Advocacy Policy

Advocacy Policy

Purpose

At SMRS, we believe businesses have a responsibility to contribute positively to society. As a culture, brand and communications agency, we use our voice, expertise and influence to help create better outcomes for people, organisations, communities and the environment.

We recognise that our work can shape opinions, inform decisions and contribute to positive change. This policy sets out how SMRS approaches advocacy, lobbying, public policy engagement and external influence in a way that is:

• Ethical and transparent
• Evidence-led
• Consistent with our purpose, values and B Corp commitments
• Focused on positive outcomes for people, communities and the environment
• Stakeholder-led and responsible
• Free from inappropriate political influence and unmanaged conflicts of interest.

This policy applies to all employees, directors, contractors and anyone acting on behalf of SMRS.

Scope

Advocacy includes any direct or indirect activity intended to influence public opinion or decision-making beyond normal advertising and marketing activity. This may include:

• Engagement with government, policymakers, regulators or public bodies
• Participation in industry consultations, roundtables or working groups
• Public statements on policy or social issues
• Campaigns seeking to influence public opinion
• Membership of trade bodies, industry groups or coalitions
• Thought leadership relating to public policy, sustainability, employment, education, inclusion or social impact
• Advocacy conducted through consultants, partners or membership organisations

Our Advocacy Principles

Purpose-Led

We will support activities that align with our purpose, values and long-term strategy, particularly in areas connected to:

• Employment and education
• Culture and organisational change
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Social mobility
• Employee wellbeing
• Responsible business
• Sustainability and climate action
• Ethical communications

Stakeholder-Led

We will consider the impact of our advocacy on our stakeholders, including employees, clients, candidates, students, suppliers, partners, communities and the environment.

Where appropriate, we will seek stakeholder perspectives to help inform significant advocacy positions and activities.

Positive in Impact

We seek to ensure that our advocacy activity supports positive outcomes for people, communities and the environment and is consistent with our values and responsible business commitments.

We will strive to contribute to informed public discourse through communications that are accurate, balanced, accessible and respectful of differing viewpoints.

Evidence-Led

Our positions should be informed by credible evidence, research, lived experience, sector knowledge or professional expertise.

Where appropriate, we will distinguish between evidence, organisational opinion and client-specific viewpoints.

We will take reasonable steps to verify information, data and content used to support advocacy activities.

Where artificial intelligence or automated tools contribute to the development of advocacy content, appropriate human review and oversight will be applied.

Transparent

We will be clear when individuals are speaking on behalf of SMRS and will disclose relevant interests, partnerships or memberships where these could reasonably influence our position.

Any public statement, media comment, consultation response or advocacy activity that represents itself as the view of SMRS must be appropriately authorised in accordance with this policy.

Politically Neutral

SMRS does not support political parties, candidates or campaigns and does not make political donations.

We may engage constructively with policymakers and public bodies on issues relevant to our expertise, clients, employees and wider societal impact, but always in a non-partisan manner.

Responsible and Proportionate

We will engage openly, ethically and professionally and will not seek to exert improper influence, gain unfair access or misuse relationships.

All advocacy activity will comply with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

Media Relationships

SMRS may work with, advertise through or partner with media organisations, platforms and publishers that hold a range of editorial perspectives.

Such relationships do not imply endorsement of any political, commercial or editorial position held by those organisations.

Areas of Advocacy

SMRS may advocate or participate in collective action relating to:

• Access to education and employment
• Inclusive recruitment and social mobility
• Wellbeing, belonging and psychological safety at work
• Sustainable and responsible communications
• Carbon reduction and environmental sustainability
• Ethical use of technology and artificial intelligence
• Accessibility and inclusion
• Responsible procurement and supply chains
• Human rights and fair work
• Modern slavery prevention
• Good governance, transparency and stakeholder-led decision-making

Activities We Will Not Support

SMRS will not knowingly engage in advocacy that:

• Misrepresents evidence or uses misleading claims
• Conflicts with our purpose, values or B Corp commitments
• Promotes discrimination, exclusion or harm
• Weakens legitimate environmental, social or employment protections
• Creates unmanaged conflicts of interest
• Uses inappropriate gifts, hospitality or inducements
• Supports party-political campaigns or political donations
• Breaches relevant legal, regulatory or ethical requirements

Governance and Decision-Making

Advocacy activity should be approved at an appropriate level based on its potential risk and visibility.

Before participating in advocacy activity, SMRS will consider:

• Alignment with our purpose and values
• Potential stakeholder impact
• Strength of the evidence base
• Alignment with ESG and B Corp commitments
• Human rights and social impact considerations
• Client or commercial conflicts
• Reputational implications
• Transparency requirements
• Legal and compliance considerations

Trade Bodies and Collective Action

SMRS may join trade bodies, professional associations and coalitions where these support our business objectives and purpose.

We will periodically review memberships to ensure they remain aligned with our values, ESG commitments and B Corp principles.

Where a trade body, association or coalition undertakes advocacy or lobbying activity on behalf of its members, SMRS may seek transparency regarding those activities and consider whether they remain consistent with our purpose and commitments.

Where a partner organisation adopts a position that conflicts materially with our values, we may:

• Raise concerns directly
• Publicly clarify our position
• Opt out of specific activities
• Review or terminate membership

Client-Related Advocacy

Where SMRS supports clients with campaigns or activities that may influence public opinion or decision-making, we will seek to ensure the work is:

• Legal and ethical
• Evidence-based
• Transparent in intent
• Consistent with our values
• Unlikely to mislead or cause harm

SMRS may decline or withdraw from work where, after appropriate review, it believes the activity conflicts with its values, legal obligations, ethical standards or responsible business commitments.

Political Activity, Gifts and Conflicts of Interest

Employees may engage in political activity in a personal capacity but must not:

• Represent themselves as speaking for SMRS without authorisation
• Use SMRS resources for political purposes
• Create conflicts of interest
• Disclose confidential information

Any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest must be declared in accordance with SMRS policies.

Employees must not offer or accept gifts, hospitality or benefits that could reasonably be perceived as influencing advocacy activity, decision-making or access to policymakers or other stakeholders.

Transparency and Reporting

SMRS is committed to transparency in relation to significant advocacy activities.

Where appropriate, we may disclose:

• Memberships of relevant trade bodies, industry associations and coalitions
• Public consultation responses
• Material policy positions
• Collective action initiatives supporting social or environmental impact
• Partnerships or collaborations relevant to advocacy activity

Any disclosure will be proportionate to the nature and significance of the activity undertaken.

Accountability and Review

SMRS will maintain appropriate records of significant advocacy activity and may publicly disclose relevant positions, memberships or consultation responses where appropriate.

Board

Provides oversight of significant advocacy activity, associated risks and alignment with organisational purpose and responsible business commitments.

The Board will receive periodic updates on material advocacy activities where relevant.

Management Team

Applies and monitors this policy, approves higher-risk activity and escalates issues where necessary.

Employees and Representatives

Must comply with this policy, act transparently and seek appropriate approval before undertaking advocacy activity on behalf of SMRS.

Suspected breaches of this policy should be reported to the Management Team and may result in corrective or disciplinary action.

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains aligned with SMRS strategy, B Corp standards, responsible business commitments and relevant legal and regulatory requirements.