Corporate Social Responsibility

The Weston Beamor Group (part of Heimerle + Meule Group) publicly reports corporate social responsibility performance. These reports set out our policies and principles and summaries our responsibilities throughout the supply chain, corporate governance system, commitment to ethical business conduct and compliance, products and customer services and human resources to share in the rewards of our success.

At the Weston Beamor Group we endeavour to be the trusted and preferred supplier of jewellery for retailers worldwide. We achieve our goal by building on our values of innovation, by understanding our customers and suppliers, and by nurturing the talent and passion of our people in a culture of continual improvement.

We strive to build a globally respected organisation that fulfils the needs of all our stakeholders. Responsible business practices and social awareness have always been part of The Weston Beamor Group and they are virtues which we strive to honour in our daily operations as well as through initiatives that aim at raising the bar for the jewellery industry.

At the Weston Beamor Group we believe that corporate social responsibility and our aspiration to offer high quality jewellery go hand in hand. Being a leader in the jewellery industry demands not only strong financial results but also balancing economic growth with social and environmental responsibility. Corporate Social Responsibility ensures we grow in a responsible way. Integrating CSR into our operations helps us to reduce costs, manage risks, minimise our impacts, attract and retain talent and strengthen our brand and business overall.

The Creative Jewellery Group is committed to advancing responsible business practices, from the sourcing of gemstones, precious metals and other materials to the manufacturing and marketing of our jewellery. We believe that our business shall benefit our stakeholders and not least our customers.

Corporate Governance

At the Weston Beamor Group we continuously strive to strengthen our corporate governance system, recognising that sound corporate governance is extremely important in operating the Weston Beamor Group effectively, efficiently, and in a way that increases corporate value over the mid to long term. The Weston Beamor Group approaches its corporate governance through two basic principles:

(a) The Board of Directors focuses on effective oversight of management's operation of the business, including through the activities of the nominating, audit and maintaining a sound and transparent governance framework.

b) The Board determines the fundamental management policies of the the Weston Beamor Group and other material matters and delegates to senior management to conduct the business operations of the Weston Beamor Group in line with their respective responsibilities, as defined by the Board, with a view to promoting timely and efficient decision making within the Weston Beamor Group.

Responsible Jewellery Council - Accreditation May 2015

The Weston Beamor Group mission is to increase consumer confidence in diamond, gold and platinum group metals. We have accomplished this through the successful implementation of a system for certification of responsible business practices that is widely recognised and valued by our stakeholders.

The Responsible Jewellery Council accreditation comes to our company as a further and very important accomplishment.

The Responsible Jewellery Council is a not-for-profit organisation that has been established to promote responsible ethical, social and environmental practices, which respect human rights, throughout the Diamond and Gold Jewellery supply chain, from mine to retail.

By having the accreditation we are promoting doing the right thing. It shows leadership to the industry, demonstrates to our many customers, both here and aboard, of our total commitment to ensuring that our products are sourced in the most ethical manner possible in a transparent and accountable manner.

Responsible Supply Chain

In recent years, stakeholders have grown increasingly aware of how crucial it is that companies fulfill their overall responsibilities throughout our supply chain. At the Weston Beamor Group we take these stakeholder concerns seriously and are working closely with our suppliers on initiatives in fields such as human rights, labor conditions, health and safety, and environmental protection. These initiatives not only cover the Weston Beamor Group own sites, but sites throughout the supply chain.

Approach

The foundation of the Weston Beamor Group efforts to build a responsible supply chain is the compliance of each and every director, and employee with the Weston Beamor Group Code of Conduct and ethical business practices. Based on this approach, we focus on supply chain management and responsible purchasing of materials and work with suppliers to establish a responsible supply chain that ensures compliance with the Weston Beamor Group Supply Chain Code of Conduct.

Structure

At the Weston Beamor Group, Kerry Saunders, Operations Director, takes the lead in promoting responsible sourcing activities in cooperation with other related departments, business groups and relevant functions at manufacturing sites.

Achievements

Implemented an annual survey for use in relation to the four designated minerals under US law on conflict minerals.

Required suppliers' continual compliance with the Weston Beamor Groups Conflict Diamonds Policy.

Nearly a quarter of suppliers are Responsible Jewellery Council Accredited.

Regular overseas visits to all our suppliers.

Looking to the Future

In order to further strengthen efforts to establish a responsible supply chain, we will maintain our RJC accreditation through an ongoing programme of audit and continuous improvement. We will carry on with supplier reviews, audits and accreditations to ensure they meet required standards. We will look to expand assessments from our own sites and suppliers, for example by having primary suppliers request secondary suppliers to comply with the Weston Beamor Group.

The Weston Beamor Group remains committed to ongoing efforts to raise awareness and educate to focus the attention and boost the capacity of the Weston Beamor group employees. Likewise for supplier employees engaged in the supply chain to respond effectively to responsible supply chain issues.

Ethics and Compliance

Approach

The Weston Beamor Group has a strong and well established commitment to ethical business conduct and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Senior management sets the core values for the company, the expectations for ethical business conduct, and leads by example.

