While Sheriff has grown considerably since the business was first established over two decades ago, some things haven’t changed. Trust, respect, keeping our promises and taking pride in the quality of our work have always been fundamental to the way we do business.
As a business grows, however, it becomes increasingly important to make sure the standards it was built on are clearly understood by everyone who represents it. That’s why we’ve recently introduced a new Code of Ethics and Conduct across Sheriff Group. Read on to find out more about why this matters and what we hope it will achieve.
Turning values into everyday behaviour
Codes of conduct can sometimes be seen simply as another corporate policy – a document setting out what people can and can’t do, usually within some kind of legal or regulatory framework.
Although compliance with legislation, regulations and company policies is essential, a truly ethical business is also about the decisions people make every day – including those situations where there isn’t necessarily a hard and fast rule telling you exactly what to do.
That’s where our new Code comes in – asking everyone representing Sheriff, including Directors, employees, subcontractors and agency workers, to take personal responsibility for protecting the reputation, relationships and standards that have been built over many years.
Perhaps most importantly, its principles are there to help guide our decisions and behaviour – even when no one is watching.
In practice, that can mean something as simple as being honest when a mistake has been made, treating someone fairly, refusing to cut corners or speaking up when something doesn’t seem right.
What does doing business the right way mean?
Our Code covers a wide range of responsibilities, but at its heart are some straightforward principles.
- We expect people representing Sheriff to act with integrity, communicate openly and take responsibility for their actions. We want everyone to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect, regardless of their role or background.
- Safety and quality are equally fundamental. Our Code makes clear that safety should never be compromised for programme, cost or convenience, while the quality of our work should reflect the standards our clients, colleagues and communities have every right to expect from us.
- It also covers how we protect confidential information and company assets, manage potential conflicts of interest and safeguard Sheriff’s reputation through the way we communicate and conduct ourselves.
- And our responsibilities don’t stop at the boundaries of our projects. The Code reflects our commitment to making a positive contribution to the communities where we work, minimising our environmental impact and supporting responsible and sustainable business practices.
Different situations may require different decisions, but these principles give us a consistent starting point.
Why does this become more important as a business grows?
In a small business, culture can develop quite naturally. People work closely together, information travels quickly and the expectations of the people leading the company are often communicated directly through everyday interaction.
Growth inevitably changes some of that. As an organisation expands, there are more teams, projects, clients, suppliers and subcontractors – and potentially more situations where individuals have to exercise their own judgement and act on behalf of the business.
Having clear standards helps ensure that growth doesn’t dilute the principles on which a business was built. For Sheriff, our Code isn’t intended to replace individual judgement or create a rule for every possible situation. Instead, it establishes a shared understanding of what we expect from anyone representing our Group, wherever they work and whatever their role.
Just the starting point
Introducing a Code of Ethics and Conduct doesn’t, by itself, create an ethical business.
The real test is whether the principles within it are reflected in the decisions and behaviours we see every day.
Everyone working for or on behalf of Sheriff Group therefore has a responsibility to understand and follow the Code. Our managers and leaders have an additional responsibility to lead by example and make sure those standards are reflected in day-to-day decisions. And we’re also going further by introducing a Sheriff Playbook that will provide a practical decision guide, operating standard and reference for our team – helping us protect the principles that have shaped Sheriff as we take the business through its next chapter.
Our Code of Ethics and Conduct is available for anyone to read HERE.
30.09.2026
Feature image: xstock/Shutterstock.com
