A bridge too far?  A classic case of illegal and unethical business

Teachers looking for a topical example of unethical and illegal business practice need look no further than the case of Mabey & Johnson…

Following a lengthy investigation by the Serious Fraud Office and an internal review by its lawyers, Mabey & Johnson has admitted that several of its previous Directors had systematically paid bribes around the world to win contracts to build bridges.

According to a press release from the company itself:

“Mabey & Johnson, the UK company that designs and manufactures steel bridges used in more than 115 countries worldwide, has today been fined £3.5m following its conviction on charges relating to its historic conduct on contracts undertaken in Jamaica, Ghana and Iraq.”

The announcement goes on:

‘These costs will hurt the company and they are a real punishment. But our goal is to ensure we can protect jobs and take our business forward. We believe we can maintain a robust UK-based manufacturing and export business, built on ethically-led trading relationships. We have a strong and committed team and excellent products, which make a real difference to communities around the world.’

...and finally…

“Business ethics are at the heart of our business, and new whistle-blowing procedures have been introduced. All of our sales and associated systems have been reviewed and will be regularly updated, while all relevant staff have been extensively trained or retrained. We have made a fresh start as a company’

A great example of how unethical business practices can lead to losses for a company, and a good example of how a new management team can respond appropriately.