Cardiff Yard Drives Digital Transformation with B Corp Status

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Development Bank of Wales , 2nd May 2023

Data-driven marketing and technology agency Yard has achieved B Corp status just two years after completing a seven figure management buy-in funded by the Development Bank of Wales.

Yard Associates was first established in 2006 in Cardiff by founding Directors Stephan Briggs and Paul Newbury who met when working together at Lloyds Bank. Chief Executive Collette Easton became a shareholder with a stake in the business in 2021 alongside Owen Davies as Client Director when the Development Bank made its third investment in Yard with an equity stake worth 16%.

Specialising in providing data driven analysis of consumer behaviour, Yard now employs 55 people and becomes only the second B Corp certified digital agency in Wales. Customers include Sainsbury's Bank, Sage, Camelot, British Gas Business and VisitScotland.

Collette Easton, CEO of Yard.

Chief Executive Officer, Collette Easton said:

“We’re delighted to announce that we are now a Certified B Corporation, joining a global community of businesses that strive to make a positive social and environmental impact. With the financial backing of the Development Bank, we have focussed on structuring our business for the future to enable us to achieve our vision. Sustainability plays a key role in how we operate and we will continue to strive to evolve our working culture in support of our staff, to foster happy and motivated teams, and provide innovation for our clients.”

Stephan Briggs, Co-Founder of Yard, added:

“I’m really proud that Yard is now a B Corp Certified business – it’s a testament to our hard work and long-term commitments. Becoming a B Corp isn’t about reaching a destination and stopping there. It’s more like an important stop on the road to becoming a business that is internally and externally more self-aware. I hope that within the next few years, the majority of businesses will have made a similar type of commitment that they can demonstrate with transparency. There’s certainly a lot more that can be achieved by all.”

Sam Macalister-Smith, Portfolio Executive with the Development Bank of Wales said:

“As a long-term investor in Yard, we have seen revenue and profit more than treble since our first investment as the business capitalises on the growing UK demand for digital transformation services and software development. It’s great to see their commitment to good governance and responsible business practices being recognised.”

The £25 million Wales Management Succession Fund is financed by the Welsh Government and Clwyd Pension Fund. Loans and equity investments between £500,000 and £3 million are available for businesses in Wales.

Mae asiantaeth marchnata a thechnoleg sy’n cael ei gyrru gan ddata, Yard, wedi ennill statws B Corp a hynny ddwy flynedd yn unig ar ôl cwblhau mewnbryniant rheolwyr saith ffigwr a ariannwyd gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru.

Sefydlwyd Yard Associates am y tro cyntaf yn 2006 yng Nghaerdydd gan y Cyfarwyddwyr sefydlu Stephan Briggs a Paul Newbury a gyfarfu wrth weithio gyda’i gilydd ym Manc Lloyds. Daeth y Prif Weithredwr Collette Easton yn gyfranddaliwr gyda rhan yn y busnes yn 2021 ochr yn ochr ag Owen Davies fel Cyfarwyddwr Cleient pan wnaeth y Banc Datblygu ei drydydd buddsoddiad yn Yard gyda chyfran ecwiti gwerth 16%.

Gan arbenigo mewn darparu dadansoddiadau wedi’u gyrru gan ddata o ymddygiad defnyddwyr, mae Yard bellach yn cyflogi 55 o bobl a nhw yw dim ond yr ail asiantaeth ddigidol ardystiedig B Corp yng Nghymru. Ymhlith y cwsmeriaid mae Banc Sainsbury Bank, Sage, Camelot, British Gas Business a VisitScotland.

[caption id="attachment_167533" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Colette Easton, Prif Weithredwr Yard[/caption]

Dywedodd y Prif Weithredwr, Collette Easton:

“Rydym yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi ein bod ni bellach yn Gorfforaeth Ardystiedig B Corp, yn ymuno â chymuned fyd-eang o fusnesau sy'n ymdrechu i gael effaith gymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol gadarnhaol. Gyda chefnogaeth ariannol y Banc Datblygu, rydym wedi canolbwyntio ar strwythuro ein busnes ar gyfer y dyfodol er mwyn ein galluogi i gyflawni ein gweledigaeth. Mae cynaliadwyedd yn chwarae rhan allweddol yn y ffordd yr ydym yn gweithredu a byddwn yn parhau i ymdrechu i esblygu ein diwylliant gwaith i gefnogi ein staff, i feithrin timau hapus ac uchel eu cymhelliant, a darparu arloesedd i’n cleientiaid.”

Ychwanegodd Stephan Briggs, Cyd-sylfaenydd Yard:

“Rwy’n falch iawn bod Yard bellach yn fusnes Ardystiedig B Corp – mae’n destament i’n gwaith caled a’n hymrwymiadau hir dymor. Nid yw dod yn B Corp yn ymwneud â chyrraedd cyrchfan a stopio yn y fan honno. Mae'n debycach i stop pwysig ar y ffordd i ddod yn fusnes sy'n fwy hunanymwybodol yn fewnol ac yn allanol. Rwy’n gobeithio, o fewn yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf, y bydd mwyafrif y busnesau wedi gwneud math tebyg o ymrwymiad y gallant ei ddangos mewn ffordd dryloyw. Yn sicr, mae llawer mwy y gall pawb ei gyflawni.”

Dywedodd Sam Macalister-Smith, Swyddog Portffolio gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru:

“Fel buddsoddwr hir dymor yn Yard, rydym wedi gweld refeniw ac elw yn fwy na threblu ers ein buddsoddiad cyntaf wrth i’r busnes fanteisio ar y galw cynyddol yn y DU am wasanaethau trawsnewid digidol a datblygu meddalwedd. Mae’n wych gweld eu hymrwymiad i lywodraethu da ac arferion busnes cyfrifol yn cael eu cydnabod.”

Ariennir Cronfa Olyniaeth Rheolaeth Cymru gwerth £25 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Chronfa Bensiwn Clwyd. Mae benthyciadau a buddsoddiadau ecwiti rhwng £500,000 a £3 miliwn ar gael i fusnesau yng Nghymru.