This is The Independent Buying Groups’ Buyer Code of Conduct. We expect our buyers to commit to upholding the highest standards of business conduct and to give suppliers complete confidence when purchasing their services.

This code outlines the standards we expect from every buyer who has the CALM Verified Buyer Certification & access to our CALM Supplier Directory.

C - CLEAR Communication

Building trust through transparency and reliability. Our buyers commit to:

Honest representation - accurate description of what you need suppliers to deliver

Upfront pricing transparency - commit to pay any quote received from our suppliers, which will be in line with our Supplier Code of Conduct.

A - ACCOUNTABLE Delivery

Delivering what is promised. Our buyers commit to:

Work together in partnership - collaborate with you to clearly agree on timelines and quality standards before a project starts.

Take responsibility - own our mistakes and work quickly to fix any issues that arise

L - LEGAL Standards

Operating with proper standards and protections. Our buyers commit to:

Professional conduct - maintain proper insurance, meet industry standards and follow all legal requirements

Confidentiality protection - keep all your business and project information completely secure

M - MORAL & Ethical

Doing the right thing for customers, employees, and the environment. Our buyers commit to:

Prompt payments - pay invoices as agreed for project delivery

Environmental responsibility - consider environmental impact and contribute positively to communities

Ethical practices - fair treatment of employees and ethical business operations

When Things Go Wrong

If problems happen, buyers commit to:

• Fix issues quickly - respond fast and explain what they'll do

• Take responsibility - own their mistakes and make things right

• Work with the supplier - find solutions that work for everyone

• Use our Complaints Process to find a resolution

Consequences of breaching the Buyer Code of Conduct

Buyers who breach the Buyer Code of Conduct could face:

• A Warning for a small issue

• A Final Warning for multiple small issues

• Loss of CALM Verified Buyer Certification for serious breach

The objective of our Code of Conduct for suppliers

We maintain these standards so that every CALM Verified Buyer works with our Suppliers in a Clear, Accountable, Legal, and Moral way. This ensures that suppliers can work with you knowing you have committed to a fair and transparent relationship with them.

For questions about this code or to report concerns, please get in touch with us at hello@theindepenedentbuyinggroup.co.uk

This Code of Conduct applies to all Verified Buyers and is effective as of 1st May 2025.