Policies

In this section

• What we do
  • Our values
  • Overseeing Wilton Park
  • Our people
  • Transparency information
    • Annual reports
    • 2018 Tailored Review of Wilton Park
    • Strategic plan 2016-17 to 2019-20
    • Organisational structure
    • People Survey
    • Workforce management information
    • Policies
    • Prompt Payment Data
    • Spending above £25,000
  • History of Wilton Park
  • Our local environment
  • USA Foundation

Countering fraud, bribery and corruption policy

Wilton Park works to support the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in its aim to promote British interests overseas and to support delivery of Britain’s strategic foreign policy objectives. We do this by providing a neutral, discreet and secure forum to convene international opinion formers and policy makers to address and resolve global issues critical to the national security and prosperity of Britain and her allies and, consequently, to project British values and influence.

As an FCDO Executive Agency, Wilton Park must comply with UK law, including the Fraud Act 2006 and the Bribery Act 2010, to ensure our assets and public funds received from the FCO, other government departments and other partners are safeguarded and properly used to meet our strategic objectives. Wilton Park has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards fraud, bribery and corruption. Wilton Park requires all staff, at all times, to act honestly and with integrity and to safeguard public resources for which they are responsible as set out by the Civil Service Code. We will always investigate and seek to take disciplinary and /or legal action against those who commit, or assist anyone committing, fraud or any other improper activities in our operations.

Wilton Park is committed to:

• Maintaining the highest standard of conduct and acting in accordance with UK law;
• Conducting business in accordance with the highest ethical and legal standards;
• Championing an anti-fraud, bribery and corruption culture across the organisation;
• Seeking to minimise the opportunities for fraud, bribery and corruption;
• Having effective systems, procedures and controls in place to enable the prevention and detection of fraud, corruption and bribery;
• Ensuring that our staff are aware of the levels of behaviour expected of them; the risks of fraud, bribery and corruption and understand their obligations to report any actual or suspected incidents of fraud, bribery or corruption;
• Taking all reports of fraud, bribery and corruption seriously, and investigating them promptly, proportionately and appropriately;
• Meeting our obligations to report any incidents of fraud, bribery and corruption to appropriate external authorities; and
• Providing appropriate resources to implement this policy and ensuring it is communicated externally and internally.

How to report concerns over possible fraud, bribery or corruption:

Please follow this link to provide details of your concerns.  The inbox is monitored on a daily basis and your message will be passed immediately to the relevant person – who will then follow the process set out above. Wilton Park will review this policy statement annually to reflect new legal and regulatory developments and ensure good practice. We will also provide adequate and appropriate resources to implement this policy and will ensure it is communicated and understood.

This policy statement was approved by Sharmila Nebhrajani, Chief Executive, in April 2020 and is due for review in April 2021.

Complaints policy

Wilton Park aims to deliver the best possible service to all our customers and partners and is committed to ensuring effective procedures for handling complaints about our products or services which are both well established and widely known across the organisation.

Where customers and/or partners (or indeed anyone else) are not happy or completely satisfied with our products or services, this Complaints Policy sets out how we will handle and respond to the complaint.

We are committed to:

• taking all comments and complaints seriously and investigating them proportionately and appropriately;
• ensuring that all staff are aware of the Complaints Policy and are clear about their responsibilities when reporting, handling and working to resolve a complaint;
• apologising whapologising when a mistake has been made, explaining what has happened and what will be done next;
• taking action to remedy situations wherever practical; and
• drawing upon customer complaints and feedback, to identify how we can improve our products and services.

We aim:

• to respond fully to complaints within 20 working days from receipt.  If it is not possible to do so within 20 days, we will advise the complainant of the delay and keep them updated on progress;
• if the complainant is dissatisfied with our response, we will escalate it to Wilton Park’s Senior Management Team (SMT) to consider the complaint further;
• to send a secondary response, taking into account advice from the SMT; and
• If the complainant is still dissatisfied with our response, we will advise them of who to contact in Communication Directorate in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as our sponsoring Department.

How to complain:

Please follow this link to provide details of your complaint. The inbox to which complaints are sent is monitored on a daily basis and your complaint or question will be passed immediately to the relevant person – who will then follow the process set out in the section above.

Wilton Park will review this policy statement annually to reflect new legal and regulatory developments and to ensure good practice.

This policy statement was approved by Sharmila Nebhrajani, Chief Executive, in January 2019 and is due for review in January 2020.

Environmental policy statement

Wilton Park recognises that its operational activities directly impact upon the environment. We are committed to continually improving our environmental performance, protecting the environment, preventing pollution and
minimising to the extent reasonably practicable, adverse environmental impacts.

Our key environmental commitments include:

• minimising our use of resources by producing less waste, and reusing and recycling more;
• actively managing our energy use to reduce our carbon footprint;
• actively managing our water consumption;
• employing sound environmental practices for the selection, procurement, use and disposal of food, materials, goods, and services;
• using environmentally-sensitive products and services;
• recognising the significant contribution that Wilton Park staff, suppliers and customers can make in minimising the organisation’s environmental footprint.

