Code of Conduct   Privacy Policy  

SPEED Code of Professional Conduct for Business Placements

BACKGROUND
The SPEED Project is for students or alumni of the outlined partner institutions. The objectives of the project are to help Fellows to develop skills in business start-up either as their University placement year or alongside present degree studies. In carrying out these objectives, SPEED aims to ensure its Fellows subscribe to its values and achieve high standards of professional conduct.
SPEED has the power to:

 'make rules and regulations to cover the conduct of its Fellows and to provide for sanctions in the event of their infringement and to set up disciplinary procedures for the investigation of alleged breaches and for the imposition of sanctions where appropriate and for the hearing and final disposition of appeals by a Fellow against any findings where a breach of such rules and regulations has been committed and or against the sanction imposed in respect of such breach.'

PURPOSE OF THE CODE
SPEED requires its Fellows to accept and abide by its Code of Professional Conduct as a condition of Fellowship. The Code sets out in detail the standards of professional conduct required. The standards concern integrity, honesty, self-discipline, diligence and professional competence. The Code is intended to give SPEED Fellows clear guidance about how to conduct themselves. It is also of value to potential customers and the wider business community by demonstrating the standard of behaviour they can expect of SPEED approved Fellows.

TO WHOM DOES THE CODE APPLY?
The code applies to all Fellows of SPEED and the staff working in those Fellow companies. Every Fellow has a duty to accept and abide by this Code as a condition of SPEED Fellowship.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FELLOWS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE CODE?
SPEED's disciplinary powers and procedures are as agreed by the SPEED Board and reviewed from time to time. This provides that SPEED can suspend or disqualify Fellows found to be 'guilty of unprofessional conduct or of conduct prejudicially affecting the reputation of the Project’.

On receiving a report of alleged misconduct the Association will take the following steps:

i)                    The SPEED Director brings the matter to the attention of the Board or its designated sub committee.

ii)                   The Operational Group, appointed by the SPEED Board, investigates the alleged breach and, if it considers that the allegations are prima facie proven, it:

a)       informs the Fellow in writing of the allegations; and

b)      sets a date for a meeting, which gives the Fellow at least two weeks to prepare an answer. The Fellow can make a written statement or can request an oral hearing at the Operational Group, at which any person of his/her choice may represent the Fellow.

The Operational Group shall give the Fellow a full and fair hearing and will decide if the allegations are proven. This decision will be made on the basis of a two-thirds majority of the committee.

If the allegations are deemed to be proven, a written report of the result of the investigation is then made to the SPEED Board. Otherwise no further action will be taken.

iii) Based upon this report the SPEED Board will meet to consider whether the allegations are proven. If the SPEED Board is satisfied that the allegations are proven, the Board will consider a proposal that the Fellow be suspended from Fellowship for up to two years or be required to resign their Fellowship. At least twenty-one days written notice of this meeting must be given to the Fellow concerned together with details of the object of the meeting and the grounds on which the proposal is based.

iv) The Fellow cannot be suspended or required to resign his or her Fellowship unless at least two thirds of the Members of the Board present, and voting at the meeting, or who have submitted a proxy vote, have voted to that effect, and the Fellow has had the opportunity to state his or her defence in writing or orally either in person or by counsel, and has had the opportunity of cross-examination. The quorum for this meeting shall be 3 SPEED Directors in person or by proxy.

v) Any decision to suspend a Fellow or require them to resign their Fellowship may be revoked or modified at any time by the SPEED Board at a further meeting called in accordance with paragraph iii) above and provided that a resolution to that effect is passed by a two thirds majority.

vi) If a Fellow who has been called on to resign fails to do so within seven days from the date of the requirement, their name will be removed from the register of Fellows, the SPEED Web Site and shall immediately cease to be a Fellow.

vii) A Fellow who has been suspended is not entitled to exercise any rights of Fellowship during the period of suspension. However, any such suspension shall be without prejudice, it is the right of the SPEED Board during this period to investigate any further breach of discipline and require them to resign their Fellowship as if the suspended Fellow remained a Fellow. 
 
