduction of an Environmental Management System, enabling the organisation to monitor and manage energy, water, and waste across its complex and diverse site estate of over 1100 acres. As well as ensuring accountability, this system has enabled PGL Beyond to set meaningful, ambitious, and science-based targets, including an ambition to reduce total emissions by 90% by 2050 and to procure 100% renewable electricity across all PGL Beyond properties by 2027.
Commenting on the certification, Anthony Jones, CEO of PGL Beyond, said:
“Achieving B Corp certification is a proud and defining moment for PGL Beyond. It demonstrates commitment to our purpose-led approach, and reflects a fundamental change in how we operate, embedding accountability and transparency across every part of our business.”
“This is not a single initiative, but a collective effort across our teams to operate more responsibly, raise standards, drive greater social impact and further reduce our environmental footprint. B Corp sets a clear benchmark, holds us to account, and gives us a framework to keep improving as a business.
“Environmental responsibility has been a key focus on PGL Beyond’s journey to B Corp certification. Alongside clear, ambitious reduction targets, we are focused on protecting the natural environments that underpin our business.”
“We believe beyond-the-classroom experiences are a given, not a privilege and play a vital role in social mobility, providing young people of all ages and backgrounds, including those who are the most disadvantaged, with the skills required to confidently transition into adulthood. B Corp certification strengthens our accountability to deliver these transformative experiences, ensuring a positive impact on both young people and the planet.”
