Purpose
The aim of this Whistleblowing Policy is to ensure all employees are aware of the importance of whistleblowing to help combat fraud, corruption, and other irregular activities. Employees are encouraged to report suspected concerns within the workplace, and to understand the correct procedure for reporting any such concerns.
All employees must immediately report any suspected or actual instances of fraud, bribery, and other malpractices. All reports should be made at the earliest opportunity.
What can be reported
A disclosure will be protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 if it is made in good faith, in the public interest, and relates to issues such as criminal offences, breach of legal obligations, danger to health and safety, environmental damage, or the deliberate concealment of wrongdoing.
How to Raise a Concern
Concerns should be reported as soon as possible. Reports should be made to the employee’s line manager either in person or in writing. Where employees are not comfortable in reporting their concerns to their line manager, they should report it to a senior member of staff. If you do not want to report your concern to your employer, for example you can get legal advice from a lawyer, or tell a prescribed person or body (details and advice available on www.gov.uk/whistleblowing).
All reports will be acknowledged within five working days of receipt and investigated promptly. The individual raising the concern will be kept informed, where appropriate, of the progress and the outcome of any investigation.
Confidentiality and Protection
All concerns will be treated fairly, and employees will not be penalised for raising concerns or issues. Rinova Ltd is committed to ensuring that anyone raising genuine concern in line with this policy does not suffer any detriment, dismissal, or disadvantage as a result of doing so.
Rinova Ltd will not tolerate harassment or victimisation of any employee raising a genuine concern. Any employee found victimising someone for raising concerns or issues will be subject to disciplinary action. The identity of the employee who has raised the concern will not be disclosed without prior consent. All reports are dealt with in the strictest of confidence and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
Record Keeping and Monitoring
Rinova Ltd systems and processes ensure accurate recording of reports of fraud/bribery and other malpractices. Managers receiving such reports are responsible for reporting them to HR who will keep a secure record of all reports. The employee who has raised the concern will be advised who is handling the matter, and if there is any further assistance required.
All Rinova Ltd employees and representatives of Rinova Ltd are responsible for complying with this policy.
This policy covers serious internal concerns such as fraud, malpractice, or wrongdoing. General grievances, service complaints, or issues relating to dissatisfaction with training or customer service should instead be raised through the Rinova Ltd Complaints Procedure
This policy applies to all organisations within the Rinova Group. For the avoidance of doubt, where ‘Rinova Ltd’ is referenced this shall be understood to also apply to Rinova Community CIC and Rinova Malaga S.L.
Date Created: 01/12/2015
Last Review: 01/09/2025
Next Review: 01/09/2026
This policy has been reviewed and approved by the Board of Rinova Ltd. Richard Parkes, Chair and Director.