Declaration Of No Conflict Of Interest Template for England and Wales

A no conflict of interest statement is a document that formally confirms you hold no personal interest capable of compromising your professional duties or decision-making. It protects both you and your organisation by evidencing transparency and supporting compliance with governance rules in England and Wales. The same document is often titled a declaration of no conflict of interest or a conflict of interest disclosure form.

What is a no conflict of interest statement?

It is a signed record in which an individual states that their personal, financial, or professional interests do not interfere with a specific role, decision, transaction, or piece of work. Organisations keep these statements on file as part of a wider conflict of interest policy, using them to show that decisions were made on the merits rather than for private benefit. In a research or publishing context the same principle applies: authors of a manuscript submitted to a journal complete a statement so reviewers and readers can judge whether any competing interest, such as funding from an interested party, might have shaped the work.

When do you need this document?

You need a statement when starting a new role, particularly as a director, trustee, or senior manager where conflicts could affect business decisions. It applies when joining company boards, taking part in tender or procurement processes, or making purchasing decisions of significant value. Many organisations ask for a fresh statement annually or before involvement in a specific project. Professional service firms often collect them from partners and senior staff, and public sector bodies typically ask everyone with decision-making authority to sign one. You should also complete a new statement whenever your circumstances change and could create a fresh potential conflict. Similar disclosure practice governs peer review, where a reviewer must confirm no competing interest with the author or the work they assess.

What should the statement include?

A clear statement sets out what counts as a conflict of interest so the signatory knows what to disclose. Typical categories are:

• Financial interests, such as shareholdings, directorships, or personal payments from a supplier, competitor, or funding source.
• Family and personal relationships with suppliers, competitors, clients, or colleagues involved in a decision.
• External business interests, second employments, or roles that could influence your judgment.
• Gifts, hospitality, or other benefits received in connection with the role.

The statement should specify its scope (the role, project, or decisions it covers), name a contact to whom new conflicts must be reported, and require the signatory to update the organisation promptly if circumstances change. It should be dated and, where appropriate, witnessed so it can serve as evidence of good faith compliance. You can adapt the wording to sit alongside related documents such as an employment contract or a non-disclosure agreement.

How to declare a conflict of interest in academic and editorial contexts

Publishers and journals ask an author to declare any competing interest at the point of submission, so the editor and reviewers can weigh whether funding, employment, or a personal relationship might have shaped the content. A typical request covers the article itself, any related research, and the sources of financial support behind it. Where an author has no such interest, the same template lets them state that plainly. Editorial and peer-review guidance treats an open, current disclosure as part of good practice: the statement should reflect the author's position at the time of submission and be refreshed if their circumstances change while the work is under review. The categories above apply here too, so a single template serves both a commercial board and a research or editorial setting.

Key legal considerations

Under common law you owe a fiduciary duty to act in your organisation's best interests, and a signed statement provides evidence of your commitment to that duty. The statement should make clear what triggers a disclosure and how quickly it must be made, because not reporting an emerging conflict can breach your legal duties. Where a regulator or funder reviews a decision, the statement forms part of the record that shows the decision was properly considered.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

The Companies Act 2006 places duties on company directors over conflicts of interest, notably Sections 175-177 on avoiding conflicts and Section 182 on declaring interests in existing transactions. A director must disclose any situation where personal interests conflict with the company's, and a statement helps evidence that compliance. The Bribery Act 2010 asks commercial organisations to maintain adequate procedures to prevent bribery, and conflict of interest statements sit within those procedures. Under the Employment Rights Act 1996 employees carry implied duties of good faith and loyalty, which include avoiding undisclosed conflicts. Your statement should also fit any sector-specific rules that apply, for example in financial services or in charities where trustee and funding decisions attract extra scrutiny.