Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce (the “Chamber”) is committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, welcoming and respectful community.
The Chamber expects everyone who engages with it to behave with integrity, professionalism and respect, and to contribute to an environment in which everyone feels welcome and valued.
This Code sets out the standards of conduct and behaviour expected of anyone participating in, attending, working for, representing or otherwise engaging with the Chamber, including members, directors, staff, visitors, speakers, guests, volunteers, contractors, partners and other individuals or organisations involved in Chamber activities.
The Chamber does not tolerate discrimination, bullying, harassment, intimidation, threatening behaviour or other conduct that is disrespectful, abusive or inappropriate towards any individual or organisation engaged with the Chamber or attending Chamber activities.
Scope
This Code applies to conduct connected with the Chamber, including but not limited to:
- Chamber events, meetings and networking activities
- Activities taking place at Chamber premises or other venues
- Online and virtual events
- Communications with Chamber staff, members, directors, visitors, partners and other stakeholders
- Social media and other digital communications where the Chamber, its activities or its community are involved
- Activities undertaken while representing or acting on behalf of the Chamber
- Conduct outside Chamber activities where that conduct has a direct and material impact on the Chamber, its people, its reputation or its community.
The Code applies whether activities take place during or outside normal working hours and whether they take place on or off Chamber premises.
This Code is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of every obligation or standard of conduct that may apply to an individual or organisation. The Chamber reserves the right to take any action available to it under its Articles of Association, rules, contractual arrangements, applicable law or otherwise.
Definitions
The Chamber means Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce.
Person or individual means any individual to whom this Code applies, including members, directors, staff, visitors, speakers, guests, volunteers, contractors and other individuals engaging with the Chamber.
Organisation means any business, company, partnership, charity, public body or other organisation engaging with the Chamber.
Code means this Code of Conduct and Standards of Behaviour, as amended from time to time.
Where this Code refers to conduct by an individual or organisation, this includes conduct undertaken personally or on their behalf.
Standards of Conduct and Behaviour
Everyone covered by this Code is expected to:
- Treat others with dignity, courtesy and respect
- Act honestly and with integrity
- Behave professionally and responsibly
- Communicate appropriately and respectfully
- Comply with reasonable and lawful requests from Chamber staff or those responsible for Chamber activities
- Take reasonable care of their own safety and the safety of others
- Avoid behaviour that could reasonably cause harm, distress, intimidation, humiliation or offence
- Respect the reputation, property, confidential information and intellectual property of the Chamber and others
- Contribute positively to an inclusive and welcoming Chamber community.
No individual or organisation should behave in a way that is likely to bring the Chamber into disrepute or materially damage its reputation, relationships or goodwill.
Professionalism and Communication
Everyone engaging with the Chamber is expected to communicate in a professional, constructive and respectful manner.
Abusive, aggressive, threatening, intimidating, malicious, discriminatory or deliberately disruptive communication will not be tolerated.
No individual may speak or make public statements on behalf of the Chamber unless they have been specifically authorised or delegated to do so by the Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, Chair or other appropriate representative.
Everyone should respect reasonable requests or directions relating to the safe and effective operation of Chamber activities.
The Chamber’s name, reputation and goodwill are important to the organisation and its community. Everyone is expected to act in a way that supports and protects these interests.
Dignity, Equality, Bullying and Harassment
The Chamber is committed to providing an environment in which everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect, and is free from unacceptable behaviour.
The Chamber does not tolerate bullying, harassment, discrimination, victimisation or intimidation in any form.
Unacceptable behaviour includes, but is not limited to, conduct that demeans, humiliates, threatens, excludes or intimidates another person, whether occurring in person, online or through other forms of communication.
The Chamber expects everyone to respect differences and does not tolerate discrimination or inappropriate behaviour based on characteristics including race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected or personal characteristic.
This expectation applies to interactions between all people connected with the Chamber, regardless of their role, status or relationship with the Chamber.
The Chamber aims to ensure that everyone feels able to participate in its activities without feeling uncomfortable, threatened, demeaned or excluded.
Events and Activities
Everyone attending or participating in Chamber events and activities is expected to conduct themselves appropriately and respectfully.
The Chamber reserves the right to ask an individual to leave an event or activity, or to restrict their participation, where their behaviour is considered inappropriate, disruptive, threatening or otherwise inconsistent with this Code.
This may apply regardless of whether the individual is a member, guest, visitor, speaker, employee, director, partner, contractor or other participant.
Social Media and Digital Communications
The Chamber recognises that social media and other digital platforms are an important part of modern communication.
Everyone engaging with the Chamber is expected to exercise appropriate judgement when posting, sharing or commenting about the Chamber, its activities or people connected with it.
