Our Corporate Social Responsibility

V.Group puts great importance on our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and in the pursuit of excellence in all our operations around the world. To achieve this, we work in partnership with our colleagues, stakeholders, customers and suppliers, as well as local communities.

Together with the Board of Directors, we embrace our commitment to best-practice corporate governance. With continuous improvement, we work to ensure our businesses meet and, where possible, exceed all ethical and legal expectations. Most importantly, we aim to maintain trust among our stakeholders, between the Group and the countries in which we operate.

Our approach to CSR covers many initiatives and is based on a commitment to maintaining high standards in everything we do. We’re always mindful of the ever increasing need to invest in improving the capabilities of all our colleagues, and in the management systems they use.

It’s our belief that we must continue to work hard in creating a culture that believes in doing what is right; right for our clients and the wider communities we serve, the environment and for our team members. Our reputation is built on a strong foundation of honesty and transparency, both in day-to-day business, and when we handle issues involving people, property and the environment. Moving forward, we’re committed to protecting this reputation and that of our partners.

Our policy towards gifts or hospitality is that they’re not to be accepted or offered, regardless of their value, in circumstances which could be construed as influencing decision-making in any way, as many countries might view them as bribes. Colleagues are prohibited from receiving, directly or indirectly, anything of a significant value in connection with any transaction entered into by the Company, other than salary, wages, or ordinary compensation. Equally, the offering of anything of significant value in connection with any transaction entered into by the Company is also prohibited.

As an organisation, our principles of ethical business conduct correspond with our approach to CSR:

Accountability: we are personally answerable for our own conduct and actions
Honesty: we always tell the truth, whatever the circumstances
Integrity: when we say we’ll do something, we do it
Openness: when questions are asked, we’re open and straightforward in our answers
Respect: we value each individual we meet and treat them with dignity and thoughtfulness

Modern Slavery Policy

The 2015 UK Modern Slavery Act is intended to tackle modern forms of slavery, ranging from abusive working and living conditions, withholding of wages or passports, to the use of human trafficking and child labour.

The Act applies to all UK incorporated entities and foreign entities, conducting business in the UK, that have an annual turnover of £36m or more. These entities must produce an annual online statement describing policies and measures taken to mitigate slavery risks during the reporting year.

At V.Group, we have identified relevant legal entities, either UK incorporated entities or foreign entities with relevant presence in the UK, subject to this reporting requirement. We produce one statement, approved and signed by the board, of all relevant legal entities, since V.Group policies and procedures relating to the management of the risk of modern slavery are applied across all businesses.

Read our Modern Slavery Policy statement.

UK Gender Pay Gap

From April 2017, under new legislation all UK companies with 250 or more employees are now required to publish their gender pay gap.

Employers have to publish the gap in pay between men and women on both a median basis (pay per hour based on the person ‘in the middle’ of the distribution of pay) and a mean basis (average hourly salary).

In addition, employers are required to disclose the distribution of gender by pay quartile, i.e. splitting the workforce into four groups based on their pay, and showing the proportion of men and women in each group. Employers are also required to disclose percentages of employees receiving bonuses by gender and the gender gap on bonuses.

V.Ships UK Ltd meets the criteria set by legislation. Read our UK Gender Pay Gap Reporting 2019 document.

V.Ships Seafarer’s Charter

V.Group seeks to provide the highest standards of service to its customers and, to achieve this, the company fully recognises the vital role that its colleagues play. The Seafarer’s Charter confirms how any seaborne member of our team can expect to be treated.

V.Group recognises:

• The right to a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards
• The right to fair terms of employment
• The right to decent living and working conditions on board
• The right to health protection and welfare measures and other forms of social protection
• The full implementation of the above rights

V.Group also confirms its commitment to making sure that:

• Employment is offered to seafarers free of charge
• A workplace free of discrimination of any kind is provided
• Wage payments and allotments are paid in a timely fashion and measures are in place to verify this
• All seafarers receive wages to which they are contractually entitled
• Every effort is made to relieve seafarers at the time stipulated in the contract of employment and that measures are in place to achieve this
• Recruiting offices provide a welcoming environment and courteous disposition towards all colleagues
• Shorebased employees treat all seastaff with respect at all times and that this respect is reciprocated to promote harmony on board
• There is follow up of any complaint from seafarers alleging non-compliance with this Charter
• There is commitment to improving seafarers lives at sea and ashore as an ongoing priority

If any of our seafaring team is not treated in accordance with the provisions of the charter they can contact the following email address and the complaint will be fully investigated: seafarers-charter@vships.com.

A copy of our Seafarers’ Charter can be downloaded here.