Professional Conduct Policy

Introduction & Purpose

B2B Growth Expo ("the Company", "B2B Growth Expo", "we", "us", "our"), registered at 12 Shirley Road, Southampton SO15 3EU, United Kingdom, organises the UK's leading regional, national, and international business-to-business expos, connecting thousands of business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals every year.

This Professional Conduct Policy ("Policy") establishes the mandatory standards of behaviour, integrity, and professionalism that apply to every individual and organisation participating in B2B Growth Expo events, platforms, and services. The Policy exists to:

• Create a safe, respectful, and productive environment at all our events.
• Protect the reputation, interests, and wellbeing of all participants and of B2B Growth Expo itself.
• Set clear expectations regarding conduct — both in person and online — including on social media.
• Provide a transparent framework for addressing breaches of conduct.
• Safeguard B2B Growth Expo against defamatory, misleading, or malicious actions by any party.

Scope & Who This Applies To

This Policy applies universally to:

• Exhibitors — all businesses, organisations, and their individual representatives occupying stand space at any B2B Growth Expo event, including those booked under Vanilla Bronze, Silver, Gold, Bronze Plus, Silver, Gold, Custom stand packages.
• Visitors — all ticketed attendees (free and paid, including VIP ticket holders).
• Speakers — keynote speakers, seminar presenters, panellists, workshop leaders, and business interviewees.
• Sponsors — title sponsors, lead sponsors, promotion sponsors, keynote stage sponsors, and all other sponsorship categories.
• Partners — media partners, photography partners, video partners, digital card partners, print partners, virtual expo partners, and all other partnership categories.
• Members — holders of B2B Growth Expo Membership at any tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum).
• Staff, Volunteers & Contractors — anyone working on behalf of B2B Growth Expo at any event or in any operational capacity.
• Digital Participants — users of the app, Digital Age Expo, and all other online/virtual platforms operated by the Company.

2.1 When This Policy Applies

This Policy applies at all times during your engagement with B2B Growth Expo, including:

• Before, during, and after any B2B Growth Expo event (regional, national, global, or virtual).
• During all pre-event and post-event communications, meetings, and negotiations.
• On all B2B Growth Expo platforms: the website, app, email, WhatsApp groups, and social media channels.
• At after-event parties, networking sessions, and any social functions associated with a B2B Growth Expo event.
• On your own personal or business social media accounts, review platforms, blogs, podcasts, press channels, or any other public forum — to the extent that your statements relate to B2B Growth Expo, its events, staff, directors, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, partners, or stakeholders.

Core Standards of Professional Conduct

All participants are expected to uphold the following standards at all times:

3.1 Respect, Courtesy & Professionalism

Treat every individual — including fellow exhibitors, visitors, speakers, event staff, venue personnel, and contractors — with courtesy, dignity, and professional respect. All interactions, whether verbal, written, physical, or digital, must be conducted in a professional manner appropriate to a business environment.

3.2 Inclusivity & Non-Discrimination

B2B Growth Expo is proud to host a diverse community of businesses and professionals from all backgrounds. Discrimination, harassment, victimisation, or exclusion based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership, nationality, or any other protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 is strictly prohibited.

3.3 Honest & Ethical Business Practices

All participants must conduct their business activities honestly and ethically. This includes:

• Accurately representing your products, services, qualifications, credentials, and business status.
• Not making false, misleading, or exaggerated claims to other participants or in marketing materials.
• Not engaging in high-pressure sales tactics, aggressive upselling, or deceptive practices.
• Honouring commitments, promises, and agreements made at or in connection with B2B Growth Expo events.

3.4 Health, Safety & Legal Compliance

All participants must comply with:

• All venue health and safety regulations and emergency procedures.
• All reasonable instructions from B2B Growth Expo event staff and venue personnel.
• All applicable UK laws and regulations, and (where relevant) the laws of the jurisdiction in which the event takes place.

