Governance

Conflict of Interest Management Policy

Sustain Procurement is an independent specialist advisory practice. Managing actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest is fundamental to protecting client interests, maintaining professional integrity and upholding public trust in the advice we provide.

Purpose

This policy sets out how Sustain Procurement identifies, discloses, records and manages conflicts of interest across every engagement, whether commercial, personal, financial or reputational.

Scope

This policy applies to all advisory work undertaken by Sustain Procurement, including procurement strategy, sustainable and social procurement, modern slavery, governance, contract management, capability uplift and any other services delivered to clients.

Identification

Before accepting any engagement, Sustain Procurement assesses whether the proposed work could create an actual, potential or perceived conflict with any current or previous engagement, personal interest, financial interest or professional relationship. The assessment is repeated throughout the engagement as new information becomes known.

Disclosure

Any identified conflict is disclosed to the client in writing at the earliest opportunity. Disclosure includes the nature of the conflict, the parties involved, and the proposed management response. Clients are given the opportunity to accept, decline or seek further information before the engagement proceeds.

Management

Where a conflict cannot be avoided, it is managed through appropriate controls, which may include declining the engagement, restricting the scope of work, restricting access to information, engaging additional independent oversight, or withdrawing from the engagement entirely.

Independence from suppliers

Sustain Procurement does not accept commissions, referral fees, kickbacks, gifts or other benefits from suppliers, vendors or intermediaries. Sustain Procurement does not maintain preferred supplier arrangements and does not recommend suppliers on any basis other than the objective interests of the client.

Recording

Conflict assessments, disclosures and management arrangements are documented and retained in the engagement record. Records are available to the client on request.

Review

This policy is reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect evolving professional standards and client expectations.

Questions about how a specific engagement is being managed can be raised confidentially at any time via the contact page.