Why We Do it
McCabe & Partners is committed to making a positive impact, now and in the future. For us, that means using our business as a force for good, in whatever way we can.
We place huge importance on honesty, integrity, inclusivity and accountability and we’ve made it our mission to put people and planet at the heart of what we do.
Our vision is to help create a society where all people, regardless of their race, culture, or beliefs, can work together for the greater good of humankind. We believe in equal opportunities, empowerment and work place diversity and care deeply about social mobility and universal education for all. Sixty years ago, our founder Ben’s grandparents emigrated to the UK from Pakistan in order to give their family the best possible start in life. We have incorporated UNSD4 “Quality Education” UNSDG5 ‘Gender Equality’ and UNSDG10 ‘Reduced Inequalities’ into our business model and continue to challenge our partners in joining us on this journey. We have made a formal commitment to donate 5% of our revenue each year to Gulf for Good who support children’s charities around the world. By doing this we hope to play our part in driving affirmative action while ensuring children have access to quality education and the best possible chance to achieve employment in the future.
It might not be a lot, but it’s certainly a start.
Gulf for Good is a not-for-profit organisation, registered in the UAE, regulated by International Humanitarian City and a UK registered charity, under the Charity Commission
Since 2001, Gulf for Good have been implementing sustainable projects in the developing world, taking people on challenges to raise money to help make a difference in the lives of children.
In 2022, we committed to supporting the Larchfield School, an orphanage in Tanzania who set a goal of raising $100,000 to build a multipurpose hall. They currently home 30 children and with this funding their long term outcome is to home up to 300 children. As a direct result of our 2022 donation representing 15% of their goal, we have directly contributed towards the potential of Larchfield taking 40 orphans into their care.
We are committed each year to identifying causes that are align with our mission and vision by donating 5% of our revenue to support children’s causes, creating access to quality education, gender equality and reduced inequalities.
B Corp Certification
In 2024, McCabe + Partners became the first B Corp certified recruitment business in the MENA region. Mission and impact is at the core of our business model and as a business we are designed to give, with 5% of our revenue donated to supporting children’s charities around the world. This global certification recognises our commitment to evolving the way recruitment businesses operate, with a firm commitment to delivering positive outcomes for all our stakeholders.
Not satisfied by simply hiring brilliant diverse leaders into an array of ambitious companies, we believe that we have a higher social and environmental purpose and are committed to using our business as a force for good in any way we can. Every well-intentioned business has a negative impact on people and planet. We have tried to mitigate our risk as much as possible by setting up strict policies and procedures to ensure that our business has a positive impact in every part of our business, as verified by B Lab, the non-profit organisation responsible for the certification process. Over 55% of McCabe + Partners executive hires are female or people of colour, an action that supports our commitment to UNSGD5 Gender Equality and therefore improving female representation in the Board room. Our commitment to UNSDG4 Quality Education is further supported by our donations to children’s charities such as The Larchfield School, an orphanage in Tanzania that provides education and shelter for those who need it the most.
Our certification is a welcome recognition of our commitment to both internal and external impact. It reinforces our belief in the power of putting diversity, equity and inclusion at the core of everything we do in the hiring process. In addition to 5% of revenue being donated to charity, 5% of their time is donated pro-bono to underserved Founders (female and people of colour). We intentionally support ESG driven start-ups with free recruitment and talent advisory services to support their growth and have successfully introduced start-ups to investors to fuel their growth further.
More than 50% of McCabe + Partners company expenses were spent with local suppliers and female owned businesses as a commitment to giving back and supporting underserved populations locally. Our main office at The SEE Institute in Sustainable City, a 100% renewable energy powered building, mitigates our environmental impact and further supports our mission to running a business that considers our environmental footprint.
What is a B Corp?
B Corporations are businesses that demonstrate the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability to stakeholders, and transparency about their business practices. These are companies that take their social and environmental responsibility as seriously as their financial performance and profits. Rather than focusing solely on shareholder profits, B Corp companies always consider the interests of their workers, customers, communities, and the environment.
B Corporations are leaders in promoting systems change, paving the way toward more inclusive, equitable, ethical, and sustainable ways of doing business. They are part of a global movement of companies that want business to be a force for good in the world.
Currently, only a small percentage of companies have B Corp certification with only eight B Corp certified businesses in the UAE. At present, there are 6,700 certified B Corporations across 90 countries and 160 industries. Our successful certification recognises our dedication to creating a better world, and we are honoured to be part of this exclusive group that includes such household names as Patagonia, Pangaia, Chloe, Ella’s Kitchen and many more.
What is the significance of B Corp certification?
Through B Corp certification, for-profit companies can demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility, and their willingness to be accountable to all stakeholders and not just shareholders. Since they’re required to undergo the verification process every three years in order to recertify, B Corps are also focused on continuous improvement, leading to their long-term resiliency.
Being B Corp certified will help McCabe + Partners build trust with customers, partners, vendors, staff, and future team members around the world. As more and more people choose to work for, buy from, and invest in companies whose values align with their own, the companies that will thrive in the long term are the ones that balance profit and purpose. As a B Corp, we’ll be able to better attract and retain top talent, as well as attracting investors who seek companies that combine doing good with doing well. Ultimately, it will help us achieve our goal of driving systems change for the recruitment industry.
How do you get certified as a B Corp?
B Corp certification is a rigorous process that evaluates how a company’s business model and operations impact its workers, community, environment, and customers. It requires answering detailed questions on areas like internal governance, diversity, employee benefits, handling of customer data, supply chain practices, and much more. Companies must score at least 80 out of 200 points in order to achieve B Corp certification. It’s a long process that requires detailed and diligent documentation and reporting of data for evaluation by a B Lab analyst. McCabe + Partners certified with 99.3 points therefore there is more opportunity for us to ensure that we are maximising our impact
McCabe + Partners have been committed since our inception in undertaking the certification process to become the UAE’s first certified recruitment business. In partnership with Kadira Eco, who supported our certification process, we have been hosting workshops in Dubai to raise awareness about balancing purpose with profit and calling for a shift to corporate governance that prioritises all stakeholders and not simply that of shareholders. Our vision is to inspire many others during our own personal journey.