Cavalier Bremworth first with ethics affiliation

Recognising that having a good reputation has never been more important, Cavalier Bremworth has undergone an independent audit by GoodCorporation in the UK to measure if the company is living up to its standards and behaving in an ethically responsible manner.

It is the first company to complete the audit process in New Zealand and to be awarded affiliate membership status to GoodCorporation, having passed the standard required for accreditation.

Chief Operating Officer for Cavalier Bremworth's parent company Cavalier Corporation, Colin McKenzie said the audit - carried out with Cavalier Bremworth staff, suppliers, customers and key stakeholders - was both an informative and a challenging exercise.

"We were essentially asking those who know us 'are we really okay to do business with, to work for'?"

"At Cavalier Bremworth, our reputation is everything. Leading by example is something we've always prided ourselves on and it's why we were keen to see how we measured up. Certainly there are some areas for us to improve upon and over the coming year we will be making some changes to ensure we do things even better.

"We're delighted to now have an independent and international trust mark. Just like our Environmental Choice accreditation, we believe over time it will become a symbol that people seek out and which gives great confidence about doing business with us," he said.

Jane Arnott, country manager for GoodCorporation in New Zealand, said the company had a history of "firsts" which indicated a culture of forward thinking.

"Their decision to put their operation under scrutiny and invite comment from all their stakeholders was a critical, but necessary step to substantiate their credentials as a responsible and ethical business. The fact they were the first to do this in New Zealand highlights their willingness to differentiate the company by being in-tune with far-reaching global trends."

Arnott said that more and more consumers were seeking out products from companies that are honest and ethical.

"They want to know the back story, to know that the company stands for something and isn't afraid to be judged on its values," she said.

Colin McKenzie said that consumers most likely to be influenced by the GoodCorporation accreditation were those who had been disappointed or hurt by the behaviour of finance and property companies and wanted to deal with companies they could trust.

"We also believe there is huge potential to use the accreditation as a unique selling proposition for highly competitive commercial contracts offshore," he said.

The GoodCorporation Standard was developed in conjunction with the Institute of Business Ethics in London. The audit methodology is aligned to the principles of the The United Nations Global Compact - a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

GoodCorporation will carry out repeat audits with Cavalier Bremworth at 18 month intervals to help the company measure performance improvements and keep its accreditation valid.

 

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