Expert Office Documents Quality Policy

We are proud to be a certified member of the PCG ISO 9001 quality scheme. Achieving this standard means not only that we have proved the effectiveness of our business processes to UKAS accredited ISO9001:2008 auditors, but also that we adhere strictly to the Scheme’s Code of Ethics, thus we continually maintain the highest levels of integrity and business excellence.

PCG ISO 9001 is a scheme for consultancy businesses to achieve full ISO9001:2008 compliance, independently audited by the most widely recognised certification body in the world (BVQi).

Our policy

Through the quality commitment made to our clients before and during engagements, we work to continually improve the quality, skill, and competency of the services supplied. We do this in accordance with our code of ethics, the statutory and regulatory requirements of our business sector, and the specified requirements of our clients and agents. We aim to:

1. Code of Ethics - follow and apply our code of ethics in all business circumstances.

2. Client Requirements - work to the contractual requirements agreed with our direct and end clients.

3. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements - identify and adhere to all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.

4. Continual Improvement - continually improve our skills and competencies in order to enhance our value to our clients.

5. Client focus - be receptive to client needs and respond to client feedback.

Code of Ethics

PCG ISO 9001 includes a mandatory Code of Ethics for participating members.

1. General

Act professionally and in good faith and to the highest standards properly required for the work objectives. Wherever possible react positively to client needs and respond to client feedback.

2. Client Education

Where it is in the interest of a client to have information relevant to the work or the client’s use of the work results, to enable the client to take the full benefit of the work, provide the client with the information. If it is appropriate for training to be provided to the client to enable the client to obtain full advantage of the work, advise the client of the advantage of training and either offer to provide any necessary training under agreed contractual arrangements or advise the client of any service provider that may be able to provide the training if appropriate.

3. Competence

Prior to accepting any work, make suitable enquiries to ensure familiarity with the requirements and scope of the work and that it is sufficiently competent to perform such work to a proper standard.

4. Confidentiality

Safeguard and respect any provided confidential information or documents of a client save to the extent permitted by the client, allowed under any contractual arrangements, or required by law.

5. Conflict of Interest

Not do anything that may be in conflict with the best interests of a client save to the extent permitted under any contractual arrangements. Where a potential conflict arises, first advise the client of the potential conflict and give the client an opportunity to end any contract or agree alternate arrangements. At all times before and during the provision of any services advise the client in good faith and not undertake work which it may be inappropriate to perform without first having advised the client of available options.

6. Contract

Wherever work is to be of a substantive nature, before starting such work enter into a written contract with the client reflecting the terms agreed.

7. Co-operation

Co-operate with any reasonable enquiry or investigation by a client into work undertaken as part of the services, but not so that the Scheme Member shall incur cost without reasonable compensation. Co-operate with any investigation accepted and undertaken by the PCG as part of the Scheme.

8. Discrimination

At all times act without discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic origin, and sexual orientation.

9. Employment

Take responsibility for the employment issues of its consultants and sub contractors performing the work for a client and not make any claim against a client for employment rights of any kind unless such a claim is genuine, the claim is made in good faith, and the relevant written contractual arrangements reflect a contract of employment.

10. Familiarity

Ensure familiarity with any applicable requirements of the business sector relevant to the work to be performed for a client.

11. Hardware

Take good care of hardware provided by a client and only use it as authorised and not for any other purpose. Ensure that its own equipment used in connection with any services is not incompatible with client systems and does not and is not capable of interfering with the operations of any client system. Advise the client where there may be incompatibility and propose one or more reasonable solutions to the client to overcome any perceived conflict, including use of alternative equipment.

12. Health & Safety

Act to prevent avoidable danger to health or safety, and report to the client any matter that the Scheme Member believes may affect the health and safety of any person.

13. Illegality

Not undertake any work that is, or which a professional person in the same position may consider to be illegal or perform any work that to the knowledge of the Scheme Member, may be used by a client to violate the law.

14. Inability to fulfil

If, once work has commenced, the Scheme Member has insufficient skill or resources or for any reason may not be able to complete any part of the work required for a client, advise the client of the difficulty and work with the client to resolve the problem in good faith, where necessary assisting the client to locate additional resources.

15. Independent Opinions

Only represent as independent those opinions that are free of self-interest. If an opinion is affected by self-interest, to disclose the self-interest.

16. Industry Standards

Ensure that services are provided in line with relevant industry standards.

17. Integrity

In all of their professional activities, act with honesty, integrity and courtesy applicable to the provider of first class professional services.

18. IPR

Cooperate with a client to ensure that there is no ambiguity as to ownership of IPR, and not claim entitlement to, or make use of IPR, that does not belong to the Scheme Member arising from work undertaken by the Scheme Member for the client except to any extent allowed by any contractual arrangements between the parties.

19. Misrepresentation

Not knowingly make any false statement to a client or any person working for or with a client. In particular:

not make any representation to a client or potential client that is not full and accurate or induce a client to engage the Scheme Member to provide services on the basis of incorrect information,

ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, that any historical information relating to work undertaken by the Scheme Member or any consultant or sub contractor on its behalf is correct in all material respects.

20. Negotiations

Ensure that any negotiations leading to a contract are conducted openly and in good faith. Use appropriate endeavours to ensure there is a good and clear understanding of requirements, objectives and obligations.

21. Obligations

Comply with its contractual obligations.

22. Openness

Keep the client informed of any matters relating to the conduct of and progress of work even if the information is detrimental to the Member.

23. Programs and software

At all times use reasonable endeavours to maintain the integrity of client programs or software used in connection with any services. Ensure that its own programs or software used in connection with any services is not incompatible with the clients systems and does not and is not capable of interfering with the operations of any client system. Advise the client where there may be incompatibility and propose one or more reasonable solutions to the client to overcome any perceived conflict, including use of alternative programs or software.

24. Relevant Legislation

Ensure its own compliance with legislation and regulations relevant to the nature of the work to be performed.

25. Software Piracy

Never knowingly install or use software that has not been properly licensed for use, and advise a client where it is apparent that a client system comprises of software that is unauthorised. Never knowingly install or use software that has not been properly licensed for use, and advise a client where it is apparent that a client system comprises of software that is unauthorised.

26. Use of consultants and sub contractors

Ensure that its consultants and sub contractors performing the work for a client are suitable and competent to perform the work, and in particular:

are familiar with the Code of Ethics and has agreed to act in accordance with the principles of the Code of Ethics,

through training or other methods retain necessary skills,

through training or other methods maintain sufficient knowledge of contemporary technology and developments relevant to the work requirements.

27. Work-around

Keep the client properly informed of obstacles that the Scheme Member becomes aware, or should reasonably be aware, may interfere with the objectives of the services provided or to be provided, and wherever appropriate, within the scope of any work undertaken, suggest any suitable work-around solutions.