Balancing Profit & Purpose feat. ORCA

Here’s our chat with ORCA, a purpose-driven challenger brand agency based in Bristol, known for helping brands unlock meaningful impact through creativity.

ORCA discusses their journey to B Corp certification, what sets them apart, and how they’re using design to drive positive change for people, planet, and purpose.

The purpose of our series “Balancing Profit and Purpose” is to feature fellow businesses on that mission, to hopefully inspire many more to join the movement.

For some background information, who are you as a business and what makes your  business offering unique?

We are ORCA, a purpose-driven challenger brand agency based in Bristol. As brand specialists, we focus on three core services: brand strategy, brand identity and brand activation. Our overarching goal is to drive meaningful impact through creativity.

We work exclusively with purpose-led and challenger brands, those who are driven to do things differently, challenge the norm and stand out in their industries. We believe that every brand has the potential to be a force for good, and we love partnering with the next generation of leaders to bring ambitious ideas to life.

What sets ORCA apart from other agencies is our challenger mindset. It is not just something we say; it is a mentality that runs through every part of our business. From the clients we work with, to the collaborators we partner with, to the team in our studio. This mindset fuels our approach to every project, no matter the scale. It pushes us to ask better questions, dig deeper and deliver work that genuinely moves the needle.

What got you interested in joining the B Corp movement and what does being a B Corp mean to you?

Our entire ethos at ORCA revolves around people, planet and purpose, so we were already aligned with many of the core principles of the B Corp movement. In that sense, it felt like a natural next step. It would have been hard to justify not becoming a B Corp. We were also hugely inspired by the businesses in Bristol and beyond that were already part of the B Corp community. Seeing the positive impact they were making, and how they were holding themselves to a higher standard, really resonated with us. It just made sense for ORCA to be part of that.

For us, this certification is more than just a badge. It is a powerful statement of intent and a clear demonstration of our commitment to using business as a force for good. It brings a sense of accountability to everything we do and connects us to a wider network of like-minded organisations pushing for real change.

Can you share a little bit about your B Corp story, what the process was like for you?

Anyone who has been through the journey will agree that becoming a certified B Corp is a challenging and time-consuming process. It requires you to thoroughly scrutinise your business and the way you work. While the process was demanding and at times arduous, it was also incredibly rewarding.

We were fortunate to already be on the right trajectory before we began. Many of the practices and processes we had in place were already aligned with B Corp values, which gave us a strong foundation. Even so, going through the certification encouraged us to dig even deeper and further refine how we operate. Receiving our B Corp accreditation was an incredible moment for the whole team and stands as one of our proudest achievements at ORCA. Since then, the support and generosity we have received from the B Corp community has been amazing.

In your case, what does it mean for your workers, customers, community and environmental considerations?

As we’ve mentioned, working with purpose-driven brands that are pushing boundaries towards a better future is one of the key ways being a B Corp shapes our client relationships. This also ties into our environmental considerations, ensuring we collaborate with clients who strive to operate as ethically and sustainably as they can.

For example, we worked pro bono with The MAZI Project, a Bristol-based charity dedicated to providing nutritious meals to disadvantaged young people. We delivered a complete visual identity overhaul to position them as a leading voice in food equality and social justice. This partnership really highlights how design can drive tangible, positive change.

But ultimately, for us at ORCA, being a B Corp is just as much about looking after our people. We value individuality, personal growth and building a vibrant, supportive culture. As a brand agency, we are only as strong as our team. Supporting and nurturing that talent is essential. We work hard to create an environment where our team can grow both personally and professionally because we believe happy people create the best creative work.