THE TERMS OF THE CODE

1.      Responsibilities to the profession

1.1.            Fellows must conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the reputation of SPEED.

1.2.            Fellows must act in a proper manner when dealing with customers, employees, sub-contractors and the general public.

1.3.            Fellows must not do, say, or omit to do anything that might bring SPEED into disrepute, be inconsistent with or detrimental to the objectives and interests of SPEED or cast doubt on another Fellow's professional integrity.

1.4.            Fellows are expected to promote the effective use of their business for social and economic good.

1.5.            Fellows who make public their personal views on any subject must not claim or give the impression that they are representing the official views of SPEED, unless they have been expressly authorised in writing to do so by the SPEED board.

1.6.            Fellows must ensure that the people providing the services offered to customers must have the appropriate skills, capacities and capabilities.

1.7.            Fellows must not misrepresent the functionality of their products/services and provide clear and precise agreements for the supply of any such products.

1.8.            Fellows must maintain the highest level of knowledge and skills for themselves and their employees and must comply with any SPEED guidelines on education and continuing professional development that may be issued from time to time.

1.9.            Fellows must not malign the products or services of other companies.

1.10.        Fellows must report to SPEED any breach of the Code that comes to their attention.

1.11.        Fellows must assist SPEED in its enquiries into any breach of the Code.

2.      Professional Conduct

2.1.            Fellows must at all times work within the law. They have a responsibility to advise individuals and organisations for whom they work, and those to whom they delegate work, (such as consultants and contractors), of their respective duties.

2.2.            Fellows must offer advice to those for whom they work with a view to providing services which best satisfy customers' needs and aspirations. In particular Fellows are expected to draw to their attention any matter that could be detrimental to customers' business.

2.3.            Fellows must seek to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all. They must not discriminate against any individual or group on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, cultural background, sex, domestic circumstances, disability, illness, age or sexual orientation.

2.4.            Fellows must ensure that their words and actions do not cause nuisance or harassment to others, and never use language that is likely to offend, such as racist and sexist terms.

2.5.            Fellows must not disclose to a third party any confidential or privileged information entrusted to them by clients and customers.

2.6.            Advertising by Fellows must be legal, decent, honest and truthful and must not mislead or cause public offence.

2.7.            Fellows must not allow their client's name to be used in advertisements for any related service or product, unless they have the express permission of their client to do so.

2.8.            Fellows must not directly or indirectly exert undue pressure or undue influence on any person, for the purpose of securing work or a contract.

2.9.            Fellows must be able to meet any claims for breach of their professional duty. This is best provided by adequate professional indemnity insurance.

2.10.        Before accepting a contract, Fellows must check whether there is likely to be a conflict between the interests of the potential client and any existing client and should inform both parties to this effect. The commission should only be accepted if both parties agree to this.

2.11.        Fellows must ensure that no person is encouraged to act in breach of any existing or previous contract with another company.

2.12.        Fellows must ensure that all services provided by their organisation are carried out in accordance with the Code even when undertaken by sub-contractors who are not SPEED Fellows.

2.13.        If a Fellow is introduced into a company by another company, as a contractor working for the introducer or that company, SPEED Fellows will respect the relationship and not seek to enter into separate agreements with the company into which (or customer to whom) they were introduced. Verbal contracts must be honoured.

2.14.        The use of SPEED logo and authorised text documentation is available to Fellows for publication and advertising purposes. All variations of standard advertising using the above must be approved and authorised in writing by the Board before being published.

2.15.        The SPEED name and logo (in any variants) belong to SPEED. SPEED is entitled, at its absolute discretion, to require any person to cease using the logo and/or the name at any time and to remove it from all stationery and/or marketing material of any description until further notice.

[Everyone should be aware that SPEED’s logo and name are trademark registered, which gives SPEED further rights over any misuse of the name or the trademark.]