Personal use of social media does not remove the responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect.
Individuals should not publish or share content involving the Chamber or individuals connected with the Chamber that is malicious, discriminatory, abusive, threatening, deliberately misleading or otherwise likely to cause unjustified harm, humiliation or distress.
Images or recordings of other people should be shared responsibly and with appropriate consideration for their privacy and dignity.
Anyone authorised to represent or speak on behalf of the Chamber must ensure that their communications accurately reflect the Chamber’s position and do not imply authority that has not been given.
The standards expected of people when engaging with the Chamber in person also apply to their relevant online interactions.
Products, Services and Professional Standards
Where individuals or organisations promote or offer products or services through their involvement with the Chamber, they are expected to do so honestly, responsibly and professionally.
Information provided about products, services, qualifications, experience or expertise should be accurate and not misleading.
The Chamber does not accept conduct involving deliberate misrepresentation, fraudulent activity or other dishonest practices in connection with Chamber activities.
Confidentiality, Intellectual Property and Use of the Chamber’s Name
The Chamber has intellectual property, confidential information, branding and other proprietary rights that must be respected.
No one should use the Chamber’s name, logo, insignia, intellectual property, confidential information or other proprietary material without appropriate permission.
Confidential information obtained through involvement with the Chamber must not be disclosed or used inappropriately.
Nothing in this Code prevents individuals from exercising any legal right to raise concerns, make disclosures or report matters to an appropriate authority.
Criminal Conduct
The Chamber may consider taking appropriate action where an individual connected with the Chamber is charged with or convicted of a criminal offence, particularly where the alleged or proven conduct is relevant to their involvement with the Chamber, the safety of others, or the reputation or interests of the Chamber.
Any action taken will depend on the circumstances and the nature of the relationship between the individual or organisation and the Chamber.
Where the individual is a member, any action concerning membership will be dealt with in accordance with the membership provisions of this Code and the Chamber’s governing documents.
Insolvency or Bankruptcy
Where a member organisation enters into insolvency, administration, receivership, liquidation or an arrangement with creditors, the Chamber may review the organisation’s membership and determine whether any action is appropriate.
Any decision regarding membership will be made in accordance with the Chamber’s governing documents and applicable law.
Raising Concerns
The Chamber wants everyone to feel confident that concerns about inappropriate behaviour will be taken seriously.
Anyone who experiences or witnesses behaviour that may breach this Code is encouraged to raise the matter with the Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, Head of Operations or another appropriate Chamber representative.
The Chamber will consider concerns as promptly and sensitively as reasonably practicable.
Information relating to concerns will be handled sensitively and, where appropriate, confidentially. However, confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed where the Chamber has a legal, safeguarding or other legitimate obligation to disclose information or where disclosure is necessary to investigate or address a concern.
No person should be victimised or treated unfairly for raising a genuine concern in good faith.
Responding to Breaches
Where the Chamber considers that this Code may have been breached, it may take appropriate action having regard to the circumstances and the nature of the relationship between the person or organisation concerned and the Chamber.
Depending on the circumstances, action may include:
- Providing guidance or asking for behaviour to change
- Facilitating an informal resolution
- Issuing a formal warning
- Restricting participation in particular Chamber activities
- Asking an individual to leave an event or activity
- Suspending access to particular Chamber facilities, services or activities
- Requiring an individual or organisation to cease representing the Chamber
- Terminating a relevant contract or arrangement
- Where the person is a member, suspending or terminating membership.
The Chamber will determine the appropriate response based on the circumstances, seriousness and nature of the conduct.
Nothing in this Code limits any rights the Chamber may have under its Articles of Association, membership terms, contracts, applicable law or otherwise.
Membership-Specific Provisions
Where the person or organisation concerned is a member of the Chamber, a breach of this Code may constitute grounds for suspension or termination of membership.
Any member whose subscription or other payment to the Chamber is overdue may have their membership suspended or terminated at the Chamber’s discretion, in accordance with the Chamber’s applicable terms and governing documents. The member will remain liable for any outstanding amounts.
Where membership is suspended, the member will not normally be entitled to a refund of subscription fees for the period of suspension.
Where membership is terminated, the member will not normally be entitled to a refund of subscription fees.
A person or organisation ceasing to be a member will cease to have any right to use the Chamber’s name, insignia, logo, goodwill, products or services in connection with their business, personal or social activities, except where otherwise expressly authorised by the Chamber.
Any membership sanction or remedial action available to the Chamber under this Code is in addition to any other legal, contractual or other action available to the Chamber.
Changes to the Code
The Chamber may amend this Code from time to time.
Where appropriate, the Chamber will provide reasonable notice of material changes and will make the current version of the Code available to those to whom it applies.
Last updated: 17/08/2026