A targeted supplier background check focused on ESG and Sustainability
Speeki Trust™ is an independent background check sourced from public research on a supplier's ESG and Sustainability credentials.
New legislation in Europe and around the world expects you to conduct detailed due diligence on your suppliers with respect to several key ESG and Sustainability risks.
Speeki Trust™ is a background check solution. It is part of the suite of products that make up Speeki's solutions for supply chain selection, qualification and ESG due diligence. Speeki Trust™ is designed specifically for suppliers. It is targeted at suppliers as opposed to other, more common due diligence targets such as channel partners and distributors. Our focus on suppliers allows us to target our research into what matters most for you.
What is Speeki Trust™?
Speeki Trust™ is a background check solution that will form part of your supplier qualification and due diligence.
Unlike most background check vendors and products in the market, Speeki Trust™ research is targeted according to your instructions. You tell our team where across the ESG and Sustainability areas you want us to focus. If you have used other Speeki products like Speeki Path™ or Speeki Qualify™, you will easily be able to give those instructions because you will already know the areas that need to be focused on for that specific supplier.
Is Speeki Trust™ a database check?
Speeki Trust™ is research-based due diligence. It is far more than a simple database check.
Humans, combined with some research support from generative AI, conduct research on a named supplier across up to 5 of 20+ key risk areas within ESG and Sustainability. The research spans from incorporation and corporate governance confirmation to financial, traditional and social media, online litigation or regulatory enforcement, as well as identified previous issues of concern.
Our research is conducted in any country, delivered in a PDF report for a set fee.
The Benefits of Speeki Trust™ | Due Diligence
Our research includes public sources as well as other data around the company, its industry, locations, and how that impacts ESG and Sustainability.
Our research is analysed, and we provide detailed views on our findings, highlighting areas where you need to focus for additional research or to resolve any red flags that may have been identified.
Our research and analysis cover a broad range of topics, which you can tailor based on your scope and research needs.
Our focus remains the same: to present the research we conducted, what we found, and what it means to you.
Most providers will never offer guidance or advice because they simply don't understand the topics.
At Speeki, we believe that guidance and advice are our value-added components to what is otherwise publicly available data (albeit hard to access).
Speeki Trust™ background checks can cover any of the key 20+ risk areas within ESG and Sustainability.
Bribery and corruption
Failure to manage bribery and corruption risks can lead to significant consequences, such as large fines, reputational damage, and internal and external investigations – just to name a few. Research as part of Speeki Trust™ will search for evidence of illegal conduct, engagement in bribery allegations, or a propensity to do so.
Whistleblowing
Failure to support whistleblowing may lead to debarments from public procurement in certain countries. A Speeki Trust™ due diligence engagement will check if the supplier has such a programme and whether it is effective.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Failure to manage diversity, equity, and inclusion risks can lead to reputational damage and difficulty in hiring and retaining staff. With a Speeki Trust™ engagement, your supplier will be reviewed to see what public information exists about its employment practices, approach to diversity, and any key practices they have in place.
Human rights and modern-day slavery
Failure to manage human rights risks can lead to reputational damage, significant fines, debarments from public procurement, and internal and external investigations. The Speeki Trust™ reports assess the risk of such activity and search for any public evidence of employee mistreatment, employment issues, allegations of workplace or employee harassment, as well as positive signs that the company promotes human rights and takes steps to avoid modern-day slavery.
Compliance
Effective compliance programmes protect businesses, and the return on investment can be significant, helping to avoid waste, fraud, abuse, discrimination, and many other practices that disrupt operations and put a company at risk. A Speeki Trust™ research project looks at how the company has adopted compliance. We search for evidence of a compliance culture and see how the company uses compliance to reduce its own risks.
Supply chain and partner management
Supply chain and partner management are essential for the efficient and sustainable running of any business that uses third parties to source or distribute its products and services. Your supplier also has suppliers, and a Speeki Trust™ engagement can look for evidence that they actively manage supply chain issues that deliver value for all stakeholders, including you.
Health and safety
A lack of consideration for health and safety can increase absenteeism and negligence claims, affecting workplace productivity and morale. It may also lead to a supplier's inability to provide you with products and services. With a Speeki Trust™ research engagement, we search for evidence of health and safety issues and the steps the supplier is taking to identify risks in its health and safety programme and how it demonstrates to its customers (including you) that they manage those risks.
Data privacy and information security
The protection of and access to an individual’s private data is growing in importance as new international laws come into effect. Your supplier could be handling your private data and that of your customers. Most data leaks happen because of a supplier breach. A Speeki Trust™ engagement will search for evidence of recent breaches, gaps, or compliance failures. It will look for what evidence exists that the supplier has a data protection and information security programme and gain insight into both the technical and legal aspects of how they are managing privacy and data security.
Using Speeki Trust™ brings significant value to your qualification process
Using Speeki Trust™ adds significant value to your qualification and due diligence process. The following are some of the key elements of Speeki Trust™ that set Speeki apart from other background check companies.
