LONDON — Consumer PR agency Wild West has become a B Corp, achieving the social and environmental quality mark as it begins a merger with sister company Wild Card.

The agency – which is based in Bristol and Cornwall and was set up in 2008 as a West Country outpost of Kate Wild’s 20-year-old London agency Wild Card – started the certification process a year ago.

In September this year, the agencies announced they were merging under the Wild Card name under the new leadership of Georgie Upton, Wild West’s MD. She told PRovoke Media at the time that she was committed to achieving B-Corp status for the combined agency and “embarking on the B Corp journey changed my working life and our team dynamic”. Wild Card will be starting the B Corp process shortly.

The agency joins a growing roster of PR firms that have achieved the “purpose plus profit” standard, including Freuds, Don’t Cry Wolf and Milk & Honey. Other companies in the B Corp community include Patagonia, Abel & Cole, Ella’s Kitchen and Innocent.

The combined 20-strong agency specialises in PR, social and digital communications for food, drink, lifestyle and leisure brands, with long-standing clients including Highland Spring, Tilda, Ginsters, New York Bakery, Tetley Tea, Watergate Bay Hotel and Eden Project.

Upton (pictured) said: “B Corp is a business game changer for us. Our mission is to do better business brilliantly and this accreditation marks a watershed in the company’s development. The B Corp journey has been a formative and challenging process, covering all areas of our business from governance, to team working, community, environment and of course our clients. Certification is a reflection of our exceptional team and we are extremely proud to now be part of the B Corp community.”