Cornish Holiday Cottages has gained B Corporation (B Corp) certification, signalling its commitment to using business as a force for good.

The company, based in Falmouth and the Helford, is now one of just three female-owned B Corp holiday accommodation providers in the UK.

There are 78 B Corp companies in Cornwall, with others including Cornish Gems and Forever Cornwall.

The certification is provided by non-profit organisation B Lab, and follows a rigorous examination across factors such as social and environmental performance, legal accountability, and public transparency.

Cornish Holiday Cottages' certification comes after a donation made by the holiday company to the Children’s Sailing Trust, a charity offering water sports opportunities to young people.

Cool Earth, a Penryn-based non-profit dedicated to protecting people, rainforests, and the climate, has also received £10,000 from Cornish Holiday Cottages.

In an effort to help the housing market, the company says it makes a point of not taking on properties valued at £350k or less.

A ten-mile service radius, and use of an electric car, form part of its environmental efforts; 70 per cent of resources are sourced regionally, and a plant-based lifestyle is apparently encouraged within the workforce.

Emily, managing director of Cornish Holiday Cottages, said: "I am beyond delighted to have achieved B Corp certification.

"The team and I have been talking about communicating our values through the medium of B Lab for several years.

"Cornish Holiday Cottages was founded on the principles of kindness, honesty and doing right back in 1978.

"We have always believed in looking after our environment, taking care of each other and looking after our community."

"Huge thanks to Andy Hawkins of Business on Purpose, B23 Cornwall, Wildanet, Leap Media, Phil Clarke of Consciam, Andrew Robinson of Konnect for Business, Chris Phillips of the University of Exeter, and all our stakeholders for the support along the journey."

Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said: "Welcoming Cornish Holiday Cottages to the B Corp community is hugely exciting.

"Its commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and will help spread the notion that success in business is as much about people and planet as it is profit."

More information about Cornish Holiday Cottages is available at https://www.cornishholidaycottages.com/

More information about B Lab UK is available at https://bcorporation.uk/