An unwavering commitment to ethical behaviour
Axians UK upholds a strong commitment to corporate governance, placing a strong emphasis on ethical behaviour in all our contractual and customer interactions. We actively demonstrate our dedication to anti-corruption, sustainability, and human rights, ensuring transparency not only within our own practices but also within those of our subcontractors. These ethical principles extend their benefits to our employees, customers, and supplier partners, fostering a culture of trust and integrity.
These are some of the specific activities, measures and commitments which we’ve identified that support the UN’s SDG8 – Decent work and economic growth, SDG12 – Responsible consumption and production, and SDG16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions
Our governance focuses
Anti-competitive practices
Axians UK and the VINCI Group strictly prohibit unlawful infringement of free competition. We take a strong stance against price fixing, bid rigging, and other anti-competitive practices, aligning with the VINCI Group’s code of conduct. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are maintained with major customers, suppliers, and prospective customers as needed, and we diligently track and update records of these NDAs. Contractual relationships with vendors and resellers ensure compliance with applicable laws and agreed-upon practices.
Ethical standards
Axians UK, as part of the VINCI Group, upholds the ethical standards ingrained in all our businesses. We adhere to these standards in every transaction, both internally and externally with customers and partners. Our commitment to corporate ethics aligns with our company values of being trusted, dynamic, and supportive. Compliance with laws and regulations is paramount, and we ensure adherence to applicable laws in all countries where we operate.
Corruption and instability
Axians UK strictly prohibits any form of corruption, including active or passive corruption, collusion, influence trafficking, or favouritism, during the negotiation and execution of contracts. We adhere to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery, which prohibits corruption of public employees. Anti-corruption training is provided to all Axians employees during induction and whenever there are changes in legislation.
Supplier governance
Axians UK prioritises global economic responsibility and supports local economic sustainability and entrepreneurship. We monitor payment timelines to suppliers and subcontractors to ensure compliance with contracted arrangements and assist with supplier cash flow.
In addition to managing environmental performance and carbon reduction plans, we collaborate with suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors to improve environmental performance. We also use local labour and materials where available to reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to the local community.
Accountability
Axians UK maintains supplier accountability by sharing our code of conduct for ethics, anti-corruption, and our commitment to eliminating modern slavery from our supply chain. We also share our commitments to modern slavery, social value, and carbon reduction with suppliers and customers, along with our performance against set metrics and projections. We request suppliers and partners to reciprocate by sharing their commitment and progress towards targets, allowing us to align goals and collaborate on specific initiatives.
Commercial risk management
Axians UK ensures compliance and manages commercial risk by training employees involved in commercial interactions and negotiations. We consider strategic, legal, financial, political, operational, and reputational risks in our processes. Our finance and business management teams adhere to the guiding principles outlined in the VINCI Energies Internal Control and Risk Management Manual. These measures enable Axians UK to understand, identify, and report commercial risk, ensuring clear understanding and agreement of obligations with suppliers and customers.
Quality control
Axians UK maintains high levels of operational excellence and commitment to customers and employees through continuous improvement and process review. Our leadership team oversees operational control processes, including induction, process delivery, and customer complaint management. Axians UK uphold high standards in operational management and reporting, holding ISO9001 accreditation. Additionally, we prioritise security risk management in operations and customer interactions, reflected in our ISO27001 certification.
Financial reporting
As a subsidiary of VINCI Energies, Axians UK’s financial reporting is consolidated within the group and included in the VINCI Energies UK&I Annual Report and VINCI Group financial statements. The financial performance of individual legal entities in the UK is also reported to Companies House.
Find out more about how we manage our Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance responsibilities
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