Code of Conduct
As part of our mission to build a thriving, inclusive tech ecosystem in the Scottish Borders, Borders Tech Connect is committed to creating a supportive, safe, and welcoming space for all participants — whether students, business owners, staff, or visitors.
To ensure our activities and events foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to allow everyone to engage comfortably, we ask all participants to agree to the following Code of Conduct.
🤝 Our Shared Principles
At Borders Tech Connect, we encourage:
Treating others with respect at all times.
Keeping an open mind to new ideas and perspectives.
Listening actively and thoughtfully to different points of view.
Taking a clear stand against any offensive behaviour, including inappropriate messages, comments, or jokes.
We are committed to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone.
We do not tolerate harassment in any form.
🚫 What Constitutes Harassment?
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
Offensive comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, mental health, neurodivergence, physical appearance, body size, age, race, religion, or belief.
Unwelcome remarks about lifestyle choices and practices (e.g., diet, health, marriage, parenting, employment).
Deliberate misgendering, use of rejected names (“deadnaming”), or outing someone’s private identity without consent.
Sexual harassment, including unwanted actions, jokes, or comments of a sexual nature, or any physical contact without consent.
Threats or incitement of violence towards individuals or groups.
Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following.
Harassing photography or recording.
Logging online activity for harassment purposes or publishing non-harassing private communication without consent.
🛟 Reporting Concerns
If you experience or witness harassment or inappropriate behaviour, or if you have any concerns, we encourage you to report it to the organising team promptly.
You can report issues confidentially by emailing:
info@borderstechconnect.org
Complaints will be handled respectfully and confidentially.
If further steps are needed, we will work with you to ensure your safety and comfort at all times.
We are committed to protecting the confidentiality of anyone who reports harassment, except where disclosure is required to protect others.
⚖️ Consequences of Breaching the Code
Participants asked to stop any inappropriate behaviour are expected to comply immediately.
Borders Tech Connect organisers may take any action deemed necessary, including:
Formal warnings
Removal from events or workshops
Temporary or permanent exclusion from future Borders Tech Connect activities
Where serious breaches occur, the organisers may also choose to share limited information with partner organisations to ensure the wider safety of the community.
🌟 A Safe and Supportive Community
Borders Tech Connect is built on respect, collaboration, and co-operation.
We ask everyone to help us maintain a space where new ideas can be explored, partnerships can be built, and learning can happen safely and openly.
Thank you for helping us grow a better community — together.
