Responsible business
High standards and compliance
Our commitment
We are committed to conducting every aspect of our business with integrity, ensuring we act in a way which is responsible, ethical and sustainable. We strive to comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
Our goal
Ensure that sustainability and responsible business practices and behaviours are embedded into daily decision making through our policies, standards and management systems.
The sections below outline how we embed responsible business practices through our governance framework, policies, training and compliance programmes.
Managing compliance
We expect our leaders to set the correct tone on compliance; we assess risk areas and implement measures to manage those risks. We engage with and train our people to understand what they need to do, and we assess and monitor compliance with our policies and procedures, in a continuous improvement arc.
Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct is built on our commitment to integrity and reflects our values in action. It sets out the standards of ethical behaviour we expect across our business and provides guidance on the policies and behaviours that shape the way we work. Sustainability is embedded throughout the Code, ensuring environmental responsibility, integrity and respect for people are considered in everyday decision-making. Since its launch in 2023, we have supported the Code through an employee engagement programme, with mandatory Code of Conduct training delivered annually.
Our policies
Our Code of Conduct is supported by a framework of Group Policies that help maintain high ethical standards, strong governance and compliance across the business. Together, they provide clear expectations and guidance on key topics ranging from procurement and human rights to anti-bribery and environmental management.
Anti-bribery and corruption
We have a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption.
Our Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy sets out the Company’s responsibilities, and the responsibilities of those working for the Company, in observing and upholding our position on bribery and corruption and provides information and guidance to those working for the Company on how to recognise and deal with bribery and corruption issues. We train our staff on bribery prevention and have measures to support them in speaking-up confidentially about any matters where they have concerns, using mechanisms such as our confidential reporting system.
Confidential reporting
We are committed to creating an environment of trust which is open, safe and secure. It is important that our employees and business partners feel that they can raise genuine concerns of suspected wrongdoing without fear of suffering detriment or being victimised.
Our Confidential Reporting Policy has been developed with the aim of encouraging employees and colleagues to voice any concerns they may have about any suspected wrongdoing in strict confidence and outlines the procedure to follow to bring this to the Company’s attention.
Our confidential reporting procedure is called ‘SpeakUp’. The Audit and Risk Committee and the Board are updated on the number of confidential reports made and the outcome of all investigations and reviews and approves the Confidential Reporting Policy each year to ensure it remains effective and fit-for-purpose. Any cases that are linked to human rights concerns are additionally reported to our Human Rights Steering Group and escalated in line with our human rights governance as required.
Embedding sustainability principles
Read about how Aston Martin is embedding sustainability principles into key organisational processes.