1. Purpose & Scope
The Regional & Bespoke (R&B) Housebuilders Forum brings together more than 400 SME and regional housebuilders, developers, policymakers and industry partners. It is one of the only fully independent groups in the UK dedicated to micro, small, medium and large regional housebuilders.
This Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected of every member, partner, speaker, guest and representative participating in Forum events, communications and activities. It applies equally to in-person events, online meetings, digital forums, surveys, newsletters and any other Forum-facilitated engagement.
By joining or participating in the Forum, all parties agree to uphold these principles.
2. Our Mission & Vision
The Forum exists to:
- Give SME, regional and bespoke housebuilders a stronger, united voice within the industry.
- Facilitate meaningful change through collaboration, intelligence sharing and advocacy.
- Level the playing field by improving access to insights, innovation and opportunity.
- Reverse the decline of small and medium-sized housebuilders across the UK.
Every member’s conduct should actively support these goals and avoid actions that would undermine them.
3. Core Values
Our values are rooted in collaboration, authenticity and purpose. We are committed to creating an open, trusted environment where industry leaders and policymakers can work together to drive positive change in UK housing delivery. Members are expected to embody these values in every interaction.
3.1 Collaboration
- Engage constructively with fellow members, partners and policymakers in the shared pursuit of a stronger SME housebuilding sector.
- Share knowledge, insights and experience openly, in the spirit of collective progress.
- Support initiatives that level the playing field and improve access to land, supply chains, innovation and investment for smaller builders.
- Participate actively and in good faith in surveys, research, events and working groups.
3.2 Authenticity
- Represent your organisation, its work and its views honestly at all times.
- Declare any conflicts of interest before contributing to discussions, surveys or advocacy work.
- Treat the Forum’s communications, data and research with integrity — do not misrepresent findings or attribute positions to the Forum that it has not taken.
- Respect confidentiality obligations, particularly for sessions held under Chatham House Rules.
3.3 Purpose
- Act in the best interests of the wider SME housebuilding community, not solely for personal or commercial gain.
- Champion innovation, sustainability and quality in housebuilding.
- Support the Forum’s commitment to diversity, including gender and ethnic diversity, as embodied by initiatives such as ‘I am a Housebuilder’.
- Use your participation to contribute to increased housing confidence, investment and delivery across the UK.
4. Conduct at Events & in Communications
4.1 Respectful Engagement
All participants must treat one another with courtesy and professionalism. This means:
- Listening actively and allowing others to contribute without interruption.
- Disagreeing respectfully, focusing on ideas and evidence rather than personal criticism.
- Refraining from discriminatory, offensive or harassing language or behaviour of any kind.
- Being mindful that Forum events may include policymakers, parliamentarians and institutional stakeholders — conduct should reflect well on the SME housebuilding community as a whole.
4.2 Chatham House Rule
Where a session is designated as operating under Chatham House Rules, participants must not attribute any statements made during that session to any individual or organisation. Event recordings will not be shared for such sessions. Members should be guided by the Forum’s communications as to which sessions carry this designation.
4.3 Digital & Online Forums
The same standards of respect, authenticity and collaboration apply in all digital spaces, including the Forum’s LinkedIn page, newsletters and any future closed online forum. Members should:
- Post content that is accurate, relevant and constructive.
- Avoid spam, self-promotional content not in the spirit of the Forum, or misinformation.
- Not share confidential Forum materials (including survey data, research drafts or member contact details) outside the Forum without permission.
5. Research, Data & Intelligence Sharing
The Forum produces surveys and research that inform senior stakeholders including the Bank of England, HM Treasury and Parliament. Members who contribute to this work agree to:
- Provide accurate and honest responses to surveys and consultations.
- Not seek to skew findings for commercial, competitive or political purposes.
- Respect embargo periods on research outputs until publication is authorised by the Forum.
- Correctly attribute the Forum when sharing or referencing its published findings.
6. Partners & Commercial Relationships
The Forum invites select partners who share its vision for a stronger SME housebuilding sector. Partners are welcomed as contributors of expertise, innovation and thought leadership. In return, all partners must:
- Act in accordance with this Code of Conduct in all Forum settings.
- Ensure that their engagement with members is relevant, transparent and adds genuine value.
- Not use Forum access to engage in high-pressure sales tactics or to gather competitive intelligence.
- Uphold the Forum’s independent status and not seek to direct its advocacy positions for commercial benefit.
7. Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Opportunity
The Forum is committed to championing diversity across the industry, as reflected in the ‘I am a Housebuilder’ initiative and the Forum’s support for greater diversity of thought in construction. All participants must:
- Foster a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds, genders, ethnicities and career stages.
- Actively support efforts to increase representation of women and underrepresented groups in housebuilding.
- Avoid language or behaviour that excludes or demeans any individual or group.
8. Reporting Concerns & Breaches
The Forum takes breaches of this Code seriously. If a member, partner or participant believes this Code has been breached:
- Concerns should be raised promptly and in confidence with the Forum’s leadership team.
- All reports will be handled discreetly and investigated fairly.
- The Forum reserves the right to remove from events, suspend or terminate membership of any individual or organisation found to have materially breached this Code.
- Where conduct may constitute unlawful behaviour, the Forum may refer the matter to appropriate authorities.
9. Review & Updates
This Code of Conduct will be reviewed annually by the Forum’s leadership team. Members will be notified of any material changes. The Forum welcomes feedback from members on how this Code can be strengthened to reflect our growing community and evolving activities.