Integrity Policy
Apollo Accreditation
1. The standard
We tell clients the truth, including when it costs us the engagement. An accreditation consultancy that tells people what they want to hear is worse than useless, because it sells false confidence to organisations that will be inspected.
2. What this means in practice
We do not claim a submission will be approved when we do not believe it will be.
We do not describe ourselves as a regulator, an awarding organisation or an accreditation body, and we correct anyone who describes us that way.
We do not imply endorsement by a regulator or accreditation body that has not endorsed us.
We do not present another organisation's work as our own, and we reference sources properly in everything we write.
3. Claims about accreditation
Accreditation language is easy to abuse and hard for a buyer to check. We use it precisely.
Where a programme is accredited, we name the body, the framework, the level and the date. Where it is not, we do not use the word. Where an application is pending, we say pending and we do not let a client market it as complete.
4. Conflicts
Where our interests and a client's interests diverge, we disclose it. The largest of those is structural: Apollo Accreditation is a trading name of Auren Institute, which also sells compliance training, so we may advise a client who competes with our own group. We put that in front of clients at the outset rather than waiting to be asked, because a policy that says we tell the truth is worthless if we hide the most obvious thing about ourselves.
Our conflicts of interest policy sets out how this and every other conflict is identified, recorded and managed.
5. Gifts and hospitality
We do not offer or accept anything intended to influence a regulatory or accreditation decision. Our anti-bribery and corruption policy governs this in full.
6. Raising a concern
Anyone, inside or outside the organisation, can raise a concern about our conduct by writing to info@apolloaccreditation.com. Concerns are looked at by someone not involved in the matter.
We do not retaliate against anyone who raises a concern in good faith, and we do not require them to be right.