Additional Sustainability Information

Code of Conduct

 

Ethical leadership

At Bidvest, corporate governance is a way of life rather than a set of rules. Stakeholders can only derive full, sustained value from a business founded on honesty, integrity, accountability and transparency. Bidvest is committed to applying good corporate governance principles in a manner that complements its entrepreneurial flair.

Code of conduct

A prime duty of the board, its committees, directors, officers of the Group and managers is to ensure our code of conduct is honoured.

The code demands:

  • the highest standards of integrity and behaviour in dealings with stakeholders and wider society;
  • business conduct based on fair commercial practice;
  • that we deal only with business partners that follow ethical practice;
  • non-discriminatory employment practices and promotion;
  • corporate governance of employees to realise their potential through training and development; and
  • proactive engagement on environmental, social and sustainability matters.

Code of ethics

Our code fosters Group-wide business practice and requires:

  • regular and formal identification of ethical risk areas;
  • development and strengthening of monitoring and compliance policies, procedures and systems;
  • easily accessible, confidential and non-discriminatory reporting (whistleblowing);
  • alignment of the Group’s disciplinary code with its code of ethics;
  • integration of integrity assessment with selection and promotion;
  • induction of new appointees;
  • training in ethical principles, standards and decision making;
  • regular internal audit monitoring of compliance with ethical principles and standards;
  • reporting to stakeholders on compliance; and
  • independent verification of conformance to our principles and ethical behaviour.

Corporate values

Our value system promotes:

  • Accountability to employees and shareholders
  • Business growth
  • Decentralisation
  • Entrepreneurship and innovation
  • Non-discrimination and equal opportunity
  • Fairness and honesty in stakeholder interaction
  • Respect for human dignity, human rights, social justice and environment
  • Service excellence, creating an exceptional place in which to work and do business
  • Transparency and open lines of communications

Specific business ethical issues (corruption, fraud, theft and anti-competitive behaviour) are reported on under the “society” section within “Group-wide material issues”.