Supplier Code of Conduct

SUPPLIER CODE OF CONDUCT - 2024 Revision

About Simplified Loader - FZCO

Simplified Loader - FZCO (Simplified Loader) is a leading provider of world-class IT solutions. Our growing portfolio of services includes cloud, licensing, consulting, and managed services. Simplified Loader was estalished in 2017, Simplified Loader now have presence in the UK and UAE, with customers around the globe. Thanks to our passionate people and close partnerships, we have helped the Public Sector and Corporate entities transform workplace and empower individuals.

Mission and Values

Simplified Loader prides itself on its corporate values and promotes these to its employees, customers and suppliers.

We strive to give value for money on the products and services we offer, always aiming to reduce cost for customers by providing innovative solutions, but also working with them in an ethical and fair manner.

Simplified Loader also ensures its suppliers are treated fairly, ensuring invoices are paid in a timely manner as well as promoting fair commercial arrangements that will ultimately benefit them and our customers.

Simplified Loader encourages all suppliers that the products they supply are from sustainable sources and have excellent quality and environmental practices in place. This includes ensuring that human rights are adhered to throughout the supply chain.

Simplified Loader is an ethical employer and is committed to raising the well-being, living standards, skills and health of all its staff.

Legal Regulatory and Ethical Standards

Simplified Loader requires all its suppliers to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and standards, including but not limited to DPA 2018, Bribery Act 2010, Criminal Finances Act 2017, Modern Slavery Act 2015, and the Sanction Laws.

Equality and diversity

Simplified Loader expects its suppliers to uphold the same values about equality and diversity in the workplace as we do.

Diversity

Simplified Loader understands the need for diversity in the workforce and believes that this provides a wider opportunity for team members to join us and provide a better business service to our customers.

  • Respect: Simplified Loader respects the identities and cultures of employees, customers and all other stakeholders. The same is expected of all suppliers.
  • Non-discrimination: Simplified Loader promotes and strictly enforces that our workplace is free of harassment of any nature. Staff shall not be threatened in any way or be subjected to any sort of harsh or inhumane treatment, including but not limited to mental or physical coercion, sexual harassment or abuse, verbal abuse, or unreasonable restrictions regarding entering or exiting company provided facilities. There is zero tolerance for discrimination based on but not limited to race, colour, ethnicity or national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religious views, political affiliation, or marital status.

Compensation and working hours

Simplified Loader supports equal pay for work of equal value and complies with national laws and regulations regarding working hours, minimum wages and benefits. Working hours or overtime hour shall not exceed the maximum permitted by applicable laws and regulations. Staff shall always be given reasonable notice for overtime. Staff shall be paid on time at regular intervals as agreed at the time of employment.

Simplified Loader is a Living Wage Employer and expects its suppliers to either be a Living Wage Employer or adhere to the standards set out by the Living Wage Foundation.

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy – Simplified Loader

Modern Slavery Act

All suppliers are expected to fully comply with the obligations set out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including but not limited to the commitment to having a slavery-free supply chain. Suppliers with an annual turnover of more than £36 million are required to produce and publish a Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement each financial year.

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our Modern Slavery Act Policy and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

Modern Slavery Statement – Simplified Loader

Health, Safety and Well-Being

All of Simplified Loader suppliers and contractors must comply with the health and safety legislation relevant to the extent of the works or goods supplied. We expect suppliers and contractors to provide all their employees and others under their control with appropriate training, instruction, information, personal protective equipment, and a safe working environment. Any contractor working on behalf of Simplified Loader must also meet specific requirements as outlined in their contract. Suppliers shall commit to ensuring safe working conditions and a healthy environment for all staff, to aid in the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses and improvement to well-being.

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our Health and Safety policy and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

Health and Safety Policy – Simplified Loader

Business Continuity Planning

Simplified Loader’s supply chain is an integral part of the service provided to our customers. It is essential that our suppliers have a robust business continuity plan in place to protect their operations, and so far as is reasonable, protect the operations of Simplified Loader business operations to the extent that we rely on the Supplier. Events during which Simplified Loader expects a business continuity plan to be implemented include natural disasters, illness and infectious disease outbreaks, terrorism and software viruses.