The possession, consumption, or distribution of illegal substances on event premises is strictly prohibited. The carrying of offensive weapons is strictly prohibited. Excessive intoxication that results in disruptive, unsafe, or unprofessional behaviour may result in immediate removal from the event.

3.5 Data Protection & Privacy

All participants must handle personal data in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Specifically:

• You must not collect attendee data (via badge scanning, photography, QR codes, business card collection, or any other means) for purposes beyond those to which the individual has consented.
• You must not sell, share, or misuse personal data collected at B2B Growth Expo events.
• You must comply with B2B Growth Expo's Privacy Policy and GDPR Policy.

Social Media, Online Conduct & Reputation Protection

4.1 Social Media Code of Conduct

B2B Growth Expo welcomes and encourages positive social media engagement about our events. We actively support participants who share their experiences, promote their attendance, and engage with our community online. However, all social media activity relating to B2B Growth Expo must adhere to the following standards:

• Be truthful and accurate. All statements about B2B Growth Expo, its events, staff, directors, or fellow participants must be factually correct and not misleading.
• Be professional and respectful. Online conduct must reflect the same standards of professionalism expected at our in-person events.
• Do not defame. Do not publish false statements of fact that could damage the reputation of B2B Growth Expo, its directors, staff, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, partners, or any other participant.
• Do not harass or bully. Do not use social media to target, intimidate, harass, or bully any individual or organisation associated with B2B Growth Expo.
• Respect confidentiality. Do not publish private correspondence, internal communications, contractual details, or confidential investigation information on any public platform.
• Use the formal complaints process. If you have a grievance, raise it through B2B Growth Expo's Complaints Procedure Policy before posting publicly about the matter.

4.2 Platforms Covered

This section applies to all public and semi-public platforms, including but not limited to: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Reddit, Google Business Reviews, Trustpilot, Glassdoor, personal blogs, podcasts, vlogs, press articles, industry forums, WhatsApp groups (external to B2B Growth Expo), Telegram channels, and any other medium through which content can be made available to the public.

4.3 Prohibition on Defamatory & Disparaging Content

No participant shall publish, post, broadcast, or cause to be published any content that:

• Contains false statements of fact about B2B Growth Expo, its directors, staff, events, or services.
• Presents a materially inaccurate, misleading, or distorted account of events, interactions, or business dealings with the Company.
• Is calculated or likely to bring B2B Growth Expo, its brand, or its stakeholders into disrepute.
• Discloses confidential, proprietary, or commercially sensitive information without authorisation.
• Constitutes a coordinated campaign (alone or with others) to damage the reputation or commercial interests of B2B Growth Expo.

4.4 Obligation to Engage Formal Channels First

Where a participant has a genuine grievance with B2B Growth Expo, they are contractually required to raise the matter through the formal Complaints Procedure Policy before making any public comment, social media post, review, or press statement about the dispute. Publishing complaints publicly — without first engaging the formal process — constitutes a breach of this Professional Conduct Policy.

4.5 Social Media Conduct During Active Disputes

While any complaint, dispute, or investigation is active under B2B Growth Expo's formal processes, all parties must:

• Refrain from posting about the dispute on any public platform.
• Refrain from making public statements, comments, or media interviews about the matter.
• Not encourage, instruct, or permit any third party to make statements on their behalf.
• Not create or share content designed to pressure B2B Growth Expo into a particular outcome by damaging its public reputation.

4.6 Consequences for Breach

Breach of this section — including the publication of defamatory, misleading, or disparaging content — may result in:

• A formal demand for immediate removal, retraction, and public correction of the offending content.
• Immediate suspension or termination of all agreements with B2B Growth Expo (exhibitor, speaker, sponsor, partner, or membership), without refund.
• Permanent exclusion from all future B2B Growth Expo events and platforms.
• Legal proceedings for defamation, injunctive relief, and/or recovery of damages (including proven financial losses, legal costs, and reputational harm) — see Section 11 for full details.
• Reporting of the offending content to the relevant social media platform for removal.
• Preservation of all evidence (screenshots, URLs, metadata, archived copies) for use in legal proceedings.