The Weston Beamor Group Code of Conduct anchors our ethics and compliance program. Our Code sets out our standards for ethical conduct, our core values and our basic policies on important topics such as compliance with laws and regulations, fair competition in business dealings, anti-corruption, protection of confidential information and intellectual property, respect for human rights, safety of products and services, environmental conservation, and information disclosure.

Structure

At the Weston Beamor Group, Kerry Saunders, Operations Director, takes the lead in promoting Ethical and Compliance activities in cooperation with other related departments, business groups and relevant functions at manufacturing sites

Achievements

Continue to establish The Code of Conduct, adopting the ETI best practices for the Weston Beamor Group and those of its suppliers.

Continue to asses our own sites and those of its suppliers.

Established and monitored procedures to be able to demonstrate compliance with new national and international legislation.

Looking to the future

We continue to promote our corporate culture to help ensure that our personnel conduct our business activities ethically. Senior management will continue to allocate resources and set priorities to promote our compliance activities and will continue to send clear messages of the importance of business ethics and compliance. We will continue to enhance our group wide compliance activities.

Quality and Services

In recent years, customers and other stakeholders have become increasingly concerned about the protection of consumer rights. Product safety, security, and accessibility are very important in this respect. The Weston Beamor Group is expected to provide products and customer services that are high in quality from the customer's point of view.

Approach

True to its Philosophy and Policy for Product Quality and Customer Services, the Weston Beamor Group is wholeheartedly committed to improving product and service quality from the customer's point of view in order to both maintain and enhance satisfaction, confidence, and trust. In particular, the Weston Beamor Group is working to ensure product quality and improve accessibility and usability, in the conviction that its most important goal is to remain a highly trusted partner to all customers

Structure

The Weston Beamor Group has configured its quality management system by defining quality management mechanisms across all processes, from product development, planning, design, and manufacturing through sales and customer service. This has included defining the roles, responsibilities, and authority of those responsible for product and customer service quality and establishing guidelines.

Achievements

In order to deliver customers quality product and customer service that exceed their expectations, the Weston Beamor Group adopted a wide range of in-house rules, and abided by them.

The Weston Beamor Group analysed customer feedback (including comments made on social networking sites, in an effort to improve quality and products.

In order to provide customers with truly useful support and information, staff who deal directly with customers attended training to familiarise themselves with new technologies and shared information on how to solve problems.

Looking to the future

The Weston Beamor Group will continue to take the customer's point of view in order to deliver product quality and customer service that exceed customers' expectations. This is a necessary first step toward ensuring product quality and security, and preventing safety problems before they cause any harm. With these aims in mind, the Weston Beamor Group will continue making use of its worldwide network to collect and analyse information which can then be reflected in the next releases of products and services.

Human Resources

The Weston Beamor Group recognises its employees to be its most important resource and understands how critical it is to leverage the unique traits of each employee, provide opportunities for employees to improve and make the most of their skills and capabilities. We strive to build a safe and inclusive working environment in which employees accept and embrace their differences. We ensure equal treatment for all, irrespective of any protected characteristic.

Approach

The Weston Beamor Group has put into place recruitment and training policies and processes to ensure that diversity and inclusion are the norm. The safety, welfare and work-life balance of our employees is protected by the application of our Health and Safety management system, the open door policy of a caring HR team and our flexible approach to working hours and home working where possible.

Structure

HR polices are made available to all staff and are published on-line in our employee Handbook, which is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. The HR department supported by external consultants and legal experts reports directly to the Managing Director who ensures our policies and practises reflect our values.

Main Achievements in 2016

Introduced an Employee Assistance Programme, which provides direct access to an advisory support service for employees and their families at a time of need.

Provided HR training for all managers

Maintained our Investors in People accreditation

Increased the % of women at board level from 22.2% to 37.5 %

Looking to the Future

The Weston Beamor Group will be working to promote diversity and inclusion, devoting especially close attention to the recruitment and education of key personnel and their promotion to important positions. In addition to building a pleasant working environment through the ongoing implementation of safety and health improvement activities, the Weston Beamor Group will increase the opportunities for employee's professional development through enhanced on and off the job training and coaching.

Environment

We believe that our success should not come at the expense of the environment, so we strive to operate in a way that is mindful of long term environmental sustainability.

Whether we are saving costs by reducing energy consumption or reducing our waste, we believe that reducing our impact on the environment can also result in positive business benefits.

Community

We are committed to supporting the communities where we live and work, through charity collections and donations. We also encourage our employees to take part in volunteering activities within the local community or to raise money for local charities.

Contributing to the local community is about much more than money. Our employees get involved by giving their time and skills, which is vital to enable us to build strong relationships and make a genuine difference to local people's lives.

Code of Conduct

The Weston Beamor Group has implemented a Code of Conduct with its employees and suppliers. These codes set out the standards of best business ethical practices that are to be respected and which should be the basis of our business decisions. The code describes our commitments towards different key business integrity issues such as equal employment opportunity, health and safety standards, ethical business practices, the integrity of working relations and the respect of the environment.

