Our 2025 B Corp Impact Report

Now in our third year as a certified B Corporation, we’re proud of our progress and clear-eyed about the sustainability challenges that remain. Each year, our impact report offers a chance to reflect on the journey, share what we’ve learned and refocus on our ambition to build a more sustainable, responsible and impactful business. What follows is an honest look at our achievements, our goals and the work still to do.

A hand picking grapes in the vineyard with a white B Corp logo overlaid
Tamara Roberts, CEO Ridgeview Wine Estate Sussex England

A LETTER FROM OUR CEO

We’ve always believed that how we do things matters just as much as what we produce. Being a certified B Corporation gives us a framework to hold ourselves to that standard. Our 2025 Impact Report comes in our 30th anniversary and our third year of certification. It’s a chance to pause, reflect and ask the difficult questions: What’s working? What needs to change? How do we keep moving forward, not only as a business but as part of something bigger?

We’re proud of our progress but recognise the challenges and this year, there were many. In a shifting landscape for English wine and the wider economy, making sustainable choices and continuing to progress within the B Corp framework has not been straightforward. Market pressures, changing consumer behaviours and broader economic uncertainty have tested how we all work and what we prioritise. It’s not an easy time to run a value-led business but we remain convinced it’s the only way to build something that lasts.

Looking ahead, the introduction of B Lab’s new standards is a welcome evolution. They call for stronger performance across a broader range of impact areas, with greater clarity around what good business looks like. It reflects what we’ve always believed: that sustainability, integrity and impact are not fixed achievements but a continuous commitment.

We’re grateful to everyone who’s part of this journey – our team, our partners and our customers – and we’re looking forward to what comes next.

OUR B CORP IMPACT SCORE

RECENT IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS

Snapshots of progress from the past year. Each show a milestone reached and positive change made, with a sense of how far we’ve come and how far we still want to go. They reflect our ongoing commitment to build a more sustainable, ethical and responsible business that makes a positive impact, for now and for the future.

New carbon tracking platform introduced
Five-year Woodland Management Plan launched to support long-term ecological health.
Named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2025 for wellbeing, development and culture.
92.5 working hours donated to local charities and environmental projects for staff volunteering.
Over £12,000 donated to community causes, including £10,000 to Prept supporting food education and access.

CELEBRATING OUR FOUNDATIONS

Strong governance underpins every decision we make, from our commitment to transparency and accountability to how we embed purpose into the fabric of our business. As a family-founded, values-led company we believe in doing things the right way – not just for short-term success, but for long-term impact.

Our Current Goals

  • Communicate our 2025 Impact Report clearly to stakeholders, highlighting both progress and areas for improvement.

  • Support suppliers and partners in enhancing their own sustainability practices.

  • Achieve a score of over 100 in our 2025 B Corp recertification.

What we’re working on

  • Reviewing our progress against the updated B Lab standards.

  • Strengthening connections with fellow B Corps to share knowledge and collaboration.

  • Enhancing sustainability reporting at quarterly board meetings.

  • Improving the outputs and follow-through from our internal Sustainability Strategy Day.

  • Increasing transparency and engagement with staff on challenges, progress and achievements.

Our Progress

  • One team member appointed as B Local Co-Chair, helping to strengthen regional B Corp networks.

  • Submitted our 2025 B Impact Assessment, showing a 26% improvement on our original score (now under review with B Lab).

  • Digital engagement with our 2024 Impact Report rose significantly compared to 2023.

  • Upgraded from SALSA to BRCGS certification, reflecting broader improvements in governance and quality standards.

CELEBRATING OUR ENVIRONMENT

Our environmental commitments stem from a deep connection to our Sussex estate in the South Downs National Park. Since planting our first vines in 1995, sustainability has been woven into our philosophy. From improving soil health to reducing impact in the winery, we continue to monitor, measure and refine our approach across our entire estate.

Our Current Goals

  • Reduce our environmental impact across all areas of the business, from vineyard to distribution.

  • Improve how we track, report and act on carbon emissions and biodiversity.

  • Protect and enhance the long-term health of our estate ecosystem.

What we’re working on

  • Integrating our new carbon reporting system with our enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform to enable real-time tracking of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

  • Implementing our 2024–2029 Woodland Management Plan to guide biodiversity improvements and long-term land stewardship.

Our Progress

  • Our winery was awarded Gold accreditation under WineGB’s Sustainable Wines of Great Britain scheme, joining our vineyard, which achieved Gold status in 2024.
  • Launched a new carbon capture and reporting platform, with our 2023 base year now finalised.

  • Established a structured roadmap for estate biodiversity through our Woodland Management Plan, including:

    • Enhancing light access and wildflower corridors

    • Improving long-term tree health

    • Creating new habitats, including a dedicated pond zone

CELEBRATING OUR PEOPLE

As a family-founded business, Ridgeview has always been powered by people. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive – personally and professionally. From real living wage accreditation to award-winning wellbeing practices, our focus is on fairness, staff recognition and long-term career development.

