Professional Code of Conduct
In achieving membership of the Association, all members have to meet the required standards for operational proficiency and integrity plus demonstrate they possess the relevant commercial acumen required by the Association. The member are bound by this Professional Code of Conduct, and by The Federation of Sports and Play Associations’ Articles of Association, all intended to maintain a high and improving standard of service to the industry.
1. Criteria for Membership
In order to be admitted to the Association of Play Industries, all members
must meet the required standards of experience, proficiency and commercial
competence which is appropriate to their section of membership.
Member Companies are required to demonstrate that they continue to comply
with these membership criteria on an annual basis.
2. Financial Stability
All members within API are required to comply with the Associations’ criteria for financial stability. The Association will from time to time request management accounts or where necessary copies of audited accounts. The association will carry out financial checks on its members randomly, or where they have reason to believe that financial stability of a member is in question. All financial information will be treated in confidence.
Members are required to provide such information on a timely basis. Where such information is not provided the Association reserves the right to suspend membership for up to 3 months and if deemed appropriate discontinue the membership
3. API Membership
3.1 Membership Sections
Members should not claim, infer or imply that they belong to any other membership Section for which they have not applied or been accepted. Members who expand their business activities and subsequently become eligible to apply for membership of the additional section should notify the Association if they wish to be registered under additional sections. The application procedure laid down by the Association and relevant Section would apply.
3.2 API Logo
Members of the API are encouraged to promote their membership of their Association, on stationery, website(s) and promotional material. Members abide by the current guidelines published for the correct use of the API Logo.
4. Marketing
Members are encouraged to provide the Association with material which the association can use to promote its members. This material will be used to promote the membership as a whole and will not favour any one member. Site specific material will carry the members Logo should the member agree and the Association agree, but any general photography and generic material will remain anonymous.
5. Customer Service
Member companies of the API have committed themselves to maintain a high standard of quality and service to their customers. All member companies comply with the recommendations of the relevant British and European Standards.
Quotations, specifications and other pre-contractual information should aim to be clear and helpful to the client.
6. Technical Mediation Service
The API maintains a Mediation Panel to assist in providing impartial assistance in resolving disputes between member companies and their customers. This service is restricted to technical rather than contractual aspects.
Parties requesting and agreeing to mediation are expected to be bound by the findings.
The association does not act in any legal capacity in such events but will draw on the experience of the panel and relevant members to seek a satisfactory resolution.
Any reasonable costs incurred by the mediation service are to be met by the member company.
7. Health & Safety Regulations
Members endorse and affirm their responsibilities to their clients under current legislation and must comply fully with current Health & Safety Regulations.
8. Education & Training
Members are encouraged to support any training activities provided by the Association for the industry and continually develop their Staff.
9. Annual Return
Payment of the annual membership fee is confirmation that the API member company agrees to the following:
- Renewal of the members’ agreement to abide by the Professional Code of Conduct
- Confirmation of compliance with the Association’s current membership criteria
- Accept the Associations Constitution
- Confirmation that the relevant Insurances are in place
10. Disciplinary procedure
Member companies, who breach aspects of the Professional Code of Conduct, will be referred to the Executive Committee.
Breaches of the Professional Code of Conduct will result in disciplinary action being taken. A member company committing a serious breach will be liable to expulsion from the Association.
A signed copy of the Code of Practise need to be returned to complete application for membership. A PDF of the Professional Code of Conduct can be downloaded here please fill in and return to us at the following address.
Association of Play Industries
Federation House
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire
CV8 2RF
Telephone: 0247 641 4999
Fax: 0247 641 4990 Ext 208
Email: api@api-play.org
Internet: www.api-play.org
To print as a PDF which opens in a separate window, please click here.