ESC’s Code of Conduct:

Our commitments extend to our clients, suppliers and colleagues…

Confidentiality. We are committed to maintaining the highest degree of integrity in all our dealings with potential, current and past clients, both in terms of normal commercial confidentiality, and the protection of all personal information received in the course of providing the business services concerned. We extend the same standards to all our customers, suppliers and associates and expect those standards to be reciprocated.

Ethics. We conduct our own services honestly and honourably and we expect our clients and suppliers to do the same. Our advice, strategic assistance and the methods imparted through our training, take proper account of ethical considerations, together with the protection and enhancement of the moral position of our clients and suppliers.

Duty of care. Our actions and advice will always conform to relevant law, and we believe that all businesses and organisations should avoid causing any adverse effect on the human rights of people in the organisations we deal with, the local and wider environments, and the well-being of society at large.

Conflict of interest. Should we believe there to be a conflict of interest during the course of any contract (whether with a client, supplier or associate), we will raise these concerns with all relevant parties in order to reach a solution.

Contracts. Our contract will usually be in the form of a detailed proposal, including aims, activities, costs, timescales and deliverables. The quality of our service and the value of our support provide the only true basis for continuity. We always try to meet our clients’ contractual requirements, and particularly for situations where an external funding provider requires more official parameters and controls.

Payment. We aim to be as flexible as possible in the way that our services our charged. Some clients prefer fixed project fees; others are happier with retainers, and we try to fit in with what will be best for the client. We make no attempt to charge interest on late payments, so we expect payments to be made when agreed. Our terms are generally net monthly in arrears.

Intellectual property and moral rights. We retain the moral rights in, and ownership of, all intellectual property that we create unless agreed otherwise in advance with our clients. In return, we respect the moral and intellectual copyright vested in our clients’ intellectual property.

Quality assurance. We maintain the quality of what we do through constant ongoing review with our clients, of all aims, activities, outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of every activity. We encourage regular review meetings and provide regular progress reports. We are accredited under ISO9001:2015 and ISO14001:2015. Copies of our ISO certificates and details of our corporate memberships, awards and other accreditation are available on our website.

Professional conduct. We conduct all of our activities professionally and with integrity. We take great care to be completely objective in our judgement and any recommendations that we give, so that issues are never influenced by anything other than the best and proper interests of our clients.

Equality and discrimination. We always strive to be fair and objective in our advice and actions, and we are never influenced in our decisions, actions or recommendations by any issues including (but not limited to) gender, race, creed, colour, sexuality, age or personal disability.