The Terms of the Code of Conduct

1. Members must at all times work within the law. They have a responsibility to advise individuals and organisations for whom they work, and those to whom they delegate work, (such as consultants and contractors), of their respective duties.
2. Members must offer advice to those for whom they work with a view to providing ICT services which best satisfy customers' needs and aspirations. In particular members are expected to draw to their attention any matter that could be detrimental to customers' business.
3. Members must seek to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all. They must not discriminate against any individual or group on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, cultural background, sex, domestic circumstances, disability, illness, age or sexual orientation.
4. Members must ensure that their words and actions do not cause nuisance or harassment to others, and never use language that is likely to offend, such as racist and sexist terms.
5. Members must not disclose to a third party any confidential or privileged information entrusted to them by clients and customers.
6. Advertising by members must be legal, decent, honest and truthful and must not mislead or cause public offence.
7. Members must not allow their client's name to be used in advertisements for any ICT related service or product, unless they have the express permission of their client to do so.
8. Members must not directly or indirectly exert undue pressure or undue influence on any person, for the purpose of securing work or a contract.
9. Members must be able to meet any claims for breach of their professional duty. This is best provided by adequate professional indemnity insurance.
10. Before accepting a contract, members must check whether there is likely to be a conflict between the interests of the potential client and any existing client and should inform both parties to this effect. The commission should only be accepted if both parties agree to this.
11. Members must ensure that no person is encouraged to act in breach of any existing or previous contract with another company.
12. Members must ensure that all services provided by their organisation are carried out in accordance with the Code even when undertaken by sub-contractors who are not OxIT Cluster members.
13. If a member is introduced into a company by another company, as a contractor working for the introducer or that company, OxIT Cluster members will respect the relationship and not seek to enter into separate agreements with the company into which (or customer to whom) they were introduced. Verbal contracts must be honoured.
14. The use of OxIT Cluster, its membership logo and authorised text documentation is available to members for publication and advertising purposes. All variations of standard advertising using the above must be approved and authorised in writing by the Board before being published.
15. A logo is available for use by "approved members". This status requires the member to submit 2 separate references from satisfied clients. The designated Board representatives or committee will investigate these references and, if appropriate, approved status will be granted. The use of this logo by approved members is subject to the constraints described above.
16. The OxIT Cluster name and logo (in any variants) belong to OxIT Cluster. OxIT Cluster is entitled, at its absolute discretion, to require any person to cease using the logo and/or the name at any time and to remove it from all stationery and/or marketing material of any description until further notice. Everyone should be aware that OxIT Cluster’s logo and name are pending trademark registration, which will give OxIT Cluster further rights over any misuse of the name or the trademark.