4.7 Good Faith Feedback

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this section prevents any individual from:

• Leaving an honest, factual, and balanced review of their genuine experience at a B2B Growth Expo event.
• Sharing positive experiences, photographs, and promotional content about B2B Growth Expo events (in accordance with any photography and content guidelines in effect at the relevant event).
• Providing constructive, professional feedback directly to B2B Growth Expo through our formal channels.

B2B Growth Expo values honest feedback and uses it to continuously improve our events and services. This section targets only content that is false, defamatory, malicious, misleading, or published in breach of the formal complaints process obligations.

Prohibited Conduct

The following behaviours are strictly prohibited at all B2B Growth Expo events and on all associated platforms. This list is not exhaustive; B2B Growth Expo reserves the right to determine whether any behaviour falls below the expected standard.

5.1 Harassment & Bullying

Any unwelcome conduct — verbal, physical, written, or digital — that creates an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or offensive environment. This includes sexual harassment, racial harassment, bullying, persistent unwanted contact, and inappropriate personal comments or gestures.

5.2 Violence, Threats & Intimidation

Physical violence, threats of violence, aggressive confrontation, intimidating behaviour, or any conduct that makes another individual feel unsafe.

5.3 Discrimination

Any direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation, or harassment related to any protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

5.4 Fraud & Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation of identity, business status, qualifications, or credentials. Exhibiting counterfeit, stolen, or unlicensed goods. Engaging in scam activity (see our Exhibitor Scam Awareness page). Making false or misleading claims about products or services.

5.5 Theft & Property Damage

Theft or unauthorised removal of property belonging to other participants, B2B Growth Expo, or the venue. Wilful or negligent damage to exhibition stands, venue infrastructure, or equipment.

5.6 Disruptive Behaviour

Conduct that significantly disrupts the event, including but not limited to: excessive noise, obstruction of aisles and access routes, heckling speakers, intoxication, and refusal to comply with event staff instructions.

5.7 Unauthorised Marketing & Poaching

Distributing leaflets, business cards, or marketing materials outside your allocated stand space. Soliciting business in areas not designated for your use. Displaying signage or branding in unauthorised locations. Approaching exhibitors' visitors or leads with the intent to divert business ("poaching").

5.8 Data Misuse

Collecting, processing, or using attendee personal data in breach of UK GDPR, without appropriate consent, or for purposes beyond those agreed. This includes covert badge scanning, non-consensual photography for commercial purposes, and spam marketing using data collected at events.

5.9 Defamation & Malicious Public Statements

Publishing, posting, or causing to be published any statement — on social media, review platforms, press channels, or any other public forum — that is false, defamatory, misleading, or maliciously intended to damage the reputation of B2B Growth Expo, its directors, staff, events, or any fellow participant. This is treated as a serious breach of this Policy.

5.10 Breach of Confidentiality

Disclosing confidential information, private correspondence, internal communications, commercial terms, or investigation details without authorisation from B2B Growth Expo.

Exhibitor-Specific Obligations

In addition to the general standards above, all exhibitors at B2B Growth Expo events must:

• Comply with the Exhibitor Terms & Conditions and any event-specific exhibitor guidelines provided.
• Occupy only the stand space allocated to them under their booking confirmation.
• Ensure that all representatives present at the stand behave professionally and in accordance with this Policy.
• Not make unsolicited approaches to visitors at other exhibitors' stands.
• Not disparage, undermine, or make false claims about competing exhibitors.
• Ensure all products, services, and promotional materials displayed are lawful, accurately described, and not offensive.
• Comply with all venue-specific rules regarding setup, breakdown, electrical equipment, fire safety, and waste disposal.
• Address any concerns or grievances through B2B Growth Expo's formal Complaints Procedure Policy rather than through public channels or social media.

