Thank you for choosing to attend NHS ConfedExpo. To help provide a safe, welcoming, inclusive and professional environment for all participants, this Participant Code of Conduct (“Code”) establishes minimum expectations of conduct for all individuals (such as attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, contractors, volunteers and other guests, collectively referred to as “Participants”) who participate in any manner in NHS ConfedExpo and any associated social gatherings or activities sponsored or affiliated with NHS ConfedExpo.
By attending NHS ConfedExpo, you agree to abide by this Code. This Code is intended to supplement any other applicable NHS ConfedExpo, organisational or employer policies and may be revised at any time without further notice. We intend for the policies and provisions to be compliant and construed in accordance with applicable law.
Expected Conduct
We ask you to help us make NHS ConfedExpo an experience that is welcoming and respectful to all participants.
The following behaviours are expected of all event participants:
- Behaving in a courteous and professional manner;
- Treating all participants with respect, dignity, and consideration, in the spirit of valuing a diversity of views and opinions;
- Welcoming all voices, whether participating in-person or remotely;
- Being considerate, respectful, and collaborative in your communications and actions;
- Discussing differences and critiquing ideas, not people, in a non-confrontational manner with due regard for the viewpoints of others;
- Refraining from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behaviour and speech;
- Reporting to event staff suspected inappropriate behaviour directed at yourself or others;
- Respecting and abiding the code, policies, and property of the event organisers and its contracted event facilities and vendors; and
- Complying with the directions of the event organisers, and all applicable laws and regulations.
Prohibited conduct
Violations of this Code include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Discriminatory conduct based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law;
- Harassment, meaning unwelcome or offensive verbal comments, visual displays, or physical contact directed at any participant, including conduct, comments or images that a person would reasonably find offensive.
- Sexual harassment, meaning unwelcome, unsolicited, and unreciprocated sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other physical conduct, comments, or gestures of a sexual nature that has or that might reasonably be expected to be perceived to offend, humiliate, or intimidate another person;
- Deliberate intimidation, threatening, stalking, or following;
- Conducting oneself in a manner that is unruly, disruptive, or unprofessional, or that endangers the health or safety of yourself or others, including alcohol over-intoxication or overindulgence;
- Actual or threatened pushing, shoving, or use of any physical force or weapon of any kind against any person;
- Possession of prohibited items, including, but not limited to, weapons of any kind (including knives, firearms, or other items that may cause harm to others), illegal drugs, or alcohol not served by venue personnel, or officially designated NHS ConfedExpo suppliers.
- Destruction, theft, dismantlement, defacement, abuse or intentional misuse of NHS ConfedExpo-contracted venues, property, equipment, signage or supplies;
- Failure to comply with directions of event organisers, event venue personnel, or NHS ConfedExpo staff regarding event operations;
- Retaliation or threat of retaliation against Participants for reporting activity that they reasonably believed to be in violation of this Code; and
- Knowingly and falsely reporting violations of this Code in bad faith.
This list is not exhaustive, and it is likely there will be conduct issues that it does not specifically address. In that event, as in all others, Participants are expected to follow the direction of NHS ConfedExpo staff who will take appropriate action to ensure the safety, security and well-being of participants.
Freedom of speech and right to protest
The event organisers encourage participants to respectfully share, debate, and challenge views and positions on a wide range of issues, and we uphold freedom of speech within the law.
The right to lawful protest however is not unfettered and must be balanced between the rights of protesters to assert their views on the one hand and, on the other, the rights of other Participants to go about their business safely, unimpeded and free from intimidation and harassment.
If you are arranging or participating in a protest at NHS ConfedExpo
- Secure the necessary permissions for the protest to take place, and give a minimum notice of 48 hours of the protest to the Event organisers by email confedexpo@nhsconfed.org and;
- Follow any safety, security, location, and other advice given to you by the Event organisers and their representatives.
- Clearly communicate information about the protest to the protest participants, including any relevant event guidance.
- Make sure you do not block access routes, particularly for emergency vehicles, and clear away any litter.
- Confirm proof of identity as an attendee of NHS ConfedExpo if asked to do so by Event staff and their representatives, or you may be asked to leave the conference.
Please do not:
- Use intimidating, abusive, threatening, or illegal language or imagery via communications, placards, banners, posters, chants, chalking or other means.
- Occupy parts of the NHS ConfedExpo venue or disrupt any sessions, networking, meetings or other associated NHS ConfedExpo proceedings.
- Intentionally or carelessly damage any property as part of your protest including exhibition stands.
- Attach posters, banners or other protest materials to the NHS ConfedExpo venue or associated property without permission, otherwise these will be removed and confiscated.
- Seek to disrupt any part of the event by preventing speakers from talking, people from attending, or doing anything that is designed to prevent the event taking place successfully.
- Undertake any other activities that could be considered in breach of this code and UK legislation.
Consequences of participant engagement in prohibited conduct
The NHS ConfedExpo organisers have a zero-tolerance policy regarding prohibited conduct. Participants asked to stop any inappropriate conduct are expected to comply immediately. The event organisers, at their sole discretion, will determine the nature of the participant’s conduct that warrants corrective action as well as the corrective action to be taken. Corrective action may take any of the following forms: verbal warning; expulsion from the event without a refund or credit; bar from future events; an individual’s suspension or expulsion from NHS Confederation membership (subject to established NHS Confederation procedures); notifying your employer and/or notifying appropriate authorities. The decision(s) of the event organisers is final.
Reporting Unacceptable Behaviour
Violations of this Code are taken seriously. Please promptly report any concerns about inappropriate conduct to NHS ConfedExpo staff present at the event. NHS ConfedExpo staff can be located in the Organiser Office, located in the main foyer of Manchester Central. If urgent intervention is required, please locate the nearest member of the event team which may include stewards of Manchester Central (identifiable through blue coat uniform).
If you see something suspicious or would like to report a security issue, please contact Event venue security (identified by their blue coat uniform) and a member of the NHS ConfedExpo team.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 999 and alert the event team or security staff.
Thank you for keeping NHS ConfedExpo professional, welcoming, and respectful to all.
Key contacts for reporting purposes
NHS ConfedExpo organising team – they can be found in Organiser Office 1, located behind the reception desk in the main foyer of Manchester Central
Manchester Central Stewards / Security – posted around the venue throughout the duration of the event. They can be identified by their blue coat uniform.
Email – Our main conference inbox will be monitored throughout the duration of the show. Please email confedexpo@nhsconfed.org
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