Social impact

Social impact

Social impact is a big part of who we are at Simply Business. We believe it’s our responsibility to be a force for good for our communities, customers, and the environment. 

We were founded with the purpose of protecting small business owners who couldn’t access insurance that fit their specific needs. 

Today, our core ambition is to enable the big dreams of small business owners and make sure our impact goes beyond insurance. Whether that’s through investing in our local communities or empowering the next generation of young, underrepresented entrepreneurs – we take social responsibility seriously.

B corp

As a certified B Corp in the UK, we’re proud to be recognised for our positive social impact. 

B Corp is a global movement of businesses that want to be a positive force for good, and have been certified to the highest standards of social and environmental impact. Simply Business has been a certified B Corp in the UK since 2017. 

And none of this would be possible without our team. We work hard to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging, connection to purpose, and has the chance to make a positive difference. 

Here are some examples of our recent work:

Inclusive entrepreneurship 

We love championing small businesses and believe everyone should have the chance to dream big. That’s why we’ve chosen to focus on inclusive entrepreneurship as a global theme for our social impact work. 

Inclusive entrepreneurship means that all people, regardless of their age, background, identity or ability, have an equal opportunity to create a sustainable small business. It’s about helping young people and communities that we know face bigger barriers – to access the skills, funding, and mentorship they need to be successful. 

Charity Partners / Non-Profit Partners 

Simply Business and The Prince’s Trust 

Over the next three years, we’ll be teaming up with The Prince’s Trust in a non-profit partnership to advance inclusive entrepreneurship with communities across the UK. 

The Prince’s Trust is on a mission to help young people at risk of exclusion get into jobs, education, and training. Their enterprise programme has helped over 90,000 young people gain the skills, confidence, and capital they need to test, launch, and sustain their own businesses. 

Working with The Prince’s Trust’s Enterprise programme is a chance for Simply Business to champion the next generation of small business owners and achieve our ambition of creating a more inclusive and resilient small business community. 

Simply Business and Mind

In 2020, during the global pandemic, our UK team came together to vote for a new partner. The results demonstrated that more than ever, mental health was top of people’s minds. 

From 2021- 2023, we’ve worked with Mind, the UK’s leading mental health charity, to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing, and to raise money to make sure everyone can receive the support they need.

Over three years, we:

  • raised over £450,000 to help Mind provide essential support to people in need. These donations helped Mind’s infoline answer over 37,000 enquiries and fund Mind’s Side-by-Side online peer support community, where anyone can talk and find support from others, for a whole year 
  • ran a collaboration with Mind’s Mental Health At Work team on the Mind Your Business campaign, which provided resources to support the mental health of small business owners and the self-employed 
  • hosted a session on the relationship between race and mental health for World Mental Health Day and Black History Month 
  • offered pro-bono content and copywriting for Mind in Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes’ website
  • participated in Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index in 2022 where we received the gold award

Thanks to our three year partnership with Mind, we were able to have a positive impact on issues that affect so many people, including ourselves, our customers, and our wider communities.

Working with Whizz-Kids

Between 2016 – 2020 Simply Business partnered with Whizz-Kidz in the UK, a charity working to transform the lives of young disabled people by providing the equipment, support and life skills they need – giving them a chance to reach their full potential. 

Together, we: 

  • raised over £340,000, through fundraising, donations, payroll giving, customer refunds, and company matching
  • dedicated 500 volunteering hours
  • funded over 70 pieces of mobility equipment including 31 lightweight wheelchairs, 12 adapted trikes, 24 powered wheelchairs, and four sports wheelchairs
  • supported 14 employability skills days run by Whizz-Kid
  • funded 25 places at wheelchair training courses
  • covered 20 places at Whizz-Kidz activity clubs
  • hosted Whizz-Kidz events including the Kidz Board Showcase, using our accessible office space
  • won ‘Best Charity Partnership in the Financial Services sector’ at the Business Charity Awards 
  • trekked through the Lake District, Costa Rica, Kerala, the Sahara, and the Alps to raise money 

Beyond fundraising for new mobility equipment, our partnership efforts have supported independence, confidence, and empowerment for hundreds of young disabled people.

Supporting England’s Amputee Football Association

The England Amputee Football Association is a registered charity that relies on the commitment of amateur players, volunteers, and partners — like Simply Business — to promote and develop amputee football in the UK and beyond.

We’re incredibly proud to support their efforts and are delighted to have helped them take part in the Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico in 2018.