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FORUM MEMBERS CODE OF CONDUCT

Last update: 22/08/26

1. Our commitment

Totnes Business Forum (“TBF”) aims to be an exemplar of best practice among local business networks. We ask everyone who takes part in TBF — as a Member, Sponsor Member, Associate Member, or Honorary Member — to share this commitment, in the positive spirit it is intended.

TBF commits to:

  • Provide an environment in which people feel safe, and where individual differences and the contributions of everyone are recognised and valued.

  • Respect the rights, dignity, and worth of everyone, and ask our Members to do the same.

  • Challenge any form of bias, discrimination, intimidation, or harassment we become aware of.

  • Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion as good management practice, sound business sense, and a principle that helps every organisation reach its full potential.

  • Make TBF's opportunities and membership benefits available to all Members appropriate to their tier, and make our events as accessible as possible.

  • Aspire for TBF's membership to be representative of all sections of the Totnes business community.

  • Keep reviewing our membership practices and procedures to make sure they remain fair.

2. Who this Code applies to

This Code applies to every Member, Sponsor Member, Associate Member, and Honorary Member of TBF (see TBF's Membership and Participation Policy for what these tiers mean), and to any owner, director, employee, or contractor of a Member organisation who takes part in TBF's activities on that Member's behalf.

This Code applies wherever Members interact as part of TBF — including at events and meetings, and in TBF's private members' Facebook and WhatsApp groups.

Directors and Steering Group members are also expected to uphold this Code in their dealings with Members, alongside the further duties set out in TBF's Code of Conduct for Directors and the Steering Group.

3. Raising a concern

Anyone who experiences, or becomes aware of, a situation where these standards are not met is asked to report it to TBF at hello@totnesbusinessforum.co.uk. All reports will be treated in confidence and with sensitivity, and handled in line with TBF's Complaints Policy.

If your concern is about a Director personally, you can instead raise it with the other Director or, if both Directors are implicated, with TBF's Steering Group.

4. What happens if this Code is not followed

TBF's Board may decline, suspend, or cancel the membership of any Member, Sponsor Member, Associate Member, or Honorary Member, or restrict access to TBF's benefits, services, events, or premises, where it reasonably believes this Code has not been followed. Where a Director has a personal or financial connection to the Member concerned, that Director will not take part in the decision, in line with TBF's Conflicts of Interest Policy.