‘Danger zone’: the warnings designed to protect women at UK business events

Codes of conduct are on the rise, and have a focus on reputational risk as well as on harassment

When more than 1,300 lending bosses, regulators and MPs descended on Grosvenor House hotel on Park Lane in London for a black-tie dinner in late February, they arrived informed.

Invitees to the Financing & Leasing Association event had been handed an annual dinner code of conduct" telling guests about a new policy on discrimination and sexual harassment. The trade body would not tolerate any such behaviour and will, along with our event agency, take immediate action to stop it".