The Social Hub has become one of the first hospitality businesses to recertify under B Lab’s tougher B Corp standards.
The Amsterdam-headquartered group was founded by Edinburgh-born entrepreneur Charlie MacGregor and operates hotels, student accommodation, coworking facilities, restaurants, bars and community spaces across more than 21 European locations.
Its Glasgow venue, which opened in 2024 as The Social Hub’s first UK property, will also be among the first locations to introduce the group’s new membership offering, alongside Barcelona and Amsterdam.
The company said it chose to complete the more demanding certification process early to provide greater confidence in how it operates and manages its environmental and social responsibilities as it expands.
The Social Hub first secured B Corp certification in 2024. Its latest assessment was completed under B Lab’s V2.2 standards following an independent audit by SCS Global Services.
Auditors examined the company’s performance against 157 requirements during a three-day assessment in July. The review covered areas including employment, procurement, building operations and environmental impact.
The revised framework replaces the previous overall points threshold with requirements covering seven areas of social, environmental and governance performance.
Amber Westerborg, director of sustainability and impact at The Social Hub, said: “Too many businesses see social and environmental responsibility as a burden – we see it as an investment in the business, the relationships and the community that sustain it.
“The backlash against ESG in parts of the world hasn’t changed our responsibilities or what matters to our community. It makes our commitment to inclusion and environmental responsibility more important.
“People should be able to see that our principles hold when circumstances become more difficult.”
Annual surveillance audits will assess the company’s continued compliance, with the first scheduled for June 2027.
The Social Hub said it was strengthening its internal systems and routine collection of information to help teams identify problems and monitor progress throughout the year.
Ms Westerborg added: “A policy needs to be reflected in what happens day to day. Our teams need to know what they are responsible for, have the information to assess how they are doing and act where improvements are needed.
“Regular scrutiny keeps that work going as we grow.”
Community programmes were also considered during the recertification. These include Dear Neighbour, which provides local residents with access to facilities and services at The Social Hub locations and has attracted more than 1,700 registrations across Europe.
The TSH Talent Foundation supports access to education and opportunities for people from different backgrounds, while the group hosted more than 6,000 community events across its hubs.
The company has also completed a physical climate-risk assessment across its property portfolio, which will inform future investment in making its buildings more resilient.
Its science-based emissions targets have received formal validation, while it is pursuing BREEAM In-Use certification across its properties.
Ms Westerborg said: “Our investors want a clear picture of the business they are backing and how it is preparing for the future.
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“We believe that taking these responsibilities seriously makes us more attractive to long-term investors. It helps us explain where investment is needed and why, while building stronger relationships with the people who use our spaces.”
The Social Hub Glasgow is located at Candleriggs Square in the city’s Merchant City. The venue combines hotel and student accommodation with food, drink, coworking and event facilities.
Further information about the company’s sustainability and community programmes is available from The Social Hub website.
