The Business Supplies Group Ltd
Modern Slavery Statement
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that The Business Supplies Group has taken and is continuing to take to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain.
Our Business
The Business Supplies Group is a leading provider of workplace products and services including but not limited to; Office Products, Furniture, Digital and Litho Print, Corporate Merchandise, Workwear and Managed Print Services.
We operate across the UK with a head office located in Bristol and nine further regional offices and distribution centres predominantly in southern England, employing 198 people.
Our business values are simple, we aim to delight our customers ethically, sustainably and professionally. In order to live up to our core values, it is imperative that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. We are dedicated to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and implementing effective systems and controls to safeguard against any form of modern slavery.
Our Supply Chain
We source all of our products and services from an approved group supplier base, with products predominantly manufactured in Asia and Europe.
Our Policies
We have established a range of policies and practices to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not occurring within our business or supply chains, including:
• Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy: Our policy outlines our commitment to preventing slavery and human trafficking in all aspects of our business and supply chain.
• Supplier Code of Conduct: We require all suppliers to adhere to our Supplier Code of Conduct, which sets out the standards we expect from them, including the prohibition of forced, bonded, or compulsory labour.
• Whistleblowing Policy: We encourage employees and stakeholders to report any concerns related to both the direct activities of The Business Supplies Group or our supply chains.
Due Diligence Processes
We have established robust due diligence processes to identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains. These processes include:
• Conducting risk assessments to identify areas where there is a higher risk of modern slavery.
• Evaluating and selecting suppliers based on their commitment to ethical practices.
Risk Assessment and Management
The Business Supplies Group Ltd has conducted a risk assessment of our supply chain and operations to identify areas of potential vulnerability to modern slavery.
Our risk management strategy involves:
• Engaging with suppliers and stakeholders to address any potential risks and developing action plans in case a high-risk area is identified, including increased scrutiny and audits.
• Screening all potential recruits prior to employment to ensure there are no obvious modern slavery or human trafficking risks.
Training and Awareness
We provide all employees with online resources and guidance for identifying risks of modern slavery and human trafficking and empower them to raise any concerns via our Whistleblowing policy.
Key Performance Indicators
To assess the effectiveness of the measures we have implemented, we use the following key performance indicators (KPIs):
• The number of reports or concerns raised and the actions taken in response.
• The percentage of suppliers who have received our Supplier Code of Conduct.
Looking Ahead
The Business Supplies Group is committed to continuous improvement in our approach to tackling modern slavery. Over the next financial year, we aim to:
• Enhance our supplier engagement program by introducing supplier assessment questionnaires. This will enable us to better identify any modern slavery and human trafficking risks and take necessary action.
• Develop further training programs for our employees and suppliers.
Approval
This statement has been approved by the Board of Directors of The Business Supplies Group Ltd and will be reviewed and updated annually.
Steve Clare
Chief Commercial Officer
17th September 2024