Speaker-Specific Obligations

In addition to the general standards, all speakers at B2B Growth Expo events must:

• Comply with the Speaker Terms & Conditions.
• Deliver content that is accurate, evidence-based (where applicable), and not misleading.
• Not use their speaking slot as a platform for aggressive product promotion, unless explicitly agreed as part of a sponsored speaking arrangement.
• Avoid content that is discriminatory, inflammatory, defamatory, or in breach of any applicable law.
• Respect the intellectual property of others in presentations and shared materials.
• Respond professionally to questions and audience interactions.
• Address any grievances through B2B Growth Expo's formal complaints process rather than on stage, via social media, or through public channels.

Reporting a Breach of Conduct

If you witness or experience any conduct that you believe breaches this Policy, you are encouraged to report it as soon as possible.

8.1 During an Event

• Speak to any B2B Growth Expo staff member (identifiable by branded clothing and staff lanyards).
• Visit the Event Information Desk or Registration Area.
• Request to speak with the Event Manager directly.

For matters involving immediate safety risks, harassment, or criminal behaviour, please do not hesitate to report directly — these will be prioritised and acted upon immediately.

8.2 After an Event or for Online/Social Media Breaches

Submit a formal report in writing to:

• Email: complaints@b2bgrowthexpo.com
• Post: Professional Conduct Complaints, B2B Growth Expo , 12 Shirley Road, Southampton SO15 3EU, United Kingdom.

Please provide as much detail as possible, including: the names of the individuals involved, a description of the conduct, the date, time, and location (or URL/platform for online breaches), any supporting evidence (screenshots, photographs, witness details), and the outcome you are seeking.

8.3 Protection for Reporters

B2B Growth Expo will not tolerate retaliation against anyone who reports a breach of this Policy in good faith. All reports will be treated confidentially to the extent possible. If you experience retaliation, please report it immediately to complaints@b2bgrowthexpo.com — it will be treated as a separate and serious matter.

Investigation Process

All reported breaches of this Policy will be investigated in accordance with the process set out in B2B Growth Expo's Complaints Procedure Policy. In summary:

• Acknowledgement: Reports will be acknowledged within 7 working days.
• Investigation: A thorough and impartial investigation will be conducted within 15 working days.
• Outcome: A written decision will be issued within 25 working days of receipt.
• Appeal: The respondent may appeal within 7 working days of the outcome.

Both the reporter and the respondent will be given a fair opportunity to present their account. Investigations may include witness interviews, review of evidence, CCTV review, consultation with venue management, and review of social media and digital content.

Sanctions & Consequences

Where a breach of this Professional Conduct Policy is confirmed, B2B Growth Expo may apply one or more of the following sanctions, proportionate to the severity, nature, and impact of the breach:

• Verbal Warning — a formal verbal caution recorded on file.
• Written Warning — a written notice detailing the breach, required corrective action, and consequences of any further breach.
• Removal from Event — immediate removal from the event premises. No refund of fees paid.
• Suspension — temporary ban from all B2B Growth Expo events for a specified period (typically 6 to 24 months).
• Permanent Exclusion — lifetime ban from all B2B Growth Expo events, platforms, services, and the app.
• Contract Termination — cancellation of exhibitor, speaker, sponsor, partner, or membership agreements in accordance with the relevant Terms & Conditions, without refund.
• Demand for Retraction/Removal — formal demand to remove, retract, and/or publicly correct defamatory or misleading content within a specified timeframe.
• Referral to Authorities — reporting to police, Trading Standards, the ICO, or other relevant regulatory or professional bodies.
• Legal Action — pursuit of all available legal remedies, including claims for defamation, injunctive relief, breach of contract, and recovery of damages (see Section 11).

Defamation, Disparagement & Legal Remedies

11.1 B2B Growth Expo's Position

B2B Growth Expo has invested significantly in building its brand, reputation, and community over many years of successful events across the United Kingdom and internationally. The Company will not tolerate any attempt — by any individual or organisation — to damage this reputation through false, defamatory, misleading, or malicious statements, whether made on social media, review platforms, in the press, or through any other public medium.

