BDUK raising a concern (Whistleblowing) Policy and Procedure
Raising a concern including Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure.
Suppliers in receipt of BDUK funding - raising a concern
Anyone may raise a concern about an organisation, or individuals within, that has applied to or has received funding from BDUK, and even for organisations who have not but may have claimed to.
This can include but is not limited to:
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organisations advertising that they are in receipt of BDUK funding when they are not
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organisations colluding with those organisations receiving BDUK funding
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concerns regarding BDUK gigabit contract awards, delivery, or subcontractors
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concerns regarding suppliers’ delivery via the BDUK gigabit vouchers scheme
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concerns regarding supplier delivery via the BDUK Gigabit Infrastructure Scheme
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concerns regarding a potential breach of BDUK terms and conditions or contracts
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concerns relating to the Shared Rural Network Programme
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any suspicion of fraud, bribery or corruption
As an executive agency of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, BDUK will always take such concerns very seriously, and we have processes to ensure they are investigated within our powers.
This guidance explains how to raise a concern and how we will deal with it.
Raising a concern
All concerns will be treated carefully and in line with the BDUK raising a concern (Whistleblowing) Policy. Individuals making a disclosure relating to any area, and specifically those listed above, should in the first instance contact the BDUK Compliance Investigations team on compliance@bduk.gov.uk. The Compliance Investigations team may pass your concern on to a more appropriate team but you will be informed of this.
Rights to confidentiality
As part of our review of your concerns we may need to contact the organisation that the concern relates to, if applicable. If we do, we will respect your anonymity and will honour any specific requests that you make regarding confidentiality, in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. We will at all times respect your rights to confidentiality internally and externally.
Responding to your concerns
We do not make public information about investigative procedures. Doing so may allow individuals and organisations to circumvent our checks and jeopardise our ability to protect public funds.