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 the US) 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 regular bulletins and strategy briefings, and timely updates on strategic activities such as mergers and acquisitions. The Group has invested in a new HR and social media platform, HiBob, which is continually being extended across the Group to cover additional regions and acquired entities. The platform includes the Group’s organisational chart facilitating collaboration as teams, roles and reporting lines are easily identified, and the social media side is used to cascade updates and events to employees on a regular basis. 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 subcontractors 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 subcontractors 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 its 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 environment and making a positive impact on the communities in which it operates. Initiatives such as remote auditing and the use of electric vehicles within the car fleet continues to reduce travel-related pollution. Other initiatives include establishing a “Sustainability Champions” group that engages with and informs employees on integrating sustainable practices both in the office and at home. The Group also supports charitable initiatives, such as partnering with “The Young Life Foundation” ahead of the festive period to provide gifts to disadvantaged young people who may not otherwise have received any.