Your Speeki team is objective, independent, and comes from a long line of background check and due diligence experience, led by two of the best-known leaders in the industry.
We are experts in ESG and supplier due diligence. The Speeki Trust™ solution is substantive, prioritising substance over form and allowing your team to focus on other matters.
We focus on the timely delivery of our work and strive to exceed our stated time guidance. We manage these issues closely and provide regular updates to clients during reviews.
Our commitment to quality is unwavering. We ensure our teams deliver the best possible research reports available. Speeki Trust™ reports are designed to provide you with value and certainty.
Speeki Trust™ includes indicators in the form of barometers in our reports. These provide perspective on the depth of our research and the availability and accuracy of the data.
Speeki Trust™ is focused on suppliers and a wide array of ESG and Sustainability risks. Our research and reporting are always relevant, and as your trusted background check vendor, we strive to produce actionable insights.
Our focus at Speeki is to ensure that every Speeki Trust™ report provides you with the essential information needed to make informed decisions about your suppliers. Our goal is aligned with yours: building a strong supply chain that reflects your ESG and Sustainability position.
What you can do with the Speeki Trust™ reports
Demonstrate to all your stakeholders your tangible commitment to mitigating governance, compliance, and ESG-related risks in your supply chain.
The barometers provided in the Speeki Trust™ reports give additional guidance on the market and the supplier. They help to provide perspective on the data identified and how it relates to the particular supplier.
Evidence that your due diligence included a thorough review of public sources, testing your suppliers' ESG initiatives and governance.
Use the Speeki Trust™ reports as an input to your negotiations with the supplier and help drive better cost or performance from the suppliers.
Prove to your suppliers that they have met the expectations of being your supplier.
Analysis and summary that explain what your results mean for your understanding and for the understanding of your stakeholders.
Use the results of the Speeki Trust™ reports as an input to your contracting and audit process. Results of Speeki Trust™ can feed directly into Speeki OnBoard™ and Speeki Partner Integrity™ solutions.
Key features of your Speeki Trust™ reports
On-time delivery
We take our role seriously as a key part of your supplier qualification and on-boarding. We aim to deliver within three (3) business days from clear instructions and we commit to updating you if we see any delays.
Simple language and clear guidance
While we always aim to have simple language, we also aim to give clear guidance. We do not see Speeki Trust™ as just a research paper with findings, it is a report with guidance and recommendations.
Simple to read
We aim to produce reports that are easy to read by anyone, anytime. No legal complexity, minimal disclaimers and no complex answers.
Targeted areas to focus
Select one or up to five of the currently available topics to focus our research. With more topics to come, addressing 20+ ESG risk areas, we always focus on research that provides the most informed guidance.
Collaborate internally and with your supplier
While we retain the intellectual property in our Speeki Trust™ research reports, we allow you to share them internally and with your supplier. It is important to share this reporting with your supplier at your discretion.
Get your trust barometers
We include three indicators in our Speeki Trust™ reports that provide our perspective on the data we are reviewing and our views on what it reveals. Use these barometers to gain further insight.
Easy follow-up and questions
If something is unclear in your Speeki Trust™ report or you need a quick follow-up call to explain something, we can promptly schedule a call to walk through our findings.
Easily step into Speeki OnBoard™
Based on the findings in our Speeki Trust™ report, we can provide contractual provisions as part of our Speeki OnBoard™ solutions. Speeki OnBoard™ offers contractual addendums that require suppliers to take specific steps in accordance with the risks identified in the Speeki Trust™ reports and the results of any Speeki Qualify™ assessments.
The benefits of a background check vs. a simple database or internet search
Most internet searches done internally lack language checks
If you have a large research team that speaks all available languages, that's great. However, most companies don't have this capacity. Research needs to be conducted in the local language of the region where the supplier primarily operates.
Local knowledge researchers add value
Our researchers are trained in effective research techniques. They know where to look, what to focus on, and how to process large amounts of information. They invest time in chasing down leads and know where to find information in specific countries. They also know when to stop and explore alternative research paths.
Databases typically cover money laundering and PEPs
There is no such thing as an 'ESG and Sustainability database'. There are databases to check for known money launderers, people under sanction and politically exposed persons. However, these databases are highly unlikely to help with ESG and Sustainability issues. Rely on them at your peril.
Some research sources are only available to specialists
In some countries, conducting a litigation search requires being a lawyer. In other countries, live searches of corporate company offices can only be performed by registered individuals. Our research team is in the right place with the right skills.
Access to multiple sources
Managing some research in-house often lacks the variety of sources that a research company can access. Save money on subscribing to multiple systems by leveraging the subscriptions of your research company.
Relying on consolidated news sites or databases is risky
If we've learned anything in the last five years, it's that media reporting on issues may not always be reliable or free from opinion. Relying solely on media databases for research would be a mistake.
Speeki Trust™ FAQs
How much information do I need to provide to start a request for a Speeki Trust™ report?
