Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd values its reputation for ethical behaviour and for financial probity and reliability. It recognises that over and above the commission of any crime, any involvement in bribery will also reflect adversely on its image and reputation. Its aim therefore is to limit its exposure to bribery by:
- Setting out a clear Anti Bribery & Corruption policy;
- Encouraging its employees to be vigilant and to report any suspicion of bribery, providing them with suitable channels of communication and ensuring sensitive information is treated appropriately;
- Rigorously investigating instances of alleged bribery and assisting the police and other appropriate authorities in any resultant prosecution; and
- Taking firm and vigorous action against any individual(s) involved in bribery.
Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd absolutely forbids corruption and the paying or receipt of bribes for any purpose.
Bribery – Bribery is the offering, promising, giving, solicitation or the receipt or agreement to receive any financial or other advantage, or any other inducement from any person or company, (wherever they are situated and whether they are a public official or body, or a private person or company), by an individual employee, agent or other person or body acting on another’s behalf.
Corruption – Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for a private gain.
Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd prohibits bribery of or by any person or company, in any jurisdiction, wherever they are situated and whether they are a public official or body or private person or company or by any individual employee, agent or other person or body acting on Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd’s behalf in order to:
- gain any commercial, contractual or regulatory advantage for Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd in a way which is unethical;
- gain any personal advantage, pecuniary or otherwise, for the individual or anyone connected with the individual; or
- induce the improper performance of any function that is of a public nature, connected with a business, performed by a body or performed by a person during their employment.
When acting for Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd, political contributions are not allowed and charitable contributions are allowed only if expressly agreed in advance in writing by the Managing Director.
Facilitation payments are any payment made (except where comprised in a lawful and published tariff of general application) as an inducement to secure or expedite the performance of a routine or necessary action to which the payer of the facilitation payment has a legal entitlement. These are not permitted or condoned by Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd.
This policy is not meant to prohibit the giving and receiving of normal and appropriate hospitality in accordance with Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd’s Travel & Expenses policy or the use of any recognised fast-track process which is available to all on payment of a fee providing that they are proportionate and are properly recorded.
The prevention, detection and reporting of bribery or corruption is the responsibility of all Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd employees. Reports can be made confidentially via the Ethics Hotline.
Tony Cammiss
Managing Director
Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Ltd
8th September 2022