MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the “Act”) came into force in March 2015 and has helped clearly define and codify offences relating to modern slavery and human trafficking.
This statement is made on behalf of AVORD Limited and provides information about our business and supply chain and the steps we have taken to investigate and mitigate the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking both within our business and supply chain.
We have explained our approach with specific regard to the six areas identified in section 54(5) of the Act and in light of the relevant official guidance.
OUR ORGANISATION
AVORD Limited is based in the UK. AVORD Limited provides Platform based solution and consulting services. AVORD Limited coordinates and collaborates with other companies in order to combat modern slavery and human trafficking.
SUPPLY CHAIN OVERVIEW
AVORD has continued to take steps to identify and manage those areas in our supply chain where we believe modern slavery and human trafficking are a possibility. Our goal remains to identify and minimise the risk wherever possible and to continually monitor and improve in our efforts.
We believe that the nature of our business, as a provider of professional services predominantly to corporate clients, means that we are not directly exposed to a high risk of modern slavery and human trafficking. We are nonetheless keenly aware that the possibility does exist within our global supply chains, particularly in the context of certain of our intra-group shared service suppliers located in countries considered to be of higher risk in the context of modern slavery and human trafficking.
In order to mitigate this risk, we work with service suppliers and endeavour to establish adequate procedures to tackle the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains and ensure their policies reflect appropriate standards for their business.
AVORD has taken a coordinated approach to tackling the risk of modern slavery in our business structure; and our cross-function modern slavery working group continues to coordinate a group-wide approach to the matter.
POLICIES AND GUIDANCE
AVORD operate several policies and guidance in order to ensure we conduct our business responsibly and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. AVORD expect and require our colleagues to act with the highest possible standards of ethical conduct and integrity. The policies and guidance can be accessed by our colleagues through the group intranet site and include the following:
- Anti-Bribery and Corruption;
- Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorist Financing;
- Code of Conduct; and Whistleblowing Policy
AVORD has provided key awareness programs with regards Procurement Policy which serves as a reminder to colleagues of their responsibility to comply with the Modern Slavery Act when entering into supplier agreements. Future awareness programs will expand the section dedicated to modern slavery, which will contain more detailed information on how to apply our policies and guidance to combat modern slavery. The site will also include the modern slavery questionnaires we send out to suppliers and prospective suppliers as part of a tender or contract renewal process, as well as template modern slavery clauses to be included in purchasing agreements.
ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING OF RISK IN OUR SUPPLY CHAIN
AVORD has reviewed its tender processes and have formulated modern slavery enquiries to include within tender packs, as appropriate, sent to prospective suppliers at the initial engagement stage and for on-boarded providers at the review/renewal stage. AVORD continued to monitor the procurement processes to combat the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in their own supply chains.
DUE DILIGENCE AND ON-BOARDING IN RELATION TO OUR SUPPLY CHAIN
We continue to standardise our requirements in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking for our suppliers. To encourage compliance in our supply chain with our values, we endeavour to include appropriate provisions dealing with the risk of modern slavery where possible. These enquiries, alongside our existing due diligence processes, help us to appropriately assess the modern slavery and human trafficking risk of a potential supplier as part of our general consideration of their tender.
OUR EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE
AVORD has an established Enterprise Risk Management Framework which ensures the risks faced by group companies are effectively identified, assessed, managed and monitored. We are developing a risk-based approach to assessing our critical supply arrangements, which includes confirmation that modern slavery provisions exist, and which will require suppliers to articulate the steps that they have in place to ensure that they are managing the potential risks of modern slavery in their own supply chain. This Supplier Risk Framework aligns with the enterprise risk management approach and will help us ensure that the risks faced are effectively identified and assessed, allowing for a consistent approach to the management of any potential risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in our own supply chain.
TRAINING
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and our supply chains, we are aware of the importance of training for key departments so that relevant colleagues are aware of the nature of the risks, what warning signs they should look for and what steps they should take in response as part of a responsible business.
Continued training in relation to the Act, modern slavery risks and their practical implications for the procurement process has been provided to relevant personnel in key departments following the launch of online training on modern slavery and ethical purchasing. This meant that we could reach a wider group of colleagues and we intend to roll this training out further during 2022 and beyond.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
We recognise the ongoing commitment required and we will continue to review and develop our processes and guidance, training and supplier approach towards the detection and prevention of modern slavery and human trafficking as our business evolves.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement and has been sent to the Board for approval and was approved by the Board of Directors of AVORD Limited on 01 March 2022, as reflected by the Director’s signature below.
Name: Howard Pritchard AVORD LIMITED
Date: 01 March 2022