Working with customers, suppliers, partners and communities

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Principles

We treat all our customers, suppliers and partners with fairness, honesty and respect, and build relationships that work for all parties, no matter what the transaction is worth or how long it lasts.
We support communities in areas of education and skills, environment, social investment and arts, culture and heritage. Our investment can include financial, time or in-kind support.
We compete fairly and with integrity on sales campaigns and bids for external research funding.
If we employ people who have recently worked for government, a competitor or a customer we will not involve them in sales activities if that might give us an unfair advantage.
When seeking new suppliers and partners we conduct appropriate due diligence. We take steps to only choose suppliers and partners whose values and business behaviour meet high ethical, human rights and environmental standards.
We are opposed to any form of child labour, or any practices that hold back the development of children. Employment should be freely chosen, so we’ll never use forced or involuntary labour.

When working with customers – we will:

Make sure that all our bid preparations, contract negotiations and communications with customers are accurate and true;
Set out clear terms in our contracts with customers and operate in line with them;
Not accept information about a competitor’s proposal in a sales campaign;
Not accept internal government information on its selection process unless the government’s contracting officer has specifically and lawfully authorised its release; and
Strive to continuously improve quality, delivery, responsiveness and reliability to build high levels of customer satisfaction.

Group Policies

Additional Guidance

Having reviewed our principles and policies another potential source of information might be:

Some of these are internal links and only available if accessing from a Rolls-Royce GAD network asset.

Preventing the facilitation of tax evasion
Competition and Antitrust Law Compliance Policy and sector-specific guidance
Our customer intranet site

Contacts

Still not clear, then contact the relevant Subject Matter Experts:

Some of these are internal links and only available if accessing from a Rolls-Royce GAD network asset.

Ethics and Compliance Team

What happens when…

A friend who works for a competitor has given me information about a sales campaign that Rolls-Royce is also involved in. It would give us a great opportunity to beat them to this contract so should I use it?

No, do not use this information; using it is unfair competition and unethical. Immediately discuss this with your manager and contact the Ethics and Compliance team for guidance.

When working with our suppliers and partners – we will:

Communicate clearly and honestly with our suppliers and partners, while taking care to protect intellectual property and any confidential information;
Make sure that all our bid preparations, contract negotiations and communications with suppliers and partners are accurate and true;
Follow our supplier selection processes to make sure that suppliers are chosen fairly;
Set out clear terms in our contracts with suppliers and partners and operate in line with them, making sure all communications are accurate and true; and
Follow all our quality and safety processes and procedures to safeguard the quality, safety and reliability of our products and services. If we have any concerns, we deal with them together with our suppliers and partners, finding solutions that work for both of us.

Group Policies

If need more information having reviewed our principles, these policy documents could help:

Some of these are internal links and only available if accessing from a Rolls-Royce GAD network asset.

Additional Guidance

Having reviewed our principles and policies another potential source of information might be:

Some of these are internal links and only available if accessing from a Rolls-Royce GAD network asset.

Supplier Code of Conduct
Safety Management System Manual
SABRe
Preventing the facilitation of tax evasion
Competition and Anti-Trust Law Compliance Policy

Contacts

Still not clear, then contact the relevant Subject Matter Experts:

Some of these are internal links and only available if accessing from a Rolls-Royce GAD network asset.

Procurement
Ethics and Compliance Team

If need more information having reviewed our principles, these policy documents could help:

Some of these are internal links and only available if accessing from a Rolls-Royce GAD network asset.

Human Rights

We recognise our responsibility to respect Human Rights. We are committed to protecting and preserving the rights of our employees, those employed in our supply chain and those affected by our operations.

What happens when…

One of the suppliers we use has given me a really competitive price, though this seems to be because their pay is low – possibly below the legal minimum. It’s good for us, but I’m not sure I’m happy.

You should discuss your concerns with your manager and the manager responsible for this supplier. We are committed to making sure that our suppliers do not unlawfully exploit their employees.

I saw an email that makes me think one of my colleagues might be doing some kind of deal with a supplier to say that they are providing a service that we don’t actually get. I might be wrong, what should I do?

You are right to be concerned about protecting our company. Immediately report the matter in accordance with the guidance in the Speaking Up section.

When working with our communities – we will:

Make sure that all charitable contributions and social sponsorships, which may be given in time and gifts-in-kind as well as money:
- sit comfortably within our policy and have been approved and reported;
- are legitimate, appropriate and proportionate;
- can’t be interpreted as trying to influence the giver or the receiver (e.g. be seen as bribes) and
Not use the company’s funds or assets for political donations.

Group Policies

If need more information having reviewed our principles, these policy documents could help:

Sponsorships and Donations Policy

Additional Guidance

Some of these are internal links and only available if accessing from a Rolls-Royce GAD network asset.

Contacts

Some of these are internal links and only available if accessing from a Rolls-Royce GAD network asset.

Your leader
Your business Ethics and Compliance team
Your local community investment contact
The global Community Investment team
Community Investment Manager and Policy Specialist (Gill Fennell) for any enquiries relating to the Group Charitable Contributions and Sponsorships Committee
Community Investment Manager and Reporting Specialist (Debbie Duro)
Group Charitable Contributions and Social Sponsorships Committee, when it is necessary to seek enhanced approval

If need more information having reviewed our principles, these policy documents could help:

Sponsorships and Donations Policy

Why do we invest in our communities? Because it supports our future success by:

Helping us to attract, recruit and retain the best people with the right skills from many different backgrounds, particularly by investing in the skills we need;
Providing us with opportunities to engage with each other and develop our skills and behaviours while we have a positive impact in our communities; and
Helping to show our customers, investors and other stakeholders the kind of company we are.

What happens when…

Can I get support to help my local charity?

We do support not-for-profit organisations including charities, schools and community groups. Many contributions are in time and gifts in-kind, as well as financial donations. Make sure these sit within our Charitable Contributions and Social Sponsorships Policy, have a legitimate purpose, and are approved by your line manager. Talk to the Community Investment team if you need more advice.

A customer has asked me if Rolls-Royce will make a donation to its charity as part of our bid. The charity looks legitimate so can I do this?

Even if this is a legitimate charity, the connection between the proposed donation and the bid could mean that this is seen as a bribe. You should politely decline.

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