As part of the implementation of this Code, our suppliers have confirmed to us that no area of divergence between their operations and the requirements of the Code has been identified and that they have shared these expectations with their own employees.

Compliance to the code

1. Employment is freely chosen

1.1 There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour.

1.2 Workers are not required to lodge 'deposits' or their identity papers with their employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.

2. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected

2.1 Workers, without distinction, have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively.

2.2 The employer adopts an open attitude towards the activities of trade unions and their organisational activities.

2.3 Workers' representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.

2.4 Where the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is restricted under law, the employer facilitates, and does not hinder, the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining.

3. Working conditions are safe and hygienic

3.1 A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, bearing in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards. Adequate steps shall be taken to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, associated with, or occurring in the course of work, by minimising, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.

3.2 Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers.

3.3 Access to clean toilet facilities and to potable water, and, if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided.

3.4 Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers.

3.5 The company observing the Code shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative.

4. Child labour shall not be used

4.1 There shall be no new recruitment of child labour.

4.2 Companies shall develop or participate in and contribute to policies and programmes which provide for the transition of any child found to be performing child labour to enable her or him to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child.

4.3 Children and young persons under 18 shall not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions.

4.4 These policies and procedures shall conform to the provisions of the relevant ILO standards.

5. Living wages are paid

5.1 Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income.

5.2 All workers shall be provided with written and understandable information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid.

5.3 Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.

6. Working hours are not excessive

6.1 Working hours comply with national laws and benchmark industry standards, whichever affords greater protection.

6.2 In any event, workers shall not on a regular basis be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week and shall be provided with at least one day off for every 7 day period on average. Overtime shall be voluntary, shall not exceed 12 hours per week, shall not be demanded on a regular basis and shall always be compensated at a premium rate.

7. No discrimination is practiced

7.1 There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.

8. Regular employment is provided

8.1 To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of a recognised employment relationship established through national law and practice.

8.2 Obligations to employees under labour or social security laws and regulations arising from the regular employment relationship shall not be avoided through the use of labour-only contracting, subcontracting, or home-working arrangements, or through apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment, nor shall any such obligations be avoided through the excessive use of fixed-term contracts of employment.

9. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed

9.1 Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.

10. Responsible environmental practices

The Weston Beamor Group believes that a business should protect, and where possible, improve the environment, promote sustainable development and prevent the wasteful use of natural resources. We expect our business associates to comply with all current local environmental laws and regulations. Additionally, we encourage our suppliers to promote responsible environmental practices.

11. Zero tolerance of conflict products

The Weston Beamor Group neither supports nor condones the purchase of so-called 'conflict diamonds' or any other conflict product. All suppliers must comply with the Kimberly Process. The Weston Beamor Group will not knowingly purchase or sell any products that originate from a group or a country which supports or engages in illegal, inhumane or terrorist activities.

12. Compliance to the code

Compliance to the Weston Beamor Group business ethics code is mandatory if you are going to do business with us. The Weston Beamor Group intends to monitor compliance by means of factory audits conducted by the Weston Beamor Group employees and third party auditors. Suppliers are requested to provide The Weston Beamor Group with full access to their production facilities and to any documents pertinent to legal employment or environmental practices. Any supplier found to be in violation of this code will be notified of corrective action required to avoid termination of our business relationship.

Business Ethics

1. We are committed to conducting business to a high ethical standard and to ensuring integrity, transparency and conformance with Applicable Law.

2. We do not engage in Bribery and/or corruption.

3. We do not tolerate Money Laundering and/or financing of terrorism.

4. We adhere to the Kimberley Process Certification System and the World Diamond Council voluntary System of Warranties, whose purpose is to put an end to conflict diamond trade.

5. We accurately disclose the material characteristics of the products that we sell.

6. We take reasonable measures to ensure the physical integrity and security of product shipments.

7. We respect commercial confidentiality and data privacy.

Human Rights and Social Performance

8. We believe in and respect the fundamental human rights and the dignity of the individual, according to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

9. We do not tolerate the use of Child Labour.

10. We do not use any forced, bonded, indentured or prison labour, nor restrict the freedom of movement of

Employees and dependents.

11. We are committed to high standards of Health and Safety in our activities.

12. We do not prevent workers from associating freely. Where laws prohibit these freedoms, we support parallel means of dialogue.

13. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual

orientation, union membership, political affiliation, marital status, physical appearance, age or any other

applicable prohibited basis in the workplace.

14. We do not use corporal punishment under any circumstances and prohibit the use of degrading treatment,

harassment, abuse, coercion or intimidation in any form.

15. We adhere to working hours and remuneration legislation.

16. We support the development of communities where we operate, contributing to their social and economic welfare.

17. We recognise and respect the rights of indigenous peoples and the value of their traditional, cultural and social heritage.

Environmental Performance

18. We conduct our business in an environmentally responsible manner.

19. We manage our environmental footprint by eliminating or minimising negative environmental impacts.

20. We ensure the efficiency of our business activities by managing our use of resources and energy.