August 2011
Halcrow is undertaking a group-wide initiative to reinforce its position as a values-based business. The company is committed to a programme of regular review and reinforcement of its ethical procedures - with the introduction of the UK Bribery Act 2010 providing the latest impetus to ensure its house is in order.
Neil Holt, Halcrow’s group director responsible for corporate responsibility and ethical compliance explains:
“Our refreshed approach continues to be based upon making us think about what we do and why we do it. We’re already very clear about what we expect from our employees and partners, at every level, but we see this as an opportunity to strengthen our processes and be even more explicit.
“Halcrow is committed to group wide compliance with its ethical policies. Our internal procedures are regularly reviewed and strengthened to reflect changes and risks in the markets in which we operate.
“The new legislation represents a timely opportunity for self-reflection, ensuring Halcrow remains fully equipped to live up to its own high standards.”
Halcrow has published an updated version of its business principles and relaunched a dedicated intranet site to help inform and guide its employees. It has also introduced an ethical dilemma-based e-learning module that all employees can access. The system is used to record employee awareness and will help define training needs and refine the company’s approach.
Halcrow already has a well established system for colleagues to report any concerns or potential breaches of the company’s ethical policies and has a mandatory gift and hospitality register.
The latest edition of the company’s in-house magazine ‘Vox’ also focuses on integrity. This online publication has been distributed globally to all Halcrow employees.
Halcrow is also one of six industry sponsors supporting The UK Anti-corruption Forum (UK ACF) guidance document to help companies working in the infrastructure sector comply with the Bribery Act. The guidance document is intended to advise British companies in the infrastructure sector on what the new Bribery Act means for them; what procedures they will need to consider putting into place to be compliant with the new law; and to offer a series of case studies that help illustrate ethical situations that may be encountered - and possible responses to those situations.
“As a sponsor and co-author of the document, I am delighted that Halcrow has joined other leading UK companies and the UK ACF in helping to provide guidance that is specific to the infrastructure sector,” says Neil.