We will work to fulfil these commitments through a range of measures that include:

• reviewing and understanding the environmental impact of our activities;
• complying with all relevant environmental laws and regulations, and any other environmental requirements to which we subscribe;
• setting clear environmental objectives which are in accordance with ‘Greener Government Commitments’ and making progress towards those targets.  The targets cover greenhouse gas emissions, and reductions in waste, domestic flights, water and paper consumption;
• reducing energy and resource consumption in line with current best practice;
• implementing FCO policy on sustainable procurement and complying with the Greener Government Commitments’ requirements on sustainable procurement;
• Avoiding single-use plastics where feasible within our estate, procuring more sustainable alternatives and disposing of products in the correct manner;
• avoiding the use of toxic and environmentally damaging materials where possible and preventing the accidental release of polluting substances;
• actively monitoring performance against objectives and targets;
• implementing high standards in our use of resources;
• openly communicating our progress in reducing environmental impact to interested internal and external parties and responding appropriately to reasonable requests for information (including Environmental Information Regulation requests);
• ensuring that this policy is understood, implemented and advocated at all levels in the organisation and is supported by appropriate guidance and training.

This policy statement was approved by Sharmila Nebhrajani, Chief Executive in December 2018 and will be reviewed in December 2019.

 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement

We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all that we do.

At Wilton Park, we aim to create an environment in which all participants, visitors and colleagues will feel included, have a voice, and can be their authentic selves.

This aligns with our values where we commit ourselves and our organisation to be ambitious, ethical, respectful, collaborative and creative.

We will do this through the events that we run:

1. Our events will support dialogues that promote human rights and the prevention of all forms of racism, discrimination, harassment and victimisation including on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; freedom of religion or belief. They will promote the prevention of sexual violence in conflict; gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights, girls’ education; women’s political and economic empowerment, the rights of persons with disabilities and the protection of individuals from labour exploitation.
2. Our events will be safe, inclusive and welcoming, recognising and valuing equally the perspectives of all people regardless of race, ethnicity, ability, class, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other differentiating characteristic that can lead to intolerance and exclusion. This inclusive ethos will be reflected in how our events are organised, from our facilitation to the food we serve and the enviroment we create.
3. We will ensure our events are diverse and inclusive by adopting a range of policies which will be regularly reviewed.

Our goals are:

• 50% male and female participation at each event.
• To host gender balanced discussion panels.
• Gender and age balance and ambitious Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation at each event.
• To ensure accountability for diversity and inclusion targets and monitor the Black, Asian and minority ethnic and gender representation at each event.
• To ensure an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment and other forms of unprofessional behaviour. We will take action where such unacceptable behaviour exists.
• To facilitate events that encourages the inclusion of all.
• To ensure policies and good practices are in place so that people with child caring responsibilities are not disadvantaged from attending events.
• To ensure policies and good practices are in place so that people with special requirements are not disadvantaged from attending events.
• To ensure policies and good practices are in place to promote our culture, internal processes and ways of working to support the mental and physical wellbeing of our staff and that of our participants.
• To make provisions for places to pray for those of different faiths.
• To meet the dietary requirements of all, including those of different faiths, and allow for the observation of religious traditions.
• Regularly consult with participants and colleagues to gain feedback on ways to improve their experience at Wilton Park.

We have developed policies and good practice to promote diversity and inclusion in our place of work and among our colleagues.

The purpose is to:

1. Provide equality, fairness and respect for all in our employment, and to oppose discrimination in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. This includes age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
2. Oppose and avoid all forms of unlawful discrimination. This includes in pay and benefits, terms and conditions of employment, dealing with grievances and discipline, dismissal, redundancy, leave for parents, requests for flexible working, and selection for employment, promotion, training or other developmental opportunities.

We are committed to:

• Actively building a diverse workforce and promoting diversity at every stage of the Human Resource lifecycle. We seek to attract, promote, retain, and progress diverse talent.
• Recruiting and managing colleagues to create an inclusive culture in which diversity is fully valued and where appointment and advancement are based on merit. Continuously reviewing and developing employment practices and procedures to maintain diversity and complying with changes in the law.
• Monitoring the diversity of our workforce to encourage equality, equity, diversity and inclusion in areas of age, sex, ethnic background, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and disability.
• Promoting an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, and other forms of unacceptable behaviour. We will take action where such unacceptable behaviour exists. Such acts may be dealt with as misconduct under the our grievance and/or disciplinary procedures, and appropriate action will be taken.
• Ensuring all colleagues complete mandatory training in equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Working with the Wilton Park Diversity and Inclusion Group to foster an inclusive environment where different perspectives and colleague experiences are valued, heard and actioned.

 

This statement was approved by Colin Smith, Interim Chief Executive, in December 2020 and is due for review in December 2021.