At Sapio Research we all share the same drive and passion – providing data confidence for all.
We are an enthusiastic, purpose-driven team of expert market researchers specialising in all areas of quantitative and qualitative research. We deliver valuable evidence to help our clients understand their market, grow distinctive brands, and cut through the noise with extraordinary content and headlines.
We deeply care about our craft and are committed to delivering high-quality, honest insights. This means clients can rely on us to tell them what we really believe, rather than what we think they might want to hear!
For our ethically minded team of researchers, providing “data confidence for all” is also about helping the world understand the power of data, and providing education to develop statistical literacy. In line with our values, we believe in conducting business for the better and commit to dedicating at least 1% of our revenue to good causes each year. We aim to consider the impact of our actions and business within the wider community and all stakeholders before making decisions.
Applicability
This Code of Conduct sets out the minimum standards of business conduct we expect from our suppliers. It applies to any individual or organisation that provides Sapio Research Limited (“Sapio”) with products or services – including all suppliers, sub-contractors and business partners, together with their officers, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, sub-contractors, agents, representatives, and consultants.
We require all of our suppliers to fulfil all the principles and requirements of this Code. In addition, suppliers are required to contractually commit their subcontractors to adhere to the standards and rules specified in this Code.
Violation of this Code can constitute a cause and reason for Sapio to terminate the business relationship, including all associated supply contracts. This is true even if there are no written arrangements, undertakings or contracts between Sapio and the supplier.
Sapio acknowledges that this Code will not address every situation that suppliers may encounter. This Code must not be used as a substitute for a supplier’s own responsibility to exercise good judgment. We expect suppliers to continuously improve their goods and services and bring innovation, ideas, and expertise to help us address our strategic challenges.
Principles
(i) Ethics, Integrity, and Anti-Corruption:
Sapio requires that all suppliers it engages deploy the highest standards of ethical conduct and comply with the local laws and regulations in the countries in which they operate. Sapio expects suppliers to respond to any due diligence requests truthfully, completely and in a timely manner.
(ii) Corruption, Bribery, and Financial Crime:
Sapio strictly does not work with, or involve itself with, any suppliers involved in bribery or corruption of any form and expects suppliers to conduct themselves ethically and morally, respecting local laws.
Suppliers must adhere to anti-corruption and financial crime laws, including the Bribery Act 2010 and Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing regulations. We expect suppliers to have robust processes to ensure that the subcontractors in their supply chain also comply with these laws. We have zero tolerance for any form of corrupt practice including extortion and fraud. We expect suppliers to be vigilant and proactively look for fraud, and the risk of fraud, in their business. Any supplier working on behalf of Sapio must not enter any arrangement, or provide any services that facilitates, or may constitute, Sapio being directly or indirectly involved with economic crime.
(iii) Conflicts of Interest:
Suppliers shall not allow bias, conflict of interest, or inappropriate influence of others to override their professional judgments and responsibilities. If a supplier becomes aware of a potential or actual conflict of interest, or a specific situation that may impact its engagement with or otherwise, they must notify Sapio as soon as they become aware.
(iv) Human Rights and Labour:
Sapio recognises human rights as the basic right that every individual should have, including the freedom to lead a dignified life, free from fear and free to independent beliefs. Sapio maintains working conditions and practices that are compliant with internationally declared human rights and standards and require our suppliers to abide by these international standards as well as any relevant domestic laws and regulations relating to slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, construed in accordance with Article 4 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNUDHR) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) fundamental conventions on labour rights.
(v) Wages and Hours:
Suppliers must set wages, contracted hours and overtime pay in accordance with the laws and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction(s) in which they operate. This includes contracted and statutory leave from and time off work, including but not limited to holiday entitlement, parental leave and statutory sick leave.
(vi) Child Labour:
Any supplier employing a person under the age of 18 must ensure the terms of employment comply with the laws and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction in which they operate. Where not otherwise provided for by the laws and regulations of the relevant jurisdiction, this provision extends to prohibit Sapio’s suppliers employing a child in a hazardous occupation and any occupation of a child must not interfere with the full time education of that child.
