Directors' Statement of Compliance with Section 172 Companies Act 2006

Arachne Holdco (UK) Limited; Arachne Midco (UK) Limited; Arachne Bidco (UK) Limited; Amtivo Topco Limited; Amtivo Midco Limited; Amtivo Finco Limited; Amtivo Group Limited; Amtivo Services Limited.

Section 172 (1) of the Companies Act 2006 recognises that the long-term success and reputation of a business depends on its relationship with stakeholders and its appreciation of the external impact of its activities; the directors consider, in good faith, that they have acted in a way that promotes the long-term success of the Group for the benefit of its members as a whole and in doing so have considered the impact on all stakeholders when considering the Group’s strategy.

Customers

The Group helps to build high performing, sustainable organisations that deliver for their customers, employees, investors and the societies in which they operate. It does this through the provision of accredited certification, training and technology-enabled services. The Group constantly monitors customer satisfaction using independent reviews (e.g. Feefo in the UK) and regularly analyses customer retention and progression rates.

Employees

The Group promotes its values of Integrity, Authenticity, Collaboration, Agility and Performance throughout the organisation and recognises the importance of keeping employees informed about changes in the businesses especially when acquiring other businesses. There are weekly cascades to all teams as well as bulletins, strategy briefings and timely updates on strategic activities such as mergers and acquisitions. The Group has invested in a branded social media platform which is extensively use by all staff and is being extended into a global platform. The Group has also made significant investments in IT infrastructure and practical home working support to ensure that teams remain engaged when working remotely. Additionally, there is an Employee Forum where employee representatives can propose, discuss and debate key employee-related decisions. The Group has reviewed benefits provided by its acquired companies to ensure these are aligned for all its employees.

Suppliers

The Group recognises that many of its suppliers are sub-contractors that are providing services directly to its customers and therefore are representing the Group’s Amtivo brand; as such it aims to achieve high levels of engagement and support, ensuring that it feeds back on quality of service provided and that the sub-contractors have regular briefings to align their values with those of the Group’s employees.

Shareholders and investors

The Group maintains regular contact with its shareholders and investors, including monthly performance reporting and ad-hoc presentations. It holds a minimum of nine Board meetings through the year which will cover governance, strategic review and operational performance management.

Accreditation bodies

The Group respects that its reputation is founded on the basis that it represents various accreditation bodies across the broad spectrum of the services that it provides. It maintains a rigorous compliance regime and ensures that it is always proactive in discussions regarding setting standards and approaches to our work. The Group regularly communicates with the accreditation bodies outside of the annual audit process, either directly or through trade bodies.

Community and the environment

The Group is committed to minimising the impact of its operations on the community in which it operates and on the environment; initiatives such as remote auditing and the introduction of electric vehicles to the car fleet has reduced travel-related pollution.