Woodland Burial Parks - Cemeteries For Our Time
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT
'There is a better way'
Woodland Burial Parks Limited was created out of the enthusiasm and vision of a committed group of individuals. They felt that bereaved families were often let down by poor and inappropriate service. There had to be something better, and they set out to provide that service.
Today we have an established operation delivering a really special experience for those attending our cemeteries.
This Code of Business Conduct sets out the Values. These sustain our commitment to improve continually the quality and appropriateness of our service. This Code applies to everyone connected with the Company and to everything we do. For those who work for Woodland Burial Parks, this Code sets out the standard we expect from them in their everyday activity. For the families we serve, it contains our promise that their needs are both recognised and wherever possible exceeded. For our shareholders, it is their reassurance that the Company continuously strives for the highest ethical business standards while delivering a satisfactory return on their investment.
Increasingly important is our commitment to improve the environment in which we operate, by encouraging natural plants and wildlife back into the woodlands; and to utilise the setting to help our visitors learn more about their local environment, should they wish to do so.
This Code therefore sets out what we stand for. It explains the standards by which we judge ourselves and by which we will be judged.
Sir Michael Bibby
Our Promise
To provide the highest quality service and burial options for the bereaved. We will achieve this through creating a natural, beautiful environment, which offers dignity to the deceased whilst still retaining absolute respect for the bereaved families who use our services.
Our Values
- We respect people of all origins, cultures, faiths and beliefs.
- We aim to fulfil and if possible exceed the desires and expectations of all those we serve.
- We offer equal access and opportunity to the disabled and physically infirm.
- We respect and nurture the woodland and landscape setting of our Parks and employ strategies that actively encourage their continuous environmental improvement and enhancement of their natural biodiversity
- We always act with integrity, dignity, transparency and respect towards others.
- We aim to recruit, motivate and retain the best people for each role within the Company.
- We actively support the local community in each area that we serve.
- We aim to apply best practice corporate governance for a business of our size.
Our Relationship With Families
Many families that we serve will be bereaved and must, at all times, be treated with sensitivity and respect. They are at the centre of everything we do. We intend to meet and exceed their expectations by building a relationship that is based on an open, caring, honest and responsible approach to the delivery of our service.
The Company therefore:
- does not discriminate against any faith, creed or belief in the choice of available services and burial options;
- provides Service Halls that are designed to facilitate all known faiths or beliefs without offence. Religious symbols may be introduced to satisfy the needs of each faith as required;
- does not allow ceremonies to take place that would cause offence to any of the recognised faiths;
- is committed to listening to the needs of families and will look for positive ways continuously to improve the quality of our service; and
- deals with complaints sensitively and quickly. Every complaint gives us the opportunity to grow in understanding.
Our Relationship With Employees
We believe that our employees are our most valuable resource. We seek to be an employer of choice and hope that they work for us not only because of rewarding opportunities that we offer but also because they share our values.
The Company therefore:
- recruits and promotes employees on the basis of their suitability for the job without discrimination in terms of race, religion, politics, national origin, colour, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or unrelated criminal convictions;
- encourages staff to share ideas and feedback from families so that standards can continuously be improved;
- has Investors in People Accreditation, whereby we are bound:
- to explain to employees the objectives of the Company and the role that each one plays in achieving its goals
- to keep employees informed of the activities of and developments within the Company
- to encourage employees at all levels to progress by means of annual appraisals and the offer of training to further their experience;
- provides employees with a competitive benefits package in line with market rates;
- provides a workplace culture that is open, innovative, empowering and creative, where everyone seeks to understand the unique needs of the customer and is motivated to achieve positive results;
- recognises the contribution that each employee makes to the creation of a successful business;
- aims to provide secure jobs but, operating within an ever-changing business environment, will plan recruitment responsibly and always inform employees, so far as it is possible, on future prospects;
- seeks to provide a clean, healthy and safe work environment;
- looks favourably on requests to work flexibly, subject to the needs of the business being met;
- has detailed procedures for dealing with employees’ grievances and disputes
- recognises the rights of employees to be members of trade unions; and most importantly
- communicates effectively with all employees in respect of our corporate, ambitions, goals and performance against targets
Our Relationship With Shareholders
The Company recognises the important contribution of its shareholders. In everything we do, we are accountable to them.
The Company therefore:
- seeks to provide a fair and rewarding economic return to shareholders;
- seeks to ensure that its executives comply with this Code of Business Conduct and they conform with corporate governance standards that accord with best practice for a business of our size;
- seeks to ensure that its executives develop challenging plans and targets and will monitor progress against them;
- communicates regularly with shareholders in respect of the Company’s performance and long-term plans;
- values the contribution and experience that many of our shareholders can offer; and
- produces financial reports that follow best practice and are reliable, transparent, accurate and timely.
Our Relationship With The Community
Woodland Burial Parks Ltd is a community-focused business.
The Company therefore:
- seeks to provide what is an essential service to the community efficiently and compassionately;
- takes into account the concerns of the wider community, at both local and national levels;
- sympathetically considers requests by employees to participate in community affairs;
- contributes financially and in kind to the communities that we serve; and
- recognises that we also have an educational role to play within the community.
Our Relationship With Suppliers
Woodland Burial Parks Ltd seeks to build partnerships with its suppliers, developing relationships that are based on trust and are to our mutual advantage.
The Company therefore:
- undertakes to pay suppliers on time, according to agreed terms of trade;
- works with suppliers to secure proper and safe working conditions;
- encourages suppliers to reduce their environmental impact; and
- seeks to establish clear lines of communications with suppliers.
Our Relationship With Disabled And Physically Infirm People
We understand that many disabled and physically infirm people will wish to visit graves or attend services.
The Company therefore:
- has created paths that are graded in such a way that they allow wheelchair access to most areas;
- provides sufficient accessible Disabled Toilets;
- ensures that all buildings have suitable access with wide doors and without steps;
- provides, by appointment, an electric buggy to allow any physically infirm person to have full access to our cemetery; and
- provides a hearing loop in our Woodland Halls.
Our Commitment To The Environment
We actively employ strategies that continually encourage the environmental improvement and enhance the natural biodiversity of our Parks and acknowledge our role in limiting climate change.
The Company therefore:
- has devised clear and precise rules in our Parks to ensure that environmental objectives are met;
- monitors and reviews all aspects of its environmental policies on a regular basis to ensure best practice;
- aims to minimise its carbon footprint by constructing buildings using sustainable materials and whenever possible renewable energy, and adopting the highest standards in energy conservation, waste management and recycling;
- uses ecologically sound techniques in managing its assets and the woodlands, minimising the use of pesticides;
- provides an educational programme which raises public awareness of the environment, energy conservation and the value of native woodlands, their habitats and wildlife;
- engages all age groups in actively encouraging natural wildlife diversity through their activities within its Parks, and their contribution to habitat creation and management. e.g. by native planting, bird feeding and nest box provision and management;
- encourages and educates funeral directors and their clients to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of non biodegradable materials in coffins and the elimination of timber from non-sustainable sources;
- contributes appropriately to environmental charitable causes relevant to the business; and
- identifies and develops Parks where it can make a direct and positive contribution to restoring and expanding native woodland and habitats for the benefit of future generations.