On Friday 30th January, Arcanum appeared in the Business section of The Times newspaper alongside the likes of Aviva, Legal & General, and TSB.
Not bad for a business that started at a kitchen table in Lincoln.
Arcanum was featured as part of the Good Business Charter – a UK-wide accreditation that recognises businesses committed to doing things properly. Not just talking about it. Actually doing it.
And I wanted to explain why this matters to me – and to Arcanum.
Can you spot the Arcanum logo?!
What Is the Good Business Charter?
The Good Business Charter was developed alongside the CBI, TUC, and the Federation of Small Businesses. It’s a straightforward accreditation built around ten components that cover how a business treats its people, its customers, its suppliers, and the planet.
To get accredited, you have to meet all ten. Not seven out of ten. Not a “good average.” All of them. That includes paying the Real Living Wage to staff and contractors, committing to fairer hours and contracts, environmental responsibility, diversity and inclusion, ethical sourcing, prompt payment, and more.
It’s not a badge you stick on your website and forget about. It’s a genuine benchmark with rules to adhere to – and one that 1,300 organisations across the UK now hold.
Why This Matters to Me
I’ve been a sole trader for over a decade. In that time, I’ve worked with businesses of all sizes – and I’ve seen a real difference in how small and large businesses treat people. Many large corporations treat late payments as standard practice, which has a huge impact on sole traders. People are squeezed for every hour while the company posts record profits. Lip service is paid to “values” while the reality tells a very different story.
I built Arcanum to be different. Not in some grand, manifesto-waving way – just in the boring, practical, day-to-day ways that actually matter. Paying people on time. Treating people fairly. Doing what you said you’d do.
This past year has been a big one. Arcanum Copy hit its first ever six-figure year. Arcanum Academy launched and has been selling out workshops with huge waiting lists. The brand is growing – fast – and with growth comes a choice. You either let your values drift as things scale, or you put a stake in the ground.
The Good Business Charter is one of those stakes.
Sitting Alongside the Big Names
I won’t pretend it wasn’t a bit surreal to see Arcanum listed in The Times next to major financial institutions and household names. These are businesses with thousands of employees and billions in revenue. Arcanum is a comparatively small business in Lincolnshire.
But that’s sort of the point, isn’t it? You have values no matter how big you are. And a smaller business that pays fairly, treats people well, and operates responsibly deserves the same recognition as a FTSE 100 company doing the same.
If anything, it’s harder for small businesses. We don’t have dedicated ESG teams or compliance departments. We do it because we choose to – because it’s how we think business should be done.
(Full disclosure: I had an ESG software company on retainer for a few years, so the knowledge I gained on that job has really helped).
What This Means Going Forward
This isn’t a job done, round of applause, head to the pub kind of celebration. Accreditation is a commitment, not a trophy. There’s an expectation that you promote it, live up to it, and can back up every one of those ten components if challenged. The GBC actively encourages whistleblowing if a member isn’t living up to the standard.
Good. That’s how it should be.
As Arcanum continues to grow – more clients, more workshops, more collaborators, more services – the GBC gives us a framework to make sure we don’t lose sight of what matters. The work is important, but so is how we do it.
Want to Work With a Business That Actually Cares?
If you’re looking for copywriting, content, SEO, or training from a business that’s been independently accredited for responsible practice – not just one that says the right things – get in touch.
I’d love to hear from you.