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First Choice Drainage Solutions

Modern Slavery Policy

This statement is made pursuant to s.54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that the company 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.

Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. The Company has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all business dealings and to putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place within the business or our supply chain.

Our Business

First Choice Drainage Solutions is organised in two separate units, Plumbing/drainage and property maintenance covering both the domestic and commercial sectors. The business mostly operates in London and the surrounding home counties, with is head office based in Harlow, Essex.

Our Policies

We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our Anti-Slavery Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.

Due diligence process for slavery and human trafficking

Whilst we consider our business to be a low risk, we remain alert to the risks in our business and supply chains. As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk –

  • Where possible we build long standing relationships with local suppliers and make clear our expectations of business behaviour;
  • With regards to our supply chains we use only UK based company’s or branches and we expect these entities to have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies and processes.
  • We have in place systems to encourage the reporting of concerns and the protection of whistle-blowers.

Our Suppliers

The company maintains a preferred supplier list. We conduct due diligence on all suppliers before allowing them to become a preferred supplier. This due diligence includes an online search to ensure Modern Slavery Statement 2022/23 Page 2

that particular organisation has never been convicted of offenses relating to modern slavery. Our anti-slavery policy forms part of our contract with all suppliers and they are required to confirm that no part of their business operations contradicts this policy.

In addition to the above, as part of our contract with suppliers, we require that they confirm to us that:

  • They have taken steps to eradicate modern slavery within their business
  • They hold their own suppliers to account over modern slavery
  • They pay their employees at least the national minimum wage
  • We may terminate the contract at any time should any instances of modern slavery come to light

Training

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we provide training to relevant members of staff. All Directors have been briefed on the subject.

Our effectiveness in combating slavery and human trafficking

We will know the effectiveness of the steps that we are taking to ensure that slavery and/or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain if:

  • No reports are received from employees, the public, or law enforcement agencies to indicate that modern slavery practices have been identified.

Signed: Sean Bennett, October 2023

Document Ref: CP-03, Issue Date: 2023, Approved by: MHI.

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