Entrepreneurs' Forum Code of Conduct
Why we have this Code
The Forum works because our members are open with each other. People share things at our events that they wouldn't say anywhere else and that only happens when everyone feels safe.
This Code documents what that means in practice, so every member, guest, speaker and member of our team knows the conduct expected from them. This forms part of your membership terms and conditions.
Who it covers and where
The Code applies to every member, whatever their package, including our Ambassadors. It also applies to anyone attending our events as a guest.
It protects everyone you meet through the Entrepreneurs’ Forum: our team, mentors and ambassadors, speakers, sponsors and partners, venue and catering staff, and other members.
It applies wherever you are there because of the Forum:
- At our events
- In mentoring sessions and one-to-one meetings arranged through the Forum
- In our online groups, chats and video calls
- In messages, calls or social media contact with people you met through the Forum
If you bring or book a guest, you're responsible for them. Make sure they know this Code applies to them too. Table hosts at the Entrepreneurial Awards are responsible for everyone at their table.
What we expect
- Treat people with respect. Our staff, external venue staff, a first-time guest and a sponsor should all get the same level of courtesy.
- Come to share, not to sell. Don't pitch people who haven't asked.
- Use your reputation well. Many of our members are senior, well known business owners who may hold influence over other members’ businesses. Don't use that to pressure anyone.
- Respect a no. Someone not wanting to talk, connect, share numbers or have another drink is an answer, not an opening.
- Drink responsibly. Alcohol is never an excuse for behaviour that breaches this Code.
- Look out for each other. If something doesn't look right, check in with the person or tell a member of our team.
What isn't acceptable
Harassment of any kind. This means unwanted behaviour that violates someone's dignity, or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. It includes sexual harassment, and behaviour linked to someone's age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. It doesn't matter whether you meant it; what matters is the effect.
Examples include:
- Unwanted touching, kissing, hugging or getting into someone's personal space
- Sexual comments, jokes, questions about someone's private life, or comments on their appearance
- Repeated invitations, messages or attention after someone has shown they're not interested
- Sending sexual or offensive images or messages
- Offensive "banter" about someone's background, beliefs, age or disability
- Suggesting that a sponsorship, introduction, investment or business opportunity depends on personal or sexual favours
- Bullying, intimidation, threats or aggressive behaviour
- Treating anyone less favourably because they've raised a concern or helped someone else raise one
- Sharing another member's personal details, or what was said in confidence, without their consent
- Behaviour that puts anyone's safety at risk or seriously damages the Forum's reputation
Confidentiality and Chatham House Rules
Most of our events run under the Chatham House Rule. You can use what you hear, but don't reveal who said it. That's why people talk openly, so please protect it.
The Chatham House Rule never stops anyone speaking up. It doesn't prevent you from raising a concern under this Code, telling a member of our team what happened and who was involved, or reporting something to the police or a regulator. Confidentiality protects honest conversation, not bad behaviour.
Raising a concern
If something happens to you, or you see something that isn't right, tell us. You don't need proof, and it doesn't have to be serious to be worth raising.
- On the day: speak to any member of our team.
- Afterwards: email info@entrepreneursforum.net or speak to Elaine Stroud, CEO.
- If your concern is about our team or the CEO: contact our Chairman or any of our Board members
- If you're in danger, call 999 first.
We'll take you seriously and keep things as confidential as we can. Nobody will be treated less favourably for raising a concern in good faith.
How we respond
- We'll acknowledge your concern within 5 working days and agree with you how you'd like it handled.
- If someone needs to leave an event, we'll ask them to go, and we'll involve the venue or the police if needed.
- Where the concern is about a member, we'll tell them what is alleged and give them a fair chance to respond, unless that would put someone at risk.
- While we investigate a serious concern, we may temporarily pause a member's access to events, mentoring and online groups. A pause is not a finding against them.
- A member of our team decides the outcome. A decision to end someone's membership is confirmed by our Chairman.
- We'll tell the people involved what we've decided, as far as we can without breaching anyone's privacy.
If we find the Code has been broken, we may:
- Have an informal conversation or give a written warning
- Set conditions on future attendance
- Ask someone to leave an event, with no refund
- Suspend membership for a set period
- End membership with immediate effect
- Decline future bookings, guest places or applications
The outcome will match how serious the behaviour was. A single serious incident can be enough to end a membership.
Reviews. A member whose membership is ended can ask for the decision to be reviewed by the board within 14 days. The review panel won't include anyone involved in the original decision.
Records. We keep a confidential record of concerns and decisions, and handle it in line with our Privacy Policy. Every decision under this Code is made by people, never by automated tools.
