The Bright Network community is made up of a network of people with a common agenda, cause, and interests, who collaborate by sharing ideas, information, and resources. It is of utmost importance to Bright Network that each and every person attending one of our events has a positive and rewarding experience and to that end, we invite all sponsors, volunteers, speakers, attendees, vendors, and others (“Participants”) to help us realize a safe, respectful, and positive experience for everyone.
When you participate in an event hosted by Bright Network you are contributing to the overall experience, which makes us all accountable to each other. Bright Network has established this Code of Conduct to provide guidelines to Participants and to ensure that all Participants understand what behaviour is expected, and what behaviour will not be tolerated at a Bright Network event.
Due to the huge interest in our events – with event applications vastly outpacing event attendee spaces – Bright Network expects all Participants to abide by this Code of Conduct at all events. These include event-related social events at off-site locations, and in related online communities and social media.
Bright Network is dedicated to providing a harassment-free and inclusive event experience for everyone regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, religion, or other protected category. Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately.
- EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR
Failure to adhere to the below-expected behaviour may impact your ability to complete a Bright Network event and mean you’re unable to attend future events/experiences.
Bright Network expects that event participant will:Inform Bright Network at least 24 hours prior to an event if they can no longer attend an event.
1.1 Complete all required pre-and post-event surveys/ details.
1.2 Be present and engaged for the entire duration of the event.
1.3 Be considerate and respectful to all other participants on the event.
1.4 Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behaviour, materials, and speech.
1.5 Use any virtual or online platform functionality in the ways they are intended to be used.
1.6 Inform the Bright Network team if they observe anything that conflicts with this Code of Conduct.
If you are being harassed or feel uncomfortable, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the Bright Network staff immediately. (See escalation procedure below)
2. UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR
Unacceptable behaviour from any Bright Network member will not be tolerated.
Unacceptable behaviour includes, but it not limited to:
2.1 Intimidating, harassing, abusing, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech, materials, or conduct by any Participants of the events or related event activities.
2.2 Violence, threats of violence, or violent language directed against another person.
2.3 Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise discriminatory jokes and language.
2.4 Personal insults, particularly those related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or disability.
2.5 Inappropriate photography or recording.
2.6 Any boisterous, lewd, or offensive behaviour or language, including but not limited to using sexually explicit or offensive language, materials or conduct, or any language, behaviour, or content that contains profanity, obscene gestures, or racial, religious, or ethnic slurs.
2.7 Impersonating Bright Network staff or another participant either on the platform or on other communication platforms.
3. USE OF THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM (for virtual or hybrid events)
For Bright Network virtual and Hybrid events, we’re using the platform Zoom Events. There are a number of key features which participants are expected to use correctly.
3.1 Chat function – the typed chat function is exclusively for questions and comments related to the content of sessions that participants are involved with. This is a zero-tolerance of spamming comments which would be deemed unacceptable behaviour in section 2 above and anything deemed irrelevant to the internship experience.
3.2 Video-chat during the event you can connect with other participants on the platform through video calls. There’s no requirement to use the video chat function, but if you are using it ensure you’re doing so with due care. When using this function, you’re expected to follow the expected behaviours (set out in section 1). If you encounter any behaviour which is considered unacceptable (see section 2), please leave the chat function and notify the Bright Network team immediately.
3.3 Meet Firms – networking with Firms, you’ll be able to join booths and type questions to company representatives running the booth. All questions must be related to the company they work for, their role, or general careers advice. Any types of comments or questions deemed irrelevant, or offensive will result in the Bright Network team taking action (as set out in section 4).
3.4 Sessions – Participants must respect the speaker/ host in the content sessions at all times during the sessions, slides may be shared. Unless given specific permission to do so, Participants are not able to copy or screenshot the slides.
4. CONSEQUENCES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR
Unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behaviour is expected to comply immediately. If a Participant engages in unacceptable behaviour, Bright Network may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event.
For more serious unacceptable behaviour, Bright Network may, in its reasonable discretion, temporarily ban or permanently expel a Participant from the Bright Network membership and/or contact the Participants’ university.
5. WHAT TO DO IF YOU WITNESS OR ARE SUBJECTED TO UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR
If you are subjected to unacceptable behaviour, notice that someone else is being subjected to unacceptable behaviour, or have any other concerns, please notify Bright Network. These are the appropriate actions to take for notifying the Bright Network team:
In-person
- Remove yourself from the situation and inform a Bright Network team member.
- Please provide names or show any evidence to support us with an investigation into the behaviour.
Virtual or Hybrid events
- Remove yourself from the situation, including leaving the video chat, the booth, or session immediately.
- Enter the Attendee Help Desk if there is one available at the event and raise that you’ve witnessed something unacceptable. If there is no helpdesk please email events@brightnetwork.co.uk detailing as much details of the incident as possible. You can also DM a Bright Network team member through the Zoom Events platform.
- Please provide names or any screenshots, if possible, to support us with an investigation into the behaviour.
- We encourage you to utilize the Zoom platform provided for all communication purposes during our events. Kindly refrain from joining groups on third-party platforms, as we cannot guarantee the safety and appropriateness of interactions outside our official channels.
- To ensure a safe and secure environment for all attendees, Bright Network will exclusively communicate with you through the official Guild groups, and email. We won't message attendees directly via other third-party social media platforms. If you receive any communication purporting to be from Bright Network on a third-party platform, please report it to us immediately at hello@brightnetwork.co.uk providing names or any screenshots, if possible, to support us with an investigation into the behaviour.
All Participants who report unaccepted behaviour will remain anonymous. Any report will be taken seriously and be investigated immediately. Bright Network will warn or remove anyone from the platform found to be violating this code of conduct.
Disclaimer: Bright Network is not responsible for the actions of individual Participants on the Zoom platform or any related social media channel during Bright Network virtual events. Bright Network supports Participants to have a safe experience on the platform and will take required action if necessary.
6. ATTRIBUTION
This Code of Conduct is the product of Bright Network’s commitment to create and nurture a welcoming, respectful and collaborative community, and we thank our Participants for sharing our commitment. The framework of this Code of Conduct was inspired by the Open Source Bridge Code of Conduct, released under a Creative Comms license, and the Google Anti-Harassment Policy licensed under the Creative Comms Zero License.