Our business model -
ethical enterprise

What is ethical enterprise?

It means we use standard private practices to run our business but go beyond profit generation in our activities. We operate at the intersection of a social and mainstream commercial enterprise, promoting trade as a way to achieve social benefits.

Mainstream
commercial
enterprise

Profit-led

Full profit goes to
owners - may donate

All income from trade

Ethical
enterprise

Profit from
purpose-led work

Partial profits
donated

All income from trade

Social
enterprise

Profit generated to
fund purpose

and/or

>=50% profits
donated

Majority of income
from trade

Not for profit

Purpose-led

No profit generated

Majority of income
from donations
and/or grants

Charity

Purpose-led

All income from
donations and/or
grants

How it works in practice

For-purpose assignments

We only take on assignments that have positive outcomes for our clients, our people, our society and our planet:

  • Ethical, sustainable and responsible investment

  • Safeguarding humanity - do no harm

  • Moving towards net zero

  • Reducing social and economic inequality

  • Creating resilient and sustainable infrastructure

  • Building healthy, prosperous communities

Diverse, values-led people

We hire talented people from all walks of life whose personal values align with Iceni’s values and who are committed to the complicated but worthwhile task of being part of a diverse, inclusive team. This practice applies to how we select our suppliers and partners too.

Value-for-money outcomes

Because of the way we do business, we offer greater value-for-money than our profit-driven competitors through:

  • not being a solution looking for a problem

  • focusing on building client resilience and continuity

  • seeing it through to the end

  • being good to our people.

Client-centred approach

We put our client at the centre of our assignments and we strive to keep our offering continuously aligned with client needs. Yes, we know everyone says they do it, but we actually do it. Here’s how.

Giving back

We make financial donations and do pro-bono work for charitable organisations whose purpose is to enable women to realise their full potential by supporting:

  • gender equity in the workplace and community

  • women to have full access to employment opportunities and choices

  • gender-inclusive leadership that recognises and respects the contribution of women.