We strive to be a great place to work, for our team to be fully engaged with our business and motivated to achieving success. We pride ourselves on recognising and rewarding their contribution.

We will therefore not tolerate forced, bonded or compulsory labour, human trafficking, and other kinds of slavery within our own operations or within our supply chain and are committed to taking appropriate steps to ensure that everyone who works for or supplies to Ashton Fire – in any capacity – benefits from a working environment in which their fundamental rights and freedoms are respected.

We adopt procedures that contribute to ensuring modern slavery does not occur in our business or supply chains and we expect organisations with whom we do business to adopt and enforce policies to comply with the legislation.

Modern Slavery Policy

Introduction

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires each business with an annual turnover of over £36 million to publish a transparency statement which sets out the steps they have taken to ensure there is no modern slavery in their business and in their supply chains.

Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour, and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in our business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in our own business or in our supply chains.

We are also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with disclosure obligations we may have under applicable law. We expect the same standards from our contractors, suppliers, and other business partners, and as part of our contracting processes, we include specific prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children.

Scope

This policy applies to all persons working for us or on our behalf in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency workers, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives, and business partners.

Responsibility

Our Managing Director has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations, and that all those who work within Ashton Fire comply with it.

Our Director (Business Operations) and Operations Manager have primary responsibility for implementing this policy, monitoring its use and effectiveness, dealing with any queries about it, and reviewing internal control systems and procedures to ensure they are effective in countering modern slavery and human trafficking.

Management at all levels are responsible for ensuring those reporting to them understand and comply with this policy. This policy will be reviewed regularly, and we may amend it at any time to update with best practices and processes.

Collective Compliance

You must ensure that you read, understand, and comply with this policy. Preventing, detecting, and reporting modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of those working for us or under our control. You are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy.

Procedure

If you believe or suspect that a breach of this policy has occurred, or may occur in the future, you must inform the Managing Director, Director (Business Operations) or Operations Manager as soon as possible.

You are encouraged to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any parts of our business or supply chains at the earliest possible stage.

If you are unsure about whether a particular act, the treatment of workers more generally, or their working conditions within any tier of our supply chains constitutes any of the various forms of modern slavery, raise it with the Managing Director, Director (Business Operations) or Operations Manager.

To spot the signs of Modern Slavery these links contain a wealth of information.

https://www.unseenuk.org/modern-slavery/spot-the-signs

https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/spot-the-signs-of-slavery/

https://www.medaille-trust.org.uk/modern-slavery/spot-the-signs

We aim to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken. We are committed to ensuring no one suffers any detrimental treatment because of reporting in good faith their suspicion that modern slavery of whatever form is or may be taking place in any part of our own business or in any of our supply chains. Detrimental treatment includes dismissal, disciplinary action, threats, or other unfavourable treatment connected with raising a concern. If you believe that you have suffered any such treatment, you should inform the Director (Business Operations) or Operations Manager. If the matter is not remedied, and you are an employee, you should raise it formally with the Managing Director.

If you suspect Modern Slavery with a supplier, client, or any other instance we recommend not only internal reporting, but you may wish to explore your concerns with one of the many charities or enforcing bodies existing in the UK.

If you believe a person(s) are in danger call 999 immediately.

Communication

Training on this policy, and on the risk our business faces from modern slavery, forms part of the regular training for our employees.

Our commitment to addressing issues of modern slavery in our business and supply chains should be communicated to all suppliers, contractors and business partners at the outset of our business relationship with them and reinforced as appropriate thereafter.

Action

As part of our efforts to identify and mitigate risk of Modern Slavery we have implemented several initiatives.

  • Training for all team members on the Modern Slavery Act and our policy at point of induction with emphasis on team members involved in procurement.
  • Conducting an initial supplier evaluation to ensure our suppliers meet our values, standards and expectations for compliance with the Modern Slavery Act. Annual review of all supplier’s compliance with the Modern Slavery Act
  • To include the issue of Modern Slavery into future Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.

Breach

  • Any supplier who breaches this policy will be immediately struck from the approved supplier list and blacklisted.
  • We may terminate our relationship with other individuals and organisations working on our behalf if they breach this policy.
  • Any employee who breaches this policy may face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct.
  • Any findings of breaching the Modern Slavery legislation will be shared with the police and Ashton Fire Limited will fully cooperate with a resulting investigation.