The nature of business with GOAT Digital

Business member of Sussex Wildlife Trust, GOAT Digital, is a digital marketing agency based in Brighton. 

GOAT is a certified B Corp - a company that meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability - and they specialise in helping organisations that have a positive impact on environmental and societal issues to grow their reach online.

We caught up with co-founder Benedict Adam to talk about being pro-nature and purpose-driven in business. 

How does nature relate to your business?

At GOAT, we’re very aware that we’re living through a biodiversity crisis - a depleted state caused by human activity that should matter to everyone, not just those working in environmental fields. It’s something that underpins all of our lives and livelihoods, which is why we believe businesses have a role to play.

As a company of two, we actively encourage each other to get involved in local, hands-on nature projects - whether that’s volunteering as a Riverfly monitor for the Adur Recovery Project, helping plant hedgerows and build leaky damns for OART, or supporting community local initiatives like Greening Steyning. These kinds of projects are vital and offer a practical way to stay connected to nature recovery on our doorstep.

We also support nature-focused organisations through what we do best - digital - offering discounted or free work for nature focused organisations such as Sussex Dolphin Project, Sussex Wildlife Trust and Manta Trust.

More broadly, we see nature as fundamental to a healthy society and economy. Nature recovery isn’t just an environmental issue - it underpins wellbeing, resilience and long-term prosperity. At GOAT, we’re proud to support this work and we encourage others to explore similar opportunities to help lighten our impact on the planet.

Why is it important for you to be a B Corp?

Being a B Corp formalises something we already believed - that business should be a force for good. It means we’ve legally committed to considering the impact of our decisions on people and the planet, not just profit.

For us at GOAT, it creates accountability and gives structure to that intent. It helps us prioritise positive impact, whether that’s how we work with clients, how we spend our time, or how we support environmental and community initiatives.

Ultimately, it keeps us focused on building a business that contributes to something bigger than itself.

Why did you decide to become a business member of Sussex Wildlife Trust?

We became a business member because of the incredible work you do to protect and restore nature here on our doorstep. From restoring habitats and driving forward projects such as kelp recovery along the Sussex coast, to creating spaces like Woods Mill Nature Reserve that benefit the whole community, your impact is both local and tangible.

Being part of that allows us to move beyond good intentions and actively support nature recovery in Sussex. It also connects us to a community of people and organisations working towards the same goal - protecting wildlife and rebuilding biodiversity.

For us, it’s about backing an organisation we genuinely admire, and playing a small part in helping nature recover locally.

What's your favourite place to visit in Sussex?

Picking one favourite is a big ask. I’m a big fan of woodland, something we do lack access to in Sussex, so places like the Trust’s Ebernoe Common and Woods Mill Nature Reserves are right up there.

For a spot of birding, Pulborough Brooks and Knepp are hard to beat, and then of course there’s the Sussex coast on a hot day, which is tough to rival.

What are you most looking forward to about the summer in Sussex this year?

Spending more time outdoors - gardening, walking, cycling, kayaking and swimming - and seeing an increase in encounters with nature in my garden. I’m looking forward to seeing our garden Hedgehog snuffling about on summer evenings, as well as seeing busy pollinators. And I’d really love to welcome a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly!

Whilst it can sometimes feel like a lost cause, it’s always encouraging to see signs of nature recovery all around as summer enters full swing. It’s a reminder of how quickly nature can bounce back, and it starts to feel like there is hope and real momentum building.