11.2 What Constitutes Actionable Conduct

B2B Growth Expo considers the following to be actionable conduct:

• Publishing false statements of fact about B2B Growth Expo, its directors, staff, events, or services that damage the Company's reputation (defamation under the Defamation Act 2013).
• Posting malicious, exaggerated, or materially inaccurate online reviews intended to cause commercial harm.
• Conducting a coordinated social media campaign (alone or with others) designed to damage B2B Growth Expo's reputation or business interests.
• Sharing confidential correspondence, commercial terms, or investigation details publicly with the intent to embarrass or harm the Company.
• Making public statements about a dispute without first exhausting B2B Growth Expo's formal Complaints Procedure.
• Encouraging, instructing, or funding third parties to carry out any of the above on your behalf.

11.3 Legal Remedies Available

Where B2B Growth Expo determines that actionable conduct has occurred, the Company reserves the right to pursue any or all of the following legal remedies without further warning:

• Cease and Desist Notice: A formal legal demand for the immediate removal, retraction, and correction of the offending content.
• Defamation Proceedings: A claim under the Defamation Act 2013 for the publication of false and defamatory statements that have caused or are likely to cause serious harm to B2B Growth Expo's reputation.
• Injunctive Relief: An application to the court for an injunction to prevent further publication of the defamatory or harmful content.
• Damages: A claim for compensatory damages, including proven financial losses, lost revenue, lost business opportunities, costs of remedial PR and reputation management, and legal costs.
• Aggravated or Exemplary Damages: Where the conduct is found to be particularly malicious, persistent, or calculated to cause maximum harm.
• Costs Recovery: Recovery of all legal fees and disbursements incurred in enforcing B2B Growth Expo's rights.
• Platform Reporting: Formal requests to social media platforms and review sites for removal of content that breaches their terms of service.
• Evidence Preservation: All defamatory or damaging content will be preserved (screenshots, web archives, metadata, witness statements) for use in legal proceedings, regardless of whether the content is subsequently deleted by the author.

11.4 Jurisdiction

This Policy and any dispute arising from or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising from this Policy.

Confidentiality & Intellectual Property

12.1 Confidentiality

All participants must treat as confidential any non-public information obtained through their participation in B2B Growth Expo events, including but not limited to: commercial terms, pricing, strategic plans, attendee data, internal communications, and investigation details. Confidential information must not be disclosed to any third party or made public without the express written consent of B2B Growth Expo.

12.2 Intellectual Property

Participants must respect the intellectual property rights of B2B Growth Expo and all fellow participants. This includes:

• Not reproducing, distributing, or commercially exploiting the B2B Growth Expo brand, logo, or trademarks without written permission.
• Not recording (audio or video), photographing, or copying presentations, seminars, workshops, or other proprietary content without the express permission of the content owner.
• Not reverse-engineering, copying, or replicating another exhibitor's products, services, or proprietary materials.

12.3 Photography & Filming

B2B Growth Expo may photograph and film at events for promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to the use of such images and footage in B2B Growth Expo's marketing materials, website, social media, and publications, in accordance with our Privacy Policy. If you do not wish to be photographed, please notify the event team in written on email.

Acceptance & Acknowledgement

By taking any of the following actions, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Professional Conduct Policy:

• Registering for any B2B Growth Expo event as a visitor, exhibitor, speaker, sponsor, or partner.
• Purchasing or being issued a ticket (free or paid) for any B2B Growth Expo event.
• Signing an exhibitor, speaker, sponsor, partner, or membership agreement.
• Entering the venue of any B2B Growth Expo event.
• Using the app or any B2B Growth Expo digital platform.
• Participating in a Digital Age Expo or any other virtual B2B Growth Expo event.

If you do not agree with any part of this Policy, please do not register for or attend any B2B Growth Expo event. If you have questions about this Policy, please contact us at complaints@b2bgrowthexpo.com before registering.

Policy Review & Governance

This Professional Conduct Policy is owned by the Operations & Compliance Department of B2B Growth Expo and is reviewed at least annually, or sooner where required by changes in legislation, industry best practice, or following a significant incident.

The current version will always be available at b2bgrowthexpo.com/policies.