Supplier Code of Conduct
Technologywithin are committed to making responsible decisions in how we manage the business, and actively managing the social and environmental impacts of what we do to help individuals, communities, businesses and economies progress and grow.
For the avoidance of doubt, a “Supplier” means any firm or individual that provides a product or service to technologywithin directly or indirectly.
The standards outlined in this Supplier Code of Conduct will be periodically updated to reflect changes in laws, regulations and standards, which should always be adhered to.
a) Minimise harm to the environment
Establish operational practices through an EMS or similar framework which minimise impact on the environment and deploy measures to prevent and reduce harm to the environment. Impacts could include resource consumption, air emissions (including those contributing to climate change), water consumption, management of hazardous materials, recycling and waste production.
b) Assess business carbon footprint
Determine the greenhouse gas emissions generated annually from the business as a benchmark for reducing business carbon footprint from existing levels.
c) Optimise Inputs
Consider opportunities for business efficiency gains leveraging energy efficiency solutions, low-carbon energy generation and purchase and by introducing new technologies that can replace manual paper intensive processes.
d) Reduce Outputs
Align business with the 5R principles of: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle. Decrease waste by ensuring that the majority of output is part of a circular economy rather than landfill.
e) Set environmental targets and timeframes
Maintain environmental policies, objectives and targets which as a minimum include commitments to identify, measure and reduce significant environmental impacts, identify business risks associated with climate change.
f) Track performance and report environmental improvements
Monitor and assess progress towards targets and commitments in order to promote continuous improvement.
g) Advocate for Sustainability
Work with suppliers to improve sustainability performance throughout all activities, encouraging the pursuit of environmental accreditation and adoption of similar environmental practices.
technologywithin supports the protection of human rights around the world. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.
We welcome relationships with our suppliers as opportunities to improve and evolve practices with respect to Human Rights. Our supply chain participants are expected to support our commitment to respect human rights through:
a) Occupational Health and Safety
Provision of a safe and hygienic working environment through proactive management and controls that minimise health and safety risks and support accident prevention for all personnel, bearing in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry, the requirements of local health and safety laws and of any specific hazards, wherever personnel perform duties, such as, factories, warehouses, workshops, offices, vehicles, external facilities or other work, dining and recreational spaces.
b) Freely chosen employment
Ensuring that all work is completed voluntarily and without slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking. Workers shall have the freedom to terminate their employment at any time without penalty, upon giving reasonable notice.
c) Avoidance of child labour
Child labour should not be employed. The term ‘child’ refers to any person less than 15 years of age (or 14 where the law of the country permits), unless the minimum age for work or mandatory schooling is stipulated as being higher by local law, in which case the stipulated higher age applies in that locality.
d) Working hours
Ensuring that all workers are entitled to work and be paid for a minimum level of working hours; that working hours are not excessive; and that maximum working hours comply with national laws. All overtime shall be purely voluntary, unless part of a legally recognized collective bargaining agreement. No worker shall be made to work overtime under the threat of penalty, dismissal, denunciation to authorities or as a disciplinary measure.
e) Wages and benefits
Being responsible for employee compensation and payment of fair wages. All employees should be paid a fair wage commensurate with prevailing industry conditions or the minimum wage, whichever is higher.
f) Employee Freedom of Association
Respecting the rights of workers to exercise freedom of association and collective bargaining. Where the right of freedom of association and collective bargaining is restricted under law, the supplier will not hinder the development of alternative means for informing / consulting with employees.
g) Workforce Engagement
technologywithin believes that workforce engagement (sometimes referred to as “employee voice”) is an important element in delivering an engaged workforce which constantly drives improvement in business products, services and customer experience. Effective engagement mechanisms can also highlight shortcomings in the way an organisation treats its workforce.
h) Avoidance of discrimination and harassment
Promoting a workplace free from discrimination, harassment (sexual, physical, mental), victimisation, or any other form of inappropriate behaviour or abuse on any grounds (including; but not limited to age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, nationality, marital status, parental status, physical appearance, political convictions, pregnancy, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, social origin or status, economic status, union affiliation or employment status – salaried or hourly, full-time, part-time, seasonal, intern).
