Dear TIPS member,
Please see below the TIPS Newsletter for October 2019. We look forward to seeing you soon.
- the TIPS team
1. At Your Service: a new TI-UK report
TI-UK has released a ground-breaking new report. “At Your Service” exposes how weak oversight has provided an environment that facilitates harmful abuses of power abroad and allows dirty money to impact almost every part of the UK economy. Through detailed analysis of more than 400 corruption and money laundering cases, amounting to an estimated £325 billion, the report unveils the role played by UK services and institutions in the biggest corruption scandals of recent decades. Report highlights include:
More than £4.1 million in suspicious funds were paid to 178 different UK educational institutions;
A total of £8.3 million was paid to 37 UK architectural and interior design firms from anonymous shell companies with Baltic bank accounts.
Other companies that came into contact with this £325 billion included 118 luxury goods and services firms, 86 bank and financial institutions, 81 law firms, 62 accountancy firms including all of the Big Four.
2. Upcoming Events (register on our events page)
The politics of compliance with global anti-corruption norms | 5 Nov 2019 | 6.15pm-7.30pm
UCL, Room LG04, 26 Bedford Way WC1H 0AP
Ronan Farrow on Power, Abuse and Corruption 12 November 2019 | 6.45pm-8pm
The Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle St W1S 4BS
Feeling your (white) collar? 19 November 2019 | 6.30pm-9.30pm
KCL, Bush House Auditorium, WC2B 4BG
TIPS Networking Drinks | 25 Nov 2019 | 6.30-8pm
Natural Kitchen, 1A Copthall Avenue EC2R 7BH
3. Recent TIPS Events
TIPS October Networking Drinks | Summary
On 28 October 2019, 17 TIPS members met at the Balls Brothers Austin Friars for an evening of engaging discussion on corruption in the private sector.
Rory Donaldson, Programme Manager for TI-UK’s Business Integrity Programme and TIPS member, spoke about big oil’s “double speak” on climate change, a topic that has been exposed in a recent report.
This led into a discussion around private sector corruption, TI-UK corporate benchmarking and what topics of unethical behaviour TI-UK should focus on addressing going forwards. There was considerable discussion around the theme of professional enablers, which had been raised in TI-UK’s new report “At Your Service”.
It was a hugely engaging evening with some fantastic insights and philosophical contributions from both the speakers and attendees.
4. TIPS Advocacy: One Minute Reads
Last month, TIPS launched its new information hub, ‘One Minute Reads’. If you wish to share your One Minute Reads on the TIPS website, or have any questions, please do send your contribution to, and feel free to contact Alex Sidossis, TIPS Advocacy Lead, at asidossis@4-5.co.uk.
5. Items of Interest
Protect launch whistleblowing bill
On 11 October, Whistleblowing charity Protect launched a campaign for new legislation to make whistleblowing protection for people who raise concerns the best in the world. Protect wants the same EU protection as a minimum standard for whistleblowers in the UK and believes the law should require more of employers, particularly in relation to preventing victimisation of whistleblowers in the workplace. See Press Release here.
Panorama documentary: Follow the (drug) money
In a Panorama documentary released on 28 October, Reporter Andy Verity reveals how billions of pounds of drug money is laundered in the UK every year. Catch up on BBC iPlayer here.
With Brexit, companies must ensure more than ever that they are doing business without bribery
Rory Donaldson, Programme Manager for TI-UK’s Business Integrity Programme has warned that Brexit presents potential new corruption risks for companies, particularly small to medium size enterprises. TI-UK has made available a free online training module to help companies provide in-depth anti-bribery training for staff. See TI-UK blogpost here.
Rory Stewart to speak at TI-UK Annual Lecture 2019
TI-UK has announced that Rory Stewart will share his fascinating observations and insights into the impact corruption can have on society at this year’s Annual Lecture on 9 December 2019. See TI-UK Press Release here.