B Consultants Program
An in-depth training program for consultants committed to supporting companies to improve their social and environmental impact, and to become Certified B Corporations (B Corps).
Who is the B Consultants program for?
This program is for experienced consultants who provide services to businesses in Australia and New Zealand and who are:
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Committed to using business as a force for good
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Experienced providing consulting services to businesses
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Familiar with sustainability, the B Impact Assessment and/or the B Corp movement (beneficial)
You do not need to work for a B Corp yourself, however it would be an advantage for you to have undertaken the B Impact Assessment.
What will I learn?
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How to help your clients to navigate the B Impact Assessment (BIA) - the first step towards becoming a B Corp
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Understand the B Corp Standards and legal requirement for businesses to comply with in order to become a B Corp
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How to support your clients to identify impact improvements opportunities and set goals in all areas of their business, including their operations and business model
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How to communicate the benefits and process of joining the Certified B Corporation community to your clients.
Outcomes & benefits
During the B Consultants Program:
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Hands-on experience leading companies through the start of the B Corp Certification process
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Mentoring by highly-experienced B Lab Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) team members (available to launch program participants only)
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Connection and networking with the community of B Consultants in Australia and New Zealand
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On completion of the B Consultants Program:
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Promotion of the person who has completed the program as a B Consultant on B Lab ANZ's website and other communications channels
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Potential opportunities to facilitate training and deliver consultancy services on behalf of B Lab ANZ
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Certificates of completion for B Corp Short Course and B Consultants Training Program
Becoming a B Consultant
Before the program
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Complete the Introduction to B Corp Online Short Course (1 hr on-demand, free via Torrens University)
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Complete the Become a B Corp Online Workshop (complimentary access provided to program participants). 2022 dates for online workshops will be published in January 2022.
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The B Consultants program:
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There are three components to the program:
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B Consultants Online Learning (via Thinkific): Participants will engage in three weeks of online asynchronous learning for approximately 4 hours per week. Content will include: Inside the Global B Corp Movement; Using the B Impact Assessment (BIA) to drive business improvements; Understanding impact business models (IBMs); Marketing and delivering services using the BIA and B Corp certification. Each week's learning modules must be completed by the end of the given week. The online modules will be complemented by two optional virtual group Q&A sessions (1-hour each) per week.
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B Consultant Live Virtual Workshop: In week 4, participants will take part in a 3-hour interactive workshop to work through case studies of companies engaging B Consultants.
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Applied Learning: Participants are required to work with a real business*, who are either interested in certification or already certified. Working with that business, participants must do one (or both) of the following: complete the BIA in full or complete an impact improvement plan** for their selected business. B Lab will review the completed BIA and/or impact improvement plan and provide feedback in a one-on-one session with you. These activities need to be completed within 3 months of the workshops.
* Participants may work with an existing client of their own, or request that B Lab provides a candidate business to work with for the applied learning component.
**An impact improvement plan identifies the areas in the BIA where there is opportunity for the company to improve to increase their B Impact Score so that they are eligible for B Corp certification.
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In addition to the program components, participants will have access to an online community forum for group discussions. B Lab AANZ wishes to ensure that companies receive effective and appropriate support to engage with the BIA and the B Corp certification. In the unlikely event that B Lab is not satisfied with the level of participation or activities completed by a participant, they will be asked to continue their learning in a subsequent B Consultant Program.
Ongoing commitments
In order to maintain your B Consultant status, you must demonstrate ongoing commitment through the following steps:
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An annual subscription to updated resources for continuous learning ($750 p/year, ex GST)
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CPD: Complete quarterly virtual learning sessions (1-hour each) by viewing the recordings on Thinkific [compulsory] and attending optional Q&A sessions on the topics covered
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Engage with the B Local in your city through attending B Local events and participating in other community engagement activities
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For consultants in businesses <AU/NZS$100m revenue: complete B Corp Certification for your business within 18 months of the B Consultant workshops (if not already a Certified B Corp)
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For consultants in businesses >AU/NZS$100m revenue: complete the B Impact Assessment for your business within 18 months of the B Consultant workshops (if not already a Certified B Corp)
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B Lab ANZ will continue to promote B Consultants while these commitments are met.
Applications
B Consultants Program fee:
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AUD$2000 for consultants employed by a B Corp (ex GST)
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AUD$3,000 for other consultants (ex GST)
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50% off for a second consultant from your business
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The full fee payment will be invoiced upon acceptance and is due before the program starts.
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Two full scholarship places with a 50% discount on annual subscription fees will be available for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and/or Maori consultants that provide consulting services to Maori and/or Indigenous businesses. These scholarships are offered as part of B Lab Australia and New Zealand's commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the B Consultants program for?
The B Consultants program is for people that have experience providing consulting services to businesses, and are committed to supporting companies to improve their social and environmental impact, and to become Certified B Corporations (B Corps).
What will I be able to charge as a B Consultant?
B Consultants will be able to set their own fees for services that use the skills and knowledge gained through the B Consultants program.
What will participants be able to do when they complete the B Consultants program?
People who complete all elements of the B Consultants program will be listed on the B Corporation Australia and New Zealand website. B Consultants will be able to build the skills and knowledge they learn into their consulting offerings. Some participants may be invited to deliver training and/or services on behalf of B Lab Australia and New Zealand.
Can I take the B Consultant Program with my colleague or colleagues?
Definitely! Companies who would like to have more than one employee trained as B Consultants will get a 50% discount for every additional participant.
What are my ongoing commitments as a B Consultant?
To become a B Consultant participants will need to complete all aspects of the B Consultants program (listed above).
B Consultants will need to stay up to date with the latest developments in the B Impact Assessment and the B Corp Certification via our CPD program, engage with the B Corp community in your area, and work towards your business becoming a B Corp.
Who is recognised as being a B Consultant and how are they recognised?
The B Consultants Program is for individuals. People who complete the B Consultant program and meet the ongoing commitments (see above) are recognised as B Consultants and listed on the B Corporation ANZ website. You can include your current employer in your B Consultant listing. If you leave your company and continue to meet program requirements, you can still be recognised as a B Consultant.