Business ethics
We are committed to carrying out our business lawfully, ethically and with integrity, no matter where in the world we operate.
As part of this commitment, we have a Code of Ethics which ensures that our staff, or any third parties acting on our behalf, do not act corruptly or unethically in our dealings with any other company, person or customer. We also have statements on modern slavery and a dignity at work policy.
These documents set out how acts of bribery and corruption, modern forms of slavery, and harassment are prevented from taking place in Cambridge University Press & Assessment’s business operations. The Code of Ethics provides guidance on the standards of behaviour to which all of our staff must adhere. These also reflect the common sense and good business practices that we all work to in any event. Third parties are provided with a comparable Third Party Code of Conduct, which provides similar guidance. The Code of Ethics and related documents have been designed to keep to UK civil and criminal legislation. They are also drafted to keep to laws around the world, as over 90 per cent of our business takes place outside the UK.
Dignity at work
We recognise the right of all colleagues to be treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the development of positive policies for the elimination of all kinds of harassment. Harassment at work in any form by any party is unacceptable and will not be permitted or condoned. Harassment because of the actual or perceived race, sex (including gender reassignment), sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, or disability of a person, or of someone with whom they associate (such as a colleague, relative or partner), constitutes unlawful discrimination for which both the harasser and Cambridge University Press & Assessment may be held liable.
Publishing ethics
At Cambridge, the integrity of our content and editorial publishing process is paramount. We have two sets of publishing ethics guidelines that relate to the different types of content we publish: Our Academic Research Publishing Ethics Guidelines and our Teaching and Learning Guidelines. These guidelines are aimed at many different groups, including authors, peer reviewers, editors within and outside Cambridge University Press & Assessment, societies and funders.
For all enquiries relating to publishing ethics, please contact us at publishingethics@cambridge.org. All queries will be handled sensitively and as confidentially as possible within the scope of any necessary subsequent investigation.
Third party code of conduct
We believe that our organisational goals should never be achieved at the expense of high ethical standards. As an organisation, we act ethically, sustainably, and in compliance with all global laws and regulations. We prohibit corrupt practices in any form, including bribery, kickbacks, extortion, fraud, and other unlawful payments.
We demand the same high ethical standards and business conduct from our third parties as we do our own people. Our Third party code of conduct details these standards and expectations.
Raising concerns
If you have any concerns you want to raise, you can get in touch either anonymously through our Speak-Up portal, through our publishing ethics email address, or by contacting our Executive Board.
Our Speak Up Portal is confidential and available to anyone who wishes to raise a concern. It is available 24/7, 365 days a year and allows for reporting anonymously (if permitted in your country) and in your own language.
Our Executive Board is responsible for our Code of Ethics and for ensuring that it is kept to.