Our Current Goals

What we’re working on

  • Aligning our Employer Value Proposition (EVP) to reflect evolving employee needs and values.
  • Strengthening staff feedback mechanisms through surveys and listening initiatives.
  • Implementing menopause best practice and expand focus to wider aspects of women’s health.
  • Enhancing early careers pathways
    Continuing to support employee financial wellbeing with improved access to guidance and support.

Our Progress

  • Delivered company-wide menopause training as part of our broader commitment to women’s health.
  • Launched Sparkle Central, a new internal platform for recognition, communication and celebration.
  • Introduced Celebration Day – an inclusive extra day’s leave shaped by employee feedback.
  • Received a Gold Wellbeing Award, one of only a handful of small organisations in East Sussex to receive this.
  • Achieved Great Place to Work™ accreditation, with 89% of employees rating Ridgeview as a great place to work (vs. 54% UK average), and received multiple Best Workplace Awards in categories including Wellbeing, Development, and Women.

CELEBRATING OUR CUSTOMERS

Ridgeview is proud to be recognised as a world-class producer of sparkling wines, and we continue to place customer experience at the heart of everything we do. From hospitality to retail, trade and beyond, we’re focused on delivering high-quality, meaningful moments – rooted in care, consistency and connection. We remain committed to building long-term partnerships with shared values at their core.

Our Current Goals

  • Deliver thoughtful, high-quality customer experiences.

  • Build long-term relationships with customers and trade partners rooted in trust and transparency.

  • Create accessible, flexible and engaging customer touchpoints across hospitality, retail and digital channels.

What We’re Working On

  • Collaborating cross-functionally to deliver elevated service through a new Customer Service Academy, focused on upskilling and confidence-building.
  • Trialling greener, more accessible experiences, including a new Brighton shuttle bus to reduce car travel and support local tourism.
  • Increasing guest flexibility with extended tastings and winter opening hours, ensuring memorable visits all year round.

Our Progress

  • Launched a new wine-led tasting menu at The Rows & Vine, developed with our Director of Winemaking to complement our core range and Sussex provenance.
  • Supported customer-led giving through initiatives such as bill donations to Prept Foundation, funding Farm to Fork projects in local schools.
  • Introduced a dedicated Customer Ambassador role to streamline communications and improve enquiry response times.

CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY

Ridgeview continues to build a strong, community focus – recognising that our success is deeply connected to the people and places around us. From education to charity and social impact, we believe businesses have a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to society. Community is central to how we operate, collaborate and grow.

Our Current Goals

  • Drive long-term community impact, with a focus on food security, inclusive education and meaningful local partnerships.
  • Empower employees to take an active role in volunteering, mentoring and external leadership.

What We’re Working On

  • Expanding our education outreach through more structured engagement with both SEND and non-SEND students.
  • Strengthening charitable partnerships through consistent financial support, wine donations and in-kind contributions.
  • Increasing staff participation in social value initiatives through board memberships, panel involvement and community-led projects.

Our Progress

  • Staff volunteering increased by 65%, with 92.5 working hours donated to local causes including FareShare, Chestnut Tree House and land conservation at Ditchling Common.
  • Mentoring hours grew by 26%, reaching students from Plumpton College and local SEND schools.
  • Delivered four inclusive educational events through the Open Doors Careers Hub.
  • Donated 49 Tour & Tasting Experiences to support fundraising for over 45 charities.
  • Contributed over £12,000 in financial donations, including £10,000 to Prept Foundation to support community food access programmes.
  • 10 employees took on external leadership roles to help shape local and sector-wide impact.

A Note from the Roberts Family

When our family planted Ridgeview’s first vines 30 years ago, producing English wine was a huge leap of faith. We’ve always believed in doing things with passion, purpose and a pioneering spirit. At the time, there was no blueprint, just a belief in what was possible and a determination to do things the right way. That mindset continues to guide us today.

Becoming a B Corp has empowered us to refine how we work, lead with our values, and drive positive change for our people, our community and the land we are custodians of. It’s helped us measure what matters, challenge ourselves and build on our foundations with even greater intention.

Ridgeview has always been about more than exceptional wine – it’s about bringing people together through celebration, connection and shared purpose. That’s what continues to drive us forward. We are committed to leading the way in responsible winemaking whilst staying true to the values that shaped us.

Always Looking Forward

We’re proud of the progress shared here but the work is ongoing. This report marks a moment in time, part of a much longer journey. We’ll continue learning, listening and making considered choices to do better for people, place and planet. We welcome any feedback, reflections or ideas on how we can do better at any stage of the winemaking journey, from grape to glass and everything in between.

Email [email protected] to help shape what comes next.

New! Our Debut Still Chardonnay

Experience Ridgeview in a whole new way with our debut Still Chardonnay. Bursting with vibrant fruit flavours and elegant floral notes, our new still Chardonnay charts exciting new horizons for world-class English winemaking.

Complex, deeply layered and deliciously food-friendly, it’s made for bringing people together and savouring life’s special moments over a sumptuous dish or two. Now available online or at our vineyard restaurant, The Rows & Vine.

Shop Still Chardonnay
A bottle of Ridgeview's still Chardonnay with a bright blue label, on an oak barrel with Chardonnay grapes and the vineyard in the background.

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