Assemble with Material Matters 2026 — Code of Conduct

Last updated: 11 September 2026

1. Why we have a code of conduct

Assemble is a one-day conference about materials, design and the people who work with them. It only works if everyone in the room can take part fully — ask a question, disagree with a speaker, introduce themselves to someone they have never met — without being made to feel unwelcome or unsafe.

This code sets out what we expect of everyone at the event, what we will not accept, and what to do if something goes wrong. It sits alongside our ticket terms and conditions.

2. Who it applies to

This code applies to everyone involved in Assemble: attendees, speakers and panel chairs, partners, sponsors and exhibitors, photographers and film crew, venue staff, and the Material Matters team.

It applies for the whole of the event day at Pentland Brands on Thursday 19 November 2026 — including registration, breaks, catering and drinks afterwards — and to any associated social event, online session or conference channel we run.

3. What we expect

• Treat everyone with respect, and assume good faith until you have reason not to.
• Disagree with ideas rather than with people. Robust debate is welcome; ridicule is not.
• Give people room. Keep step-free routes, lifts and doorways clear, and leave accessible seating for those who need it.
• Ask before photographing or filming someone, and stop if they say no.
• Take no for an answer — about a conversation, a photograph, a business card or a pitch.
• Follow the reasonable instructions of Material Matters staff and the venue team, including fire and safety procedures.

4. What is not acceptable

Harassment and discrimination in any form. That includes, but is not limited to:

• demeaning, offensive or exclusionary comments about someone’s identity or background;
• unwanted physical contact, or crowding someone who has moved away;
• unwelcome sexual attention, including comments, images and persistent approaches after someone has asked you to stop;
• intimidation, threats, or following someone around the venue;
• photographing, filming or recording someone who has asked you not to;
• sustained disruption of talks, workshops or conversations;
• abusive or aggressive behaviour towards attendees, speakers, venue staff or our team;
• encouraging or defending any of the above.

We judge behaviour by its effect on the person on the receiving end, not by the intention behind it.

Assemble is a good place to do business, and we want people to make connections. Persistent pitching after someone has politely declined is not part of that.

5. If something happens

Tell us. You can speak to any member of the Material Matters team on the day, or email hello@materialmatters.design before, during or after the event.

You can report something that happened to you, or something you saw happen to someone else. You do not need to be sure it breaks this code — if it felt wrong, tell us and let us work out what to do.

You also do not need to make a formal report to get help. If you would rather someone simply moved you away from a conversation, sat with you for a while, or helped you get home safely, say so and we will do it.

6. What we will do

• Listen, take you seriously, and not ask you to justify how you felt.
• Put your safety first, and give real weight to what you want to happen next.
• Keep it to as few people as possible. We will not pass your name to the person you have reported without your agreement, unless someone is at immediate risk or we are required to by law.
• Act on the day where we can — a quiet word, moving someone, or asking them to leave.
• Follow up with you by email afterwards, if you would like us to.

Before we make a decision about someone’s continued attendance, we will hear their side of it, unless there is an immediate risk to someone’s safety.

7. Consequences

Depending on what has happened, we may ask someone to stop, give a warning, or remove them from the event. We may also decline to sell them tickets to future Material Matters events and, where they are speaking, sponsoring or exhibiting, end that involvement.

Anyone removed from the event under this code is not entitled to a refund. This is set out in clause 8 of our ticket terms and conditions.

Serious incidents may be reported to the police.

8. Contact

Questions about this code, or anything you would like to raise before the day: hello@materialmatters.design.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 first, then tell a member of the Material Matters team or the venue team.