We don’t need a lot of information. The supplier's name, identification numbers, address, and the ESG areas (up to five) where you want us to focus are usually sufficient.
How do you charge for your Speeki Trust™ reports?
Speeki Trust™ reports are fixed-price. Our clients purchase a package of at least ten reports, which are billed and paid upfront. As each Speeki Trust™ report is ordered and delivered, the outstanding package balance is reduced.
Do you have different versions of the Speeki Trust™ reports, and does pricing vary by country or industry?
There is only one version of the Speeki Trust™ report, and the pricing is set per report. The price is the same in any country and is fixed.
How long does it take to deliver a Speeki Trust™ report?
While not guaranteed, we aim to deliver reports within three business days in most cases. If there are delays, we will do our best to inform you and provide guidance on the expected delivery time. Delays are most likely due to difficulties in locating data on the company.
Can I share the Speeki Trust™ report with my suppliers?
Yes. Although Speeki retains all intellectual property in our Speeki Trust™ reports, we provide a licence to use the report's content for internal purposes, including sharing with your supplier for their review.
How do we target different risk areas in your research?
Speeki Trust™ considers 20+ different risk areas as part of our ESG and Sustainability reports. You can choose up to five areas of focus for each engagement. This does not mean we ignore the other 14 areas; we focus more intensively on the five you select.
Are there any areas or countries where we do not provide reports?
Yes. There are areas where we might occasionally decide not to conduct research and produce Speeki Trust™ reports, due to regulatory restrictions or safety and security reasons. We reserve the right to decline a request or instruction at our discretion or provide a reduced version of the report based on the data we can access legally and safely.
Can I order and pay in any currency?
Speeki Trust™ is contracted and delivered by a Speeki subsidiary in Hong Kong, Speeki (Hong Kong) Ltd. Therefore, our principal currencies for contracting and payment are HKD, USD, or EUR.
Who in the business can leverage the Speeki Trust™ report?
Supply chain management
Supply chain managers can spot ESG risk areas and potential supply chain weaknesses. With insight-driven improvements, they can significantly reduce sustainability-related losses. Additionally, by promoting strong, evolving ESG programmes, they enhance the organisation's reputation and commitment to sustainability.
Content owners
HR benefits from ensuring main suppliers have strong workplace policies, minimizing risks like modern-day slavery and reputational harm. Legal and compliance teams gain confidence that governance, whistleblowing, and corruption risks are well-managed, supported by due diligence, contracts and audits of key suppliers.
ESG owners and ESG reporting executives
Executives responsible for ESG reports and filings can easily review collective datasets across the supply chain and incorporate relevant information into their overall reporting. By integrating supplier insights, they ensure regulatory compliance and demonstrate the company’s commitment to transparency and sustainability to stakeholders.
Employees and other stakeholders
Employees and stakeholders feel more valued as part of a company with a strong sustainability culture and effective governance addressing ESG risks in the supply chain. This approach fosters loyalty and trust throughout the organisation, reinforcing a sense of shared responsibility.
What makes Speeki Trust™ different from other background check providers?
Speeki is a mix of content experts, assurance and audits, technologists and communicators.
We know how best to build systems, programmes, and tools to engage people to drive ESG and Sustainability solutions. We are focused on building the best solutions for companies to manage supply chain risk in ESG and Sustainability.
How Speeki Trust™ integrates with other Speeki supply chain qualification and due diligence solutions
You can request a Speeki Trust™ background check as part of your due diligence efforts at any time. While it’s best to do so when you know a bit about the supplier’s role to focus the background check, it’s not always necessary.
- Knowledge gained from the Speeki Path™ risk assessment can guide the targeted research for the Speeki Trust™ background check.
- While the supplier completes the Speeki Sustainability Score™ assessments, you can start the Speeki Trust™ background check in parallel, saving time by not waiting for sequential steps.
Make informed decisions
Once you receive the data from Speeki Sustainability Score™ and the Speeki Trust™ background check, along with any information the supplier provided during the RFP process, you will have sufficient data to make a go/no-go onboarding decision.
Explore other Speeki solutions for supply chain qualification and due diligence
- Speeki OnBoard™: This optional service transitions the supplier into a contracted party by creating tailored contract requirements that address ESG and Sustainability gaps, replacing generic clauses.
- Speeki Acquire™: conduct extensive due diligence for acquisition targets
- Speeki Calibre™: Test your executives and employees on integrity and sustainability knowledge
- Speeki GreenPlan™: Categorize supplier risks for ESG and Sustainability
- Speeki Social™: monitor social media to identify signals about non-financial issues amidst the noise
Enhance your supply chain risk management
By leveraging the complete suite of Speeki solutions, you can significantly improve your management of supply chain risks related to ESG and Sustainability.
Reach out to learn more about Speeki Trust™ background checks
Speeki regularly holds workshops with clients to discuss their needs for supplier qualification, assessment, due diligence and auditing. We are experts at mapping out solutions that make sense and add value to your business. Contact us to learn more.
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