The Association of Convenience Stores and the Federation of Wholesale Distributors are relaunching the Standards & Dignity Charter, which has been updated as we emerge on the other side of the pandemic with face-to-face working and events ramping up.
A group of leading businesses across the wholesale and convenience landscape came together last year to relaunch the the charter, which was first launched in 2019, so it can serve as a tool to unify the trade on best practice while at events and in the workplace.
The biggest change is the launch of the Standards & Dignity badge.
It is intended that an employee of a business which has signed up to the charter will feel reassured that they will be mixing with colleagues and contacts which will follow the highest standards of conduct when the Standards & Dignity badge-style logo is seen on ticket confirmations, companies’ websites and email signatures.
FWD, ACS and Women in Wholesale will be displaying the logo on all event communication and contacting members to invite them to sign-up to the new-look charter.
FWD chief executive James Bielby said: “We are relaunching the Charter as the trade gets back to meeting face-to-face, to remind everyone that this a sector where everyone should feel comfortable and supported working not just with their own colleagues, but with partners from other businesses. Promoting high standards based on common standards, with the Standards and Dignity stamp on events, can help us to attract and retain the best people to our sector, and for them to feel safe and valued.”
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “It is non-negotiable that people working in our industry need to feel safe and respected all the time they are working. This charter promotes common sense principles around good behaviour and I’m really pleased that businesses running events in the sector and many of the industry’s biggest brands are actively promoting the charter.”
WiW founder Elit Rowland said: “Industry events are an important part of networking and learning, so it’s crucial that businesses do their part to make all event-goers feel comfortable and welcome, which in turn creates the inclusive and diverse culture we are striving for. Signing the charter is a demonstration of your commitment to do that.”
Please find a link here for the information which will appear on the FWD website: https://www.fwd.co.uk/standards-and-dignity/, which includes a suggested process for implementing the charter when FWD, ACS or WiW members are organising events. It is also an applicable process to those businesses organising events within the convenience and wholesale sectors.
