Terms of engagement
Members’ Code of Conduct:
While creating a trusted platform for dialogue and shared learning, WIG prides itself on providing an impartial, politically neutral, lobbying free forum for constructive cross-sector collaboration.
Our events, interventions, and leadership programmes are designed with the sole objective of delivering our charitable purpose and therefore take place within ‘a safe space’. By partaking in any WIG activity, members are agreeing to the below code of conduct.
At all WIG programmes:
- Participants are asked to abide by the Chatham House Rule (participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed), unless otherwise explicitly stated by the chair or facilitator
- Participants are reminded that that they are in attendance in the spirit of better collaboration, to share ideas and feedback in a constructive manner.
- Personal recordings of events, leadership programmes and any other WIG activity is strictly prohibited.
- WIG reserves the right to remove any participants, or organisations seeking to sell services, lobby or unduly influence government officials, those deemed to be breaching the Chatham House Rule, or those not engaging in constructive dialogue and causing disruption.
- Bully or harassment of any individual, whether from another participating organisation or WIG staff, will not be tolerated and will result in ejection from the WIG event and potentially all future WIG activities. We also reserve the right to inform the parent organisation of any breaches, where appropriate.
To ensure ongoing accountability and transparency:
- WIG retains full discretion over the acceptance of a new member organisation, only those seeking to support the charitable purpose will be invited to join and participate in programmes.
- All members must sign an MOU which includes the requirement to adhere to the Civil Service code and respects potential sensitivities around commercial conflicts of interest. They are reminded to respect this agreement at all WIG events and functions.
- WIG does not accept payment or sponsorship to broker specific meetings or events with officials, the private sector, or any other organisation.
- A WIG representative will be present at all events, programmes and roundtables to support in the facilitation of a constructive dialogue as part of our charitable purpose.
- WIG has a board of trustees including figures from across the public, private and not-for-profit sector to ensure our on-going impartiality and non-lobbying position.
In the event of individuals/members breaching the above code of conduct, WIG will take proportionate action, which can include but is not limited to the following:
- Informal resolution in discussion with the members/individuals involved
- Restrict participation of specific individual/s with temporary removal from events and/or programmes
- Suspension of membership in case of serious or repeated breaches
- Report individuals to parent organisation in a case of serious breaches
A formal complaints procedure is also available for all members and individuals, details can be found at https://www.wig.co.uk/legal-and-regulatory/
Ethical considerations for membership:
As an impartial convenor, WIG does not limit participation of specific sectors or organisations based on ethical grounds. Assuming an organisation is legally recognized entity, permitted to operate under UK law, and they have agreed to above code of conduct, then they are entitled to be considered for WIG membership.
In the majority of cases organisations will need to fall under the WIG membership criteria: https://www.wig.co.uk/membership/