Ballymena-based Clarke achieves coveted B Corp Certification

Pictured at Clarke’s headquarters in Ballymena are (L-R) Tony Convery, Sustainability Director, Eugene Clarke, CEO and Laura Mitchell, Environmental Lead.

Ballymena-based specialist contractor Clarke has become the first company in Northern Ireland’s construction sector to achieve the coveted B Corp Certification, a prestigious marker of excellence in ethical, sustainable and transparent business practices.

Clarke now joins a global community of over 9,500 Certified B Corporations, with only 67 located in Ireland — and just 16 in Northern Ireland. More significantly, Clarke is currently the only UK façade specialist contractor to hold the accreditation, which is awarded by the nonprofit network B Lab.

B Corp Certification is reserved for companies that can demonstrate the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

The certification process rigorously assesses a company’s impact across governance, workers, community engagement, environmental stewardship, and customer responsibility.

Founded in 1996, Clarke has developed a strong reputation for delivering innovative, design-led façade solutions for high-rise commercial and residential projects. Its services range from pre-construction design to project handover, with specialisms in offsite architecture, unitised façades, rain-screen cladding, lightweight steel framing and glazing. The company serves major construction clients throughout the UK and Ireland.

“Validation of our company values”

Speaking about the achievement, Eugene Clarke, CEO of Clarke, said:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to become the first specialist contractor in Northern Ireland’s construction industry to be B Corp Certified. It’s a reflection of how we do business and validation of our company values, confirming that Clarke is not just saying we care about sustainability, ethics, and social impact — we’re proving it through an independent, globally recognised assessment.

“Clarke has always strived to be a responsible business that takes governance seriously, that invests in environmental management and waste monitoring on our sites, working with local supply chains to deliver positive community impact.

“As a B Corp, we’re now counted among the businesses that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.”

“A standout in our field”

Tony Convery, Sustainability & Business Improvement Director at Clarke, added:

“The B Corp movement is a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Very few construction businesses have achieved B Corp certification, it is rare in our industry, which makes Clarke a standout in our field and positions us ahead of the curve in meeting the ESG expectations of our clients, partners, and investors.

“That matters to our employees, who want to work for a purpose-led company, to our clients, who want to know that we’re meeting highest standards of ethics and transparency, and it shows the communities we work in, that we are a responsible contractor that actively contributes to society.”

Investment and support

Clarke has received investment support from BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active equity capital investor in growth businesses. BGF became a minority shareholder in Clarke in 2022.

Chris Nixon, Investor at BGF, commented:

“We are incredibly proud to see Clarke achieving B Corp status, which is only achieved by businesses who can reach a very high bar for responsible business practices. Joining this exclusive club is a brilliant endorsement of the way Eugene and his team go about their business and the high standards they have set themselves for the way they treat their people and their customers.”

A framework for the future

The B Corp framework is designed for continuous improvement, with certification only valid for three years. Companies must reapply and demonstrate ongoing adherence to B Lab’s evolving standards, which are shaped through input from independent experts, stakeholders, and global best practice in sustainable business.

Clarke was supported in its successful B Corp application by Graham and Heather Gillen of Eccountinc Business Advice and Accountancy Services.