Guidance, Tools and Standards

Ethical assurance tools and providers

IBE Publication Living Up to Our Values – Developing Ethical Assurance >>

AA1000 Assurance Standard (Institute Of Social And Ethical Accountability) The Assurance Standard sets out principles for the effective assurance of qualitative and quantitative data in sustainability reports directed to external stakeholders. It is designed to complement the GRI Reporting Guidelines and other standardised or company-specific approaches to disclosure. www.accountability21.net

Accountability Rating (csr network and AccountAbility) Provides criteria which an assurance provider can use to rate an organisation’s ethical performance. It looks specifically at stakeholder engagement, governance, strategic intent, performance management, public disclosure, assurance. www.accountabilityrating.com

Arcturus (Caux Round Table) Arcturus aims to assist senior executives, boards of directors and business owners address the growing expectation of responsible business conduct through systematic self-appraisal. Appraisal is based on a matrix of stakeholder groups against the Caux Round Table General Business Principles (including stakeholder orientation, ethical business conduct and respect for the environment). The results enable managers to identify current and emerging issues, and launch targeted improvement initiatives. www.cauxroundtable.org/Arcturus.htm

GoodCorporation GoodCorporation is an independent assessment company that helps organisations to: - Systematically measure business practices to make sure that they are working in a fair, transparent and responsible way - Understand how employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders perceive these practices to work in reality - Make improvements to practices where issues are identified - Communicate clearly their corporate responsibility performance to stakeholders www.goodcorporation.com/assessment.php

Impactt Impactt helps companies to improve labour standards in their supply chains in a way that makes business sense. Among other things, it carries out production site assessments to help companies understand the issues and to show them how working conditions could be improved. www.impacttlimited.com/our-work/opening-eyes-and-minds/

The Reassurance Network The Reassurance Network provides independent review and assurance to help businesses be more aware and more responsible. They support business objectives in three critical areas: Performance Improvement, Strategic Direction, Trust and Assurance. www.re-assurance.co.uk

More assurance providers can be found on www.corporateregister.com/reportingpartners/