Conflicts of Interest
1. Purpose
Quality Awards and Vocational Accreditation (QAVA) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, impartiality, and transparency in all its awarding, accreditation, and quality assurance activities. This Conflicts of Interest Policy is designed to identify, prevent, manage, and, where necessary, mitigate any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could compromise the fairness, objectivity, or credibility of QAVA’s decisions.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all individuals and organisations engaged with QAVA, including but not limited to:
- Directors and senior management
- Employees and contractors
- External consultants, assessors, moderators, and verifiers
- Centre staff, representatives, and associates
- Committees and advisory board members
3. Definition of a Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest arises when an individual’s personal, professional, financial, or organisational interests could improperly influence, or be perceived to influence, their duties and responsibilities in relation to QAVA.
Conflicts may be:
- Actual – a conflict currently exists
- Potential – a conflict may arise in the future
- Perceived – a reasonable third party may believe a conflict exists
4. Examples of Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to:
- Personal or family relationships with staff of an approved or applicant centre
- Financial interests in training providers, centres, or related organisations
- Involvement in the delivery, assessment, or internal verification of QAVA qualifications while holding a quality assurance or decision-making role
- Consultancy or advisory work for centres that may influence accreditation, monitoring, or sanctions
- Any situation that could compromise impartial judgement or decision-making
5. Declaration of Interests
All relevant individuals are required to:
- Declare any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest at the point of appointment and on an ongoing basis
- Complete and update a formal Declaration of Interest whenever circumstances change
- Immediately disclose any conflict arising during the course of QAVA-related duties
Failure to declare a conflict of interest may result in disciplinary action, removal from duties, or termination of engagement.
6. Management of Conflicts of Interest
QAVA will take appropriate and proportionate action to manage conflicts of interest, which may include:
- Exclusion from discussions, decisions, or assessments
- Reassignment of duties or appointment of an alternative independent reviewer
- Enhanced monitoring or additional quality assurance controls
- Termination of contracts or agreements where conflicts cannot be adequately managed
All decisions regarding conflicts of interest will be documented and retained for audit and regulatory purposes.
7. Organisational Separation and Impartiality
QAVA maintains clear separation between:
- Qualification development and assessment decisions
- Accreditation and commercial activities
- Quality assurance and operational functions
This ensures that no individual or department has undue influence over outcomes that could affect fairness, standards, or public confidence.
8. Review and Monitoring
This policy is reviewed regularly to ensure continued compliance with:
- UK regulatory expectations
- Best practice guidance followed by recognised awarding organisations
- QAVA’s internal governance and quality assurance framework
Updates will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
9. Reporting Concerns
Any concerns relating to conflicts of interest may be reported confidentially to QAVA. All reports will be investigated promptly, fairly, and without prejudice.
10. Contact Details
For further information regarding this policy or to declare a conflict of interest, please contact:
Quality Awards and Vocational Accreditation (QAVA)
📞 +44 020 4615 2574
📧 info@qava.org.uk
🌐 https://qava.org.uk
📍 150 Ashburton Avenue, Ilford, London, United Kingdom, IG3 9EL