i) Grievances
Demonstration of formal mechanisms allowing employee grievances regarding human and labour rights violations to be properly filed, addressed and resolved without fear of perceived or actual retaliation. Grievance mechanisms shall be available in employee’s native language and include the ability to report grievances anonymously.
j) Whistleblowing
Demonstration of formal mechanisms allowing employees to raise concerns of operational or business practices that violate laws, regulations or company values and for the concerns to be properly filed, addressed and resolved without the fear of retaliation.
a) Workplace Inclusion and development
Actively demonstrating commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion through all aspects of workplace operations and management giving clear consideration to equality of opportunity in employment, skill development and career advancement, particularly with under-represented segments of society in the area of local operations. Documenting a diversity and inclusion approach, which as a minimum should include commitments to identify, measure and improve a culture of inclusion for each of their stakeholder groups; with clear accountability and monitoring of progress across all levels of operations and management.
b) Inclusive supply chain management
Drive active management of downstream supply chains as part of their commitment so that the principles of diversity and inclusion are encouraged through their supply chain. As part of this active management we expect our suppliers to contribute to our supplier diversity and inclusion efforts by recruiting, utilising and developing diverse businesses on technologywithin’s work. Diverse businesses are broadly defined as ‘size diverse’ i.e. small and medium-sized enterprises where revenue and/or employment eligibility limits are defined locally or ‘ownership diverse’ i.e. where socio-economic under-represented segments of society as defined by local/regional standards meet ownership, control and operating standards for communities such as women, ethnic minorities, LGBT and people with disabilities.
a) Local development
Demonstration of employee or corporate initiatives designed to improve the social and economic conditions of those within a local region. Avoidance of negative impacts resulting from activities considered detrimental to local communities.
b) Prompt payment of suppliers
Adherence to prompt payment legislation or standards to ensure the ongoing economic health of businesses contracted to provide goods and services in the supply chain.
a) Health and safety - Products and services are designed, produced and distributed in such a manner as to comply with laws, regulations and voluntary codes concerning health and safety impacts of products and services through their lifecycle. All products supplied to technologywithin must meet the minimum safety standards of the jurisdiction in which they will be supplied along with relevant safety information, where applicable.
b) Labelling - Products and services are designed, produced and distributed in such a manner as to comply with regulations and voluntary codes concerning information and labelling of products and services throughout their life cycle.
c) Avoidance of banned or disputed products and services
d) Demonstration of avoidance of the sale, use, marketing, and communications, including advertising, promotion and sponsorship, of banned or disputed products or services as defined by regulations and voluntary codes.
technologywithin is committed to conducting all of its business activities ethically and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and the highest professional standards. Integrity in our business behaviour and in our management systems is crucial to the success of technologywithin as well as the
fulfilment of our corporate responsibilities.
The technologywithin Whistleblowing policy reflects our commitment to ensuring that concerns of potential breaches of laws, rules, regulations or compliance policy raised in good faith are handled in an appropriate manner and rectified as necessary. Raising concerns and whistleblowing is the process through which you can report, in confidence, such potential breaches. This could mean fraud, criminal behaviour, ethical issues.
We expect our suppliers to strongly encourage their employees to raise concerns to technologywithin about inappropriate conduct by technologywithin or its employees. These concerns can be raised with the following contacts:
Karen Maton
Tel: 020 7953 8873
Karen.maton@technologywithin.com
Jon Seal
Tel: 0207 953 8855
Jon.seal@technologywithin.com
Mark Gibbor
Tel: 01923 650465
mgibbor@cpholdingsltd.com
Blick Rothernberg
Tel: 020 7486 0111
• Reviewing copies of employment and health and safety policies.
• Undertaking due diligence with the aim of establishing that none of our suppliers have any association with modern slavery and that they have not been engaged in any activity with an adverse human rights impact.
• Assessing compliance with data security legislation including business continuity arrangements.
• Assessment of supplier’s environmental policies and processes.
Jon Seal
Tel: 0207 953 8855
Jon.seal@technologywithin.com
Aron Hopkins
Tel: 020 7953 8838
Aron.hopkins@technologywithin.com