Guidance

Standard voluntary code of conduct: executive search firms

The voluntary code of conduct for executive search firms lays out steps for search firms to follow across the search process.

• From: Department for Business and Trade and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 3 July 2014
• Last updated: 16 March 2021 — See all updates

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The standard voluntary code of conduct for executive search firms

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The voluntary code of conduct for executive search firms (The Code) lays out steps for search firms to follow across the search process, from accepting a brief through to induction.

The 2011 Davies Review proposed that the executive search community should draw up a voluntary code of conduct to address gender diversity on corporate boards and best practice for the related search processes. Since its launch, we have refined and enhanced the Code, reflecting learnings from search firms themselves, the independent review of its effectiveness in 2014 and the Hampton-Alexander and Parker reports in 2017.

The revised Code has now been signed up to by around 60 search firms, who collectively account for the vast majority of the board work in the UK. We will continue periodically to review the effectiveness of the Code and progress towards improving board diversity, with the Hampton-Alexander and Parker Steering Groups and other key stakeholders, and recommend changes as appropriate.

Published 3 July 2014
Last updated 16 March 2021 + show all updates

1. 16 March 2021

   Code of conduct updated with new longlist target of 40%, and updated number of signatories.

2. 15 November 2017

   Updated Code published.

3. 3 July 2014

   First published.