Supporting Openness, Integrity & Accountability at Bangor University
Bangor University is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, integrity and accountability, conducting its affairs responsibly in line with the requirements of its funding bodies and the expectations of the Ethics and Integrity Commission. Staff, students, Council members, and other members of the University community are encouraged to speak up about concerns without fear of victimisation or disadvantage.
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) gives legal protection to workers who disclose information they reasonably believe highlights malpractice, wrongdoing, or danger in the public interest. These disclosures are commonly known as ‘whistleblowing’ disclosures.
What is Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is the act of raising concerns about suspected wrongdoing, malpractice, or risks that could harm people, the environment, or the University's integrity. The Act covers concerns including:
criminal offences, such as financial malpractice or fraud
criminal activity in supply chains, such as modern slavery or human trafficking
failure to comply with legal obligations, including breaches of the University's Charter, Charity law, or other regulations
miscarriages of justice
endangering the health and safety of university members or the local community
damage to the environment
any attempt to conceal any of the above.
University Commitment
Individuals will be protected if they raise a concern in good faith and in the reasonable belief that it tends to show malpractice. The University will:
treat disclosures sensitively and, wherever possible, confidentially
acknowledge and record all concerns raised
investigate them fairly, promptly, and proportionately, and
provide appropriate feedback on actions taken.
How to Raise a Concern
The University's Whistleblowing Officer is the University Secretary.
Concerns should be submitted to: whistleblowing@bangor.ac.uk.
In addition to the University Secretary, this mailbox will be monitored by the Head of Governance & Risk and the Governance, Risk and Corporate Events Officer.
Where individuals do not wish concerns to be seen by these officers, they may be submitted directly to the Vice-Chancellor’s mailbox: vice-chancellor@bangor.ac.uk.
Full step‑by‑step guidance, including detail on how the University will take forward any whistleblowing concerns can be found in the University’s Whistleblowing Policy