We support the use of legitimate apprenticeship programme which comply with all appropriate legislation and regulations relating to such apprenticeship programmes.
(vii) Freedom of Association:
Suppliers must respect workers’ right to freedom of association, to joining trade unions, to appealing to worker representatives and to membership in works councils in accordance with the applicable local laws. Sapio encourages an environment where business standards are clearly communicated and understood, and where there are clear channels for workers to communicate with management openly without threat of retaliation, harassment, or intimidation.
(viii) Health and Safety:
Each supplier is responsible for protecting the health and safety of its staff. Suppliers must comply with all applicable health and safety laws and regulations and must take necessary precautions to prevent accidents and injury during all business operations. Suppliers must provide and maintain safe places of work at all times.
(ix) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a core part of how we ensure our purpose and values are brought to life. Building a culture which is inclusive of everyone, where everyone can bring their true selves to work and where everyone can thrive, is crucial to us.
Sapio suppliers are expected to value and promote diversity within their workforce and to foster a culture that seeks to promote equal opportunity for all. Sapio will not tolerate suppliers’ discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, religion, health condition, gender identity, sexual orientation, or those categories otherwise protected by local law. Suppliers must take measures to prevent bullying and harassment.
(x) Environmental, Social and Governance:
We are committed to acting responsibly across our business by integrating Environmental, Social and Governance factors into our business and operational processes.
Sapio expect suppliers to identify and manage the environmental impacts of their operations and to engage in initiatives to promote environmental responsibility, effective waste management and efficient use of natural resources.
Suppliers are expected to have a Climate Action Policy in place and to actively promote this internally to ensure awareness. Suppliers should also regularly and accurately report, both internally and externally, performance in accordance with all applicable legal and regulatory environmental requirements.
(xi) Confidentiality and Data Protection:
Personal data and confidential information for Sapio is deemed private and confidential if it is not publicly available and/or if it has commercial value to Sapio. Suppliers may obtain personal data and confidential information (including our client data) as part of their role in which we engage them or from our personnel, clients, consultants and partners.
Suppliers shall handle and disclose personal data and confidential information only as authorised and directed by Sapio, and in accordance with the laws and directives in the jurisdiction in which they operate. This includes the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR).
Suppliers must take action to protect against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data and confidential information transmitted, stored, or otherwise processed.
Suppliers must notify Sapio immediately if they believe they have given access to Sapio personal data or confidential information in error.
Suppliers must also inform Sapio immediately if they have experienced a personal data breach involving personal data or confidential information of which Sapio is the controller.
(xii) Information Security:
Sapio is committed to protecting the information entrusted to it, as well as IT and physical assets, and has various information security controls in place to meet this commitment. Equally, Sapio expects the highest standards of information security from suppliers, irrespective of whether this information handled by the supplier belongs to us, our clients, our personnel, our consultants, or any other third party.
To ensure maintenance and protection of all such, suppliers are required to have an appropriate level of information security controls, policies, and protocols in place, provide regular training on information security to all staff or other individuals who would have access to the information as part of their role, and have implemented risk management protocols (including internal audits and risk audits).
Reporting and consequences of Violations
(i) Record keeping:
Suppliers are required to keep proper accurate and transparent books and records to demonstrate compliance with this Code.
(ii) Reporting:
Suppliers are responsible for prompt reporting of actual or suspected violations of applicable law and this Code. This includes violations by any person acting on behalf of the Supplier.
If you wish to report an actual or suspected violation, or have any questions about compliance with this Code, please contact [insert Sapio email address].
(iii) Consequences of Violation
Any violation of this Code may result in any of the following, or other, similar actions: requiring the Supplier to audit its own organisation or supply chain and to report on its findings; recommending or requiring a corrective-action plan; making the Supplier a non-preferred supplier; or terminating Sapio’s relationship with the Supplier altogether.