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our Business Continuity Policy and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

COVID-19 Statement and Business Continuity Plan – Simplified Loader

Honesty, Integrity and Fair Business

Honesty and integrity are core to Simplified Loader values as a business. It is an expectation that Simplified Loader’s suppliers operate with honesty, integrity and transparency in all activities carried out as a business, complying with all relevant legislation including Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and the Bribery Act 2010.

In accordance with the Simplified Loader policy regarding gifts and entertainment, we do not permit any form of gifting or entertainment which could, or could be perceived to, improperly influence or induce individuals at Simplified Loader into procuring from any supplier where they may not ordinarily have done so.

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our Fraud, Bribery and Money Laundering Policy and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

Fraud, Bribery and Money Laundering Policy – Simplified Loader

Simplified Loader has zero tolerance to and facilitation of tax evasion in line with the Criminal Finances Act 2017. We expect all employees and associated persons to be able to identify and take steps to prevent any scenarios where there may be a risk that they are facilitating others to commit tax evasion, either in the UK or overseas.

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our Corporate Criminal Offence Policy and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

Criminal Offence Policy – Simplified Loader

Quality of Service

Simplified Loader is dedicated to the provision of high-quality services and products to its customers and maintaining a quality management system which ensures we meet the principles of quality, cost and delivery expected by customers.

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our Quality Policy and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

Quality Policy Statement – Simplified Loader

Whistleblowing

Simplified Loader respects the rights of staff, contractors and other stakeholders to raise their concerns about possible wrongdoing within the business. Simplified Loader has well established procedures in place allowing for the confidential disclosure of such concerns such that an investigation may be made into the allegations.

It is an expectation that Suppliers shall establish and implement procedures to ensure the protection of whistle-blower identities, including the ability to make a confidential disclosure to the relevant team member and safeguarding against retaliatory actions which may take place as a result of whistleblowing made in good faith.

Whistleblowing Policy – Simplified Loader

Open and Fair Competition

Simplified Loader complies with the competition legislation. Suppliers shall uphold standards to safeguard fair conduct of business, competition and not obtain undue advantages, and shall not engage in practices including price fixing, bid rigging or blacklisting.

Environmental

As an integral part of Simplified Loader’ values and operations, it expects its suppliers to share the same considerations of mitigating harmful impact on the environment and climate. Preferably there shall be an environmentally trained person employed at or supporting the Supplier.

Simplified Loader holds the ISO14001:2015 accreditation and suppliers are encouraged to strive for the same, or to follow the guidelines for such accreditation in principle.

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our Environmental Policy and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

Environmental Policy Statement – Simplified Loader

Data Protection Act 2018

Simplified Loader expects its supply chain to protect all data that is provided to them in the course of business, to an appropriate standard as not to cause our Company to lose compliance or regulation through a deliberate act, negligence or ignorance. Personal, sensitive or confidential information must not be disclosed to a third party (either by accident or deliberately) without our prior agreement and must be handled according to current, relevant legislation (e.g. Data Protection Act 2018).

Simplified Loader adheres to the obligations set out in our data protection policies and expects its suppliers to follow the same in principle.

Data Protection Policy – Simplified Loader

Legal Requirements

Suppliers shall identify, monitor and understand applicable laws, regulations and customer requirements regarding Corporate responsibility. Adequate documentation and records to evidence regulatory compliance and licences to operate shall be in place.

Conclusion

Simplified Loader requires its suppliers to adhere to the policies as outlined within this Supplier Code of Conduct and commit to promoting and protecting (as far as possible) the human rights of everyone who works for Simplified Loader and all those who have dealings with the business.

Where it is found that a supplier does not comply with this Code of Conduct, or upon discovery of material and non-justifiable non-compliance and it fails to commit to a plan of action to remedy the same, Simplified Loader may elect to discontinue the relationship with them.