Code of Professional Practice

We have adopted in general the principles within the Code of Professional Conduct of the Institute of Management Consultancy, on which we have based our own Code of Practice.

PRINCIPLE I - Meeting the Client's Requirements

A consultant shall regard the client's requirements and interests as paramount at all times.

RULES

1.0 Competence

A consultant will only accept work that the consultant is qualified to perform and in which the client can be served effectively; a consultant will not make any misleading claims and will provide references from other clients if requested.


2.0 Agreement on Deliverables and Fees

A consultant shall agree formally with the client the scope, nature and deliverables of the services to be provided and the basis of remuneration, in advance of commencing work, any subsequent revisions will be subject to prior discussion and agreement with the client.


3.0 Sub-contracting

A consultant shall subcontract work only with the prior agreement of the client, and, except where otherwise agreed, will remain responsible for the performance of the work.


4.0 Confidentiality

A consultant will hold all information concerning the affairs of clients in the strictest confidence and will not disclose proprietary information obtained during the course of assignments.


5.0 Non-poaching

A consultant will not invite or encourage any employee, client for whom the consultant is working to consider alternative employment, unless it is the purpose of the assignment.


6.0 Due Care

A consultant will make certain that advice, solutions and recommendations are based on thorough, impartial consideration and analysis of all available pertinent facts and relevant experience and are realistic, practicable and clearly understood by the client.


7.0 Communication

7.1 A consultant will ensure that the client is kept fully informed about the progress of the assignment.

7.2 A consultant will encourage and take note of any feedback provided by the client on the performance of the consultant's services.

8.0 Respect

A consultant will act with courtesy and consideration toward the individuals contacted in the course of undertaking assignments.

PRINCIPLE 2 - Integrity, Independence, Objectivity

A consultant shall avoid any action or situation inconsistent with the consultant's professional obligations or which in any way might be seen to impair the consultant's integrity. In formulating advice and recommendations the consultant will be guided solely by the consultant's objective view of the client's best interests.

RULES

9.0 Disclosure

9.1 A consultant will disclose at the earliest opportunity any special relationships, circumstances or business interests which might influence or impair, or could be seen by the client or others to influence or impair, the consultant's judgment or objectivity on a particular assignment.

9.2 Rule 2.1 requires the prior disclosure of all relevant personal, financial or other business interests which could not be inferred from the description of the services offered.

In particular this relates to:

• Any directorship or controlling interest in any business in competition with the client
• Any financial interest in goods or services recommended or supplied to the client
• Any personal relationship with any individual in the client's employ
• Any personal investment in the client organisation or in its parent or any subsidiary companies
• Any recent or current engagements in sensitive areas of work with directly competitive clients
• Any work for a third party on the opposite side of a transaction e.g. bid defence, acquisitions, work for the regulator and the regulated, assessing the products of an existing client

10.0 Conflicts of interest

A consultant shall not serve a client under circumstances which are inconsistent with the consultant's professional obligations or which in any way might be seen to impair the consultant's integrity. Wherever a conflict or potential conflict of interest arises, the consultant shall, as the circumstances require; either withdraw from the assignment, remove the source of conflict or disclose and obtain the agreement of the parties concerned as to the performance or continuance of the engagement.


11.0 Inducements

11.1 A consultant shall not accept discounts, hospitality, commissions or gifts as an inducement to show favour to any person or body, nor attempt to obtain advantage by giving financial inducement to clients or client staff.

11.2 Payment for legitimate marketing activity may be made, and national laws should be respected.

12.0 Privacy of information

12.1 A consultant shall not use any confidential information about a client's affairs, elicited during the course of an assignment, for personal benefit or for the benefit of others outside the client organisation. There shall be no insider dealing or trading as legally defined or understood.

12.2 When required or appropriate a consultant will establish specific methods of working which preserve the privacy of the client's information.

13.0 Objectivity

13.1 A consultant will advise the client of any significant reservations the consultant may have about the client's expectation of benefits from an engagement.

13.2 A consultant will not indicate any short-term benefits at the expense of the long-term welfare of the client without advising the client of the implications.

PRINCIPLE 3 - Responsibility to the Profession

A consultant's conduct shall at all times endeavour to enhance the standing and public recognition of the profession.

RULES

14.0 Annual affirmation

A consultant will provide Capacitas with annual affirmation of adherence to the Code of Professional Conduct.


15.0 Continuing professional development

15.1 A consultant will continue their professional development in order to ensure that the knowledge and skills the consultant offers to clients are kept up to date.

15.2 A consultant will encourage other consultants for whom the consultant is responsible to maintain and advance their competence by participating in continuing professional development.

16.0 Professional obligations to others

16.1 A consultant shall have respect for the professional obligations and qualifications of all others with whom the consultant works.

16.2 A consultant referring a client to another consultant will not misrepresent the qualifications of the other consultant, nor make any commitments for the other consultant.

16.3 A consultant accepting an assignment for a client knowing that another consultant is serving the client will ensure that any potential conflict between assignments is brought to the attention of the client.

16.4 When asked by a client to review the work of another professional, a consultant will exercise the objectivity, integrity and sensitivity required in all technical and advisory conclusions communicated to the client.

17.0 Fees

A consultant will negotiate agreements and charges for professional services only in a manner approved as ethical and professional by the IMC.


18.0 Publicity

18.1 A consultant, in publicising work or making representations to a client, shall ensure that the information given:

• Is factual and relevant
• Is neither misleading nor unfair to others
• Is not otherwise discreditable to the profession

18.2 Accepted methods of making experience and/or availability known include:

• Publication of work (with the consent of the client)
• Direct approaches to potential clients
• Entries in any relevant directories
• Advertisement (in printed publication, or on radio or television)
• Public speaking engagements

19.0 Personal conduct

19.1 A consultant shall be a fit and proper person to carry on the profession of consultancy.

19.2 A consultant shall at all times be of good reputation and character. Particular areas prohibiting consultancy staff would include: conviction of a criminal offence; committal under bankruptcy proceedings; censure or disciplining by a court or regulatory authority; unethical or improper behaviour towards employees or the general public.