WSC Article by Pete Green

But does it get you three points on a Saturday?

Acruslly, if people read up about it then they’d see it probably can…

Quoted from marinerdazza

B Corp status might be the difference between a player signing or going to a rival. It’s a murky business, especially at our level, and  anything which suggests we have an ethical, transparent structure in place and employees are treated fairly is a winner in my book.

It's a small and very nuanced thing, but that doesn't mean it can't make a significant difference to our on and off-pitch fortunes when laddered up with all of the other positive improvements.

We're clearly selling many more season tickets than would normally be expected under the circumstances, and look set to sell at least a thousand more than we did last time we were relegated. How many of those extra season tickets have been bought on the back of any one of the following factors; improved training ground, fan zone, kit man, pop-up sprinklers, B Corp certification, transparent screen on the upper, new signings, etc.? Very few I suspect, but the fact that all of these things have been happening simultaneously just suggests a healthier, more progressive club that people - fans and players alike - want to be a part of.

An extra 1,000 season ticket sales this season equates to somewhere in the region of £250,000 (taking into account discounts and concessions). Now that makes a massive and very tangible difference to what you can do in terms of player and staff recruitments. Being able to attract better players by being able to offer them a better package and a better working environment is going to help on-pitch performances, which in turn gets more bums on seats and more money in the coffers.

It creates a virtuous circle, rather than the vicious one we've been spiralling in in recent years. It's just the kind of thing that the old regime didn't get, where every investment in infrastructure was seen as nothing but a cost, and the kind of thing that the new regime very clearly does. What are we, two months in? That's all, but the difference is already palpable.

Quoted from Poojah

It's a small and very nuanced thing, but that doesn't mean it can't make a significant difference to our on and off-pitch fortunes when laddered up with all of the other positive improvements.

We're clearly selling many more season tickets than would normally be expected under the circumstances, and look set to sell at least a thousand more than we did last time we were relegated. How many of those extra season tickets have been bought on the back of any one of the following factors; improved training ground, fan zone, kit man, pop-up sprinklers, B Corp certification, transparent screen on the upper, new signings, etc.? Very few I suspect, but the fact that all of these things have been happening simultaneously just suggests a healthier, more progressive club that people - fans and players alike - want to be a part of.

An extra 1,000 season ticket sales this season equates to somewhere in the region of £250,000 (taking into account discounts and concessions). Now that makes a massive and very tangible difference to what you can do in terms of player and staff recruitments. Being able to attract better players by being able to offer them a better package and a better working environment is going to help on-pitch performances, which in turn gets more bums on seats and more money in the coffers.

It creates a virtuous circle, rather than the vicious one we've been spiralling in in recent years. It's just the kind of thing that the old regime didn't get, where every investment in infrastructure was seen as nothing but a cost, and the kind of thing that the new regime very clearly does. What are we, two months in? That's all, but the difference is already palpable.

The DN35 Podcast raised a very valid point the other day. Who actually looked at the Upper Findus and thought about installing a glass barrier because I don't recall anyone ever suggesting it?

We don't fill BP often enough for the restricted views to be a huge problem but it's great to see us having some pride in our home. That glass barrier can't have come cheap.

How long do we need to wait for them to replace the wooden Main Stand supports with glass ones?

They would sell an avalanche of season tickets in the UF if they could install central heating, double glazing and heated padded seats.  😁😁😉.  The old regime did not even think of supplying blankets.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

The DN35 Podcast raised a very valid point the other day. Who actually looked at the Upper Findus and thought about installing a glass barrier because I don't recall anyone ever suggesting it?

We don't fill BP often enough for the restricted views to be a huge problem but it's great to see us having some pride in our home. That glass barrier can't have come cheap.

How long do we need to wait for them to replace the wooden Main Stand supports with glass ones?

It’s a good point. Was always surprised for well-attended games just how quickly tickets were reduced to “restricted view only” in the Upper Findus. Couldn’t be sure but would imagine the first five rows at least would all be classed as restricted views.

What’s that then, best part of 600 premium seats no-longer classed as restricted view each game? At £20 a spin it might pay for itself pretty quickly if we get on a decent run.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that B Corp status might even have some commercial benefits; not only is it the right thing to do plus giving us some much needed t good publicity, it might even be an incentive for certain firms to partner/sponsor us. If a business with a similar set of ethics is looking at getting involved in football, we'd be the obvious first port of call

As far as I can see there are circa 430 B Corps in the UK. I work for one of them. There is only one in Lincs - a food company in Boston.

The values of the B Corp are the values that we need for the future of society [url]https://bcorporation.net/about-b-corps[/url] - many on here won't have heard of B Corp before but now because of GTFC we are all talking about it, looking it up online etc. That is good in itself. When GTFC get certified it will be on TV, it will be on Sports Radio, it will be in national newspapers it will get tweeted through social media. Jason Stockwood will be on TV and maybe Paul Hurst and a senior player like James McK as well. It will be brilliant, our club will have done it first in the world...and it will help us get 3 points on a Saturday

Quoted from forza ivano

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that B Corp status might even have some commercial benefits; not only is it the right thing to do plus giving us some much needed t good publicity, it might even be an incentive for certain firms to partner/sponsor us. If a business with a similar set of ethics is looking at getting involved in football, we'd be the obvious first port of call

Another good point. Something that hasn’t been mentioned on here, surprisingly, are Stockwood’s comments from the recent Trust Q&A where he mentioned that the board had received numerous offers of investment from interested parties, but they have decided to put these off for the time being. The aim is the develop a business investment vehicle which would provide a bit more structure to any potential investors, and presumably the long-term aspirations of the club. Would imagine the B-Corp work will inform that in some way.

Makes a change from the previous “investment” strategy under the old regime which consisted of seeking out rich people and giving them and their family members spurious roles at the club (Andrew Newman as Club President? Mullen’s wife as SLO I seem to remember?).  

Even if no one has heard of B-Corp and no one cares about it, doesn't mean it isn't a worthwhile venture.

As my old man often says, integrity is how you act when no one is looking.

As a club, the owners have chosen to pursue something they feel is worthwhile, and they would do it even if no one was looking, because it's the right thing to do.

If a few of us can't be bothered to read into the benefits of B-Corp (not just for GTFC but the wider community) then that's their loss.

Quoted from RichMariner

Even if no one has heard of B-Corp and no one cares about it, doesn't mean it isn't a worthwhile venture.

As my old man often says, integrity is how you act when no one is looking.

As a club, the owners have chosen to pursue something they feel is worthwhile, and they would do it even if no one was looking, because it's the right thing to do.

If a few of us can't be bothered to read into the benefits of B-Corp (not just for GTFC but the wider community) then that's their loss.

This is my take on it, do I know the intricacies of it? Not really. Do I think it’s an excellent thing to pursue? Too right.

As Ska has pointed out, the previous regime bemoaned the lack of people willing to invest, I’m also assuming even if there were folk waiting Fenty would’ve knocked them back unless they came along like the Mullens and the ticket tout and were happy to hand over cash for a nominal role rather than actually be involved in running the club and improving things…

We’re not just taking investors as they come willynilly, there’s clearly a plan and as we’ve seen with the training ground etc. there’s been priorities to get right first.