Dear reader,
The world is changing for the better. People are becoming more and more socially, environmentally, and politically aware, impacting their decision making, and businesses are taking notice.
At Joy Junction, we’re driven by a profound belief that every action, no matter how small, can make a huge difference to the lives of our users, clients, team, communities, and the world that supports us.
We recognise the impact that work has on our overall wellbeing, and that it should be an energy giver, not an energy drainer. We also proudly wear our environmental conscience on our sleeves, putting the world we live in at the heart of our decision making process.
It gives me great pleasure to announce our Manifesto. This is our blueprint for the coming two years, and was developed in partnership with friends and clients of Joy Junction.
Our commitment to doing business differently isn’t just an aspiration, it’s the way that we’ve operated since day one, and it will only get stronger as we progress through this manifesto.
These eight pledges, for the most part, are not based on business or product development. Rather, they set the direction of our business operations, the tone of our messages, and, most importantly, the actions that we take.
Welcome to Joy Junction, a business and community that dares to dream, driven by purpose. Together, we will make our mark on the world, leaving behind a legacy of positivity, compassion, and meaningful change.
Let us journey, hand in hand, towards a brighter, more joyful future for us all.
Take care,
Gary Butterfield
Founder, Joy Junction
Research shows a very strong correlation between the four-day working week, productivity, and wellbeing. It is also becoming more common practice amongst small businesses like ours, and for a business our size it will be straightforward to implement.
As a small business we have practiced this for some time now, but we would like to work towards some official accreditation to cement our commitment.
Status - Ongoing
B Corporations are companies that meet incredibly high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. There are over 5,000 B Corp businesses globally, around 700 of which are in the UK, and becoming one has been on our bucket list for a long time.
Aligning ourselves to B Corp’s legal statement will ensure clients, service users, employees, and our environment are at the heart of our decision-making process now.. Once written into our Articles of Association this will be a legal commitment by us as a business.
Status - Ongoing
We already measure our current output and whilst we’re happy with where we are, we know that we can’t sit still. Now that we have a base measurement, we’re beginning to make changes to how we discuss, develop, deliver, and maintain our services.
For us to achieve our goal we need to research, invest in, and procure services that are greener alternatives. We need to get as close to zero as we possibly can, offset the shortfall, and continue to pursue Scope 1, 2, and 3 net zero policies until everything has been removed. Once there, carbon positivity is the natural next step.
Status - Ongoing
Financial wellbeing is an important part of a person’s overall health, and it doesn’t just include the here and now. We all need to plan for the future, and an employer is in a significant position of influence over what that could look like.
We believe that people are not costs, they’re investments. By bringing people into your business you’re adding value to the organisation, so it’s not too much of a stretch to invest in greater pension contributions.
Status - Ongoing
Let’s be clear, we can’t simply plant our way out of the climate crisis. We need systemic change in the way businesses and governments operate if we’re going to make a meaningful and lasting impact on carbon emissions. But it’s a start.
Every Joy Junction paid client, email subscriber, and workshop attendee from the previous year, will have a tree planted in their honour just for being a part of our community. It’s our way of giving back to our planet on your behalf.
Status - Ongoing
This is one of few pledges in this manifesto that’s based upon business development because it will hinge on affordability.
The purpose of a good business is to create value; value to its customers, community, and to provide employment, which in turn creates even more value. The cycle goes on. We would like to bring someone into the business who can help us share the stories of our clients and users with our wider Joy Junction community and supporters.
Status - Ongoing
The area of social wellbeing is a broad one, from understanding the benefits of sharing experiences with colleagues in the workplace, coming together to support one another through initiatives like social prescribing, to addressing societal issues like loneliness, isolation, and depression. We want to help lead that charge.
We’re interested in, and actively seeking out, charities and universities to partner with so we can keep pushing social wellbeing research forward.
Status - Ongoing
This one is not completely in our hands, but it’s something that we will give our all to achieve. By becoming a B Corporation, Joy Junction will join a group of businesses that are committed to one single aim: to be a force for good.
The application and verification process is external and takes time, currently estimated around 18 months, so this will have to be a sliding deadline. We’re hoping to have our application submitted by the end of 2025.
Status - Ongoing
