White Label Creative turns 15 this year (2024) and in all these years, we have unwaveringly committed to being socially responsible and to having a positive impact on the places in which we work and events we facilitate both internationally, nationally or locally in our hometown – Croydon.

White Label Creative is a leading placemaking agency, our work is deeply guided by the value of places and the recognition of its vibrant, thriving, and supportive communities. One of the big ways we have truly influenced our locality is through our own not-for-profit enterprise, Develop Croydon, which encourages the town’s key players across the public and private sectors to work collaboratively for the benefit of the people who live and work in the borough.

Our company is also a passionate advocate of promoting greater diversity in the industry in which we work. Founded by two women and with more than 70% of its workforce being women, White Label Creative is strongly aligned with encouraging greater career opportunities for women. This is not only for the internal team but has expanded internationally to increase the diversity in the events we coordinate and host in the built environment sector. 

Associate Director Bonnie Ross (Stephensmith) said: “We are committed to getting greater diversity at the conferences we manage, particularly on conference panels. It was a proud moment for us when we achieved 55% women speakers and 65% female chairs at MIPIM 2024, an international real estate exhibition, conference and networking event in Cannes.” 

Another key priority for White Label Creative is uplifting small businesses and empowering local people by working with and hiring locally, providing them the means to grow. We have been London Living Wage employers for five years now and are also a Croydon Good Employer. White Label Directors Katharine Glass and Jo Gumb are both passionate about playing their part in the local business community as they relate to the challenges of being a small business. Katharine is chair of Croydon Commitment, while Jo is a trustee of Start Up Croydon where she volunteers as a mentor and trainer.

Director Katharine Glass said: “As a small business, we understand how challenging it can be. We have tried to keep that in the back of our minds as we have grown and part of that is acknowledging the amount of support and encouragement we have received. This is why we try to do things that are helpful to the business community around us, especially startups and entrepreneurs. 

“For example, during the COVID lockdowns, we voluntarily sent out a daily news bulletin to all businesses to share what was happening in the work environment. That was our way of giving back in those difficult times by marrying social value with our skills and strengths.

“From a personal point of view, I am chair of Croydon Commitment and have been for many years because I believe in the importance of businesses supporting the community and that’s what Croydon Commitment effectively does – it brokers businesses with deserving causes within the borough that needs support.” 

Similarly, the rest of the team is encouraged to engage in giving back through our annual volunteering day to causes they are passionate about. Some organisations White Label have supported are Nightwatch, Croydon Commitment, Evolve, Start Up Croydon, and Constructing Excellence.

Katharine Glass commented: “Volunteering and giving back can be valuable from a personal development and career development point of view. I think that often, we are all so busy that taking some time out to stop and think and do something differently, is a really refreshing thing to do.”

Talking about one of the most important CSR topics globally today, sustainability, our company  works with clients to ensure all projects are delivered as sustainably as possible. This also feeds into local employment as supply chain localisation is also a true way of being environment-positive.

Director Jo Gumb said: “The whole White Label are passionate about sustainability and ensuring we play a role in the transition to net zero. We were accredited as a Carbon Smart business as early as 2003, were one of the first event companies in our sector to have a ‘Sustainable Events’ policy and we are currently developing our Carbon Net Zero Action Plan.

“I think the issue with sustainability, as a small business, is knowing what you can do that will make a difference. Taking regular little steps and not thinking that you need to try and change the world overnight works. If everyone did their little bit, it would make a significant difference.”