Code of Conduct For Users Seeking GlobalScot Support
The GlobalScot network is an altruistic, values-driven international network founded on giving back time, expertise, and insights to help others free of charge. We have a shared vision of helping Scotland – its businesses, its economy, and its communities – to thrive.
To ensure the continued success of the GlobalScot network, we require all users seeking GlobalScot support to follow the Code of Conduct set out in this document. This Code is based on the principles that have been at the heart of the GlobalScot network since it was formed in 2001.
For clarity, within this Code of Conduct, the terms “we/our/us” refers to Scottish Enterprise, the body which is responsible for managing and organising the GlobalScot network; “GlobalScots” refers to those businesspeople who volunteer to support Scotland’s economic success, through the sharing of their experiences, insights and recommendations. Collectively, GlobalScots form “the GlobalScot network” or “the/our network” and “you/your” refers to users of the GlobalScot website who are seeking GlobalScot support and advice.
There is a separate Code of Conduct for GlobalScots which can be found here.
Eligibility for support
The GlobalScot network is funded by the Scottish Government to deliver business support and advice to Scottish-based organisations. Any individual associated with a business or organisation based in Scotland can sign up to engage with, and seek advice from, GlobalScots. However, if your circumstances change and your organisation no longer operates out of Scotland, it is important that you let us know about this. In such cases, your access to GlobalScot support will be reviewed and may be revoked if the criteria for the generation of economic impact in Scotland are not met.
Access to GlobalScot support is subject to UK Government Sanctions legislation and Scottish Government guidance in relation to trading with Russia and Belarus. As a result, we are required to carry out sanctions checks on you and the organisation which you represent, and we may also need to ask you about the nature of your and your organisation’s presence in plus trade and/or investment links with Russia and Belarus. Failure to meet our requirements, respond or provide the information requested will result in your access being suspended.
Use GlobalScot as a support network
As a representative of a Scottish organisation, you are eligible to connect with GlobalScots for the purposes of acquiring market or sector insights, advice, strategic guidance, and opinions on aspects of furthering your business or product, including but not limited to international markets.
You should not use the GlobalScot network for direct business development or selling, nor monetise your connection to the GlobalScot network in any way, for instance by offering connections to GlobalScots to third parties.
Remember that GlobalScots are volunteers
GlobalScots are busy people, volunteering their time to help businesses like yours to grow and scale. Please be respectful of their time and input and ensure that requests made of GlobalScots are reasonable and targeted appropriately. As a user, you are discouraged from sending a high volume of similar requests to multiple GlobalScots in a short space of time. This type of activity is viewed as spam, so you should focus on submitting a smaller number of targeted requests which you can respond to promptly. If you are requesting an in-person meeting, please ensure you give sufficient advance notice to ensure that they have time to manage their diary.
When you send a request to a GlobalScot, you will receive a notification by email when there has been a reply. Please respond in a timely manner. Your conversation may be closed by our GlobalScot admin team if it appears that the correspondence has lapsed.
GlobalScots may offer introductions to their network of contacts, however they are not obliged to do so. If you are introduced to a contact by a GlobalScot, please do follow up on this opportunity on a timely basis, as a failure to do so could impact negatively on the GlobalScot’s reputation.
Post appropriate content on the GlobalScot website
The GlobalScot website – and in particular our Noticeboard – is a place to ask genuine questions of GlobalScots. As detailed in our Terms and Conditions, we want to ensure that this is a spam-free platform, so you should not use the website to advertise your company, services, products or to share content that is not relevant to the community.
The GlobalScot website should not be used to buy or sell goods and services unless clearly and specifically invited to do so by our GlobalScot team.
You must adhere to the Terms and Conditions which set out the acceptable use of the GlobalScot website and which may be varied from time to time.
Be respectful in your engagements as part of accessing GlobalScot support
You should work with GlobalScots and Scottish Enterprise staff in a courteous and professional manner. Respect each other’s time, contributions and opinions, both in real life and on social media platforms, where collectively we all help to uphold a strong and united representation of Scotland.
Do not bring the GlobalScot network or Scottish Enterprise into disrepute.
We may consider that you have breached this Code of Conduct if, in our opinion, you or the organisation that you represent bring the GlobalScot network or Scottish Enterprise (including Scottish Development International in overseas markets) into disrepute, including, for example through the creation or publication of social media content which we deem to be inappropriate.
What if I break the Code of Conduct?
To maintain the value and ethos of the GlobalScot network, we may remove or suspend users where the Code of Conduct has been broken.
Incidents where the Code of Conduct may have been broken will be investigated by Scottish Enterprise staff responsible for the GlobalScot network, and where appropriate (for example where the alleged incident creates a reputational risk) will be escalated to the Scottish Enterprise leadership team. If the Code of Conduct is deemed to have been broken, you will be invited to a discussion with us on the next steps which may include removal or suspension from the network.
We welcome feedback
Regular feedback helps us to improve the GlobalScot network to make sure we are providing value to all users. We’ll sometimes ask you to review your experience of GlobalScot support, whether it’s in relation to engagement with a specific GlobalScot or participation at an event.
If, as part of your engagement with GlobalScots or the GlobalScot network, you have any concerns, including regarding others’ adherence to the Code of Conduct, please feel free to report this to the GlobalScot team at globalscot@scotent.co.uk.
DISCLAIMER
The GlobalScot network is an altruistic network, and we do not create or regulate any financial or legal relationships. If GlobalScots and other users wish to enter into financial or other legal relationships (e.g. confidentiality agreements), they should do so separately from the GlobalScot network. We do not provide references for GlobalScots to engage in these relationships.
Scottish Enterprise and other public bodies connected with the GlobalScot network exclude and shall not have any liability arising from their role in the GlobalScot network to the fullest extent permitted by law. Should any legal consequences arise, they shall be governed by the law of Scotland and be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.