Man With a Van Blackfriars Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement is made by Man With a Van Blackfriars in relation to our operations and supply chains. It sets out the steps we are taking to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in all aspects of our business and to promote ethical and lawful labour practices throughout our services and relationships.

Our Zero-Tolerance Approach

Man With a Van Blackfriars has a clear and unequivocal zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, child labour, debt bondage, and all forms of exploitation. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all business dealings and to implementing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery does not take place within our own business or any part of our supply chains.

We expect the same high standards from all our suppliers, contractors, and business partners, and we will not knowingly work with any organisation that is involved in or turns a blind eye to such practices. Any confirmed breach of this policy is treated as a serious misconduct issue and may result in termination of contracts or other appropriate remedial action.

Our Business and Supply Chains

Man With a Van Blackfriars provides transport and moving services to domestic and commercial customers. Our supply chains primarily consist of vehicle and equipment providers, fuel suppliers, uniform and packaging suppliers, and other service providers who support our day-to-day operations.

We recognise that certain sectors and geographies carry a higher risk of modern slavery, particularly in areas such as manufacturing, logistics, and temporary labour provision. We therefore focus our attention on these higher-risk areas when assessing and managing modern slavery risks.

Supplier Standards and Audits

We require our suppliers and contractors to operate in compliance with all relevant labour, employment, and human rights legislation. Our supplier expectations are communicated through our purchasing processes, contractual arrangements, and ongoing engagement.

Where appropriate and proportionate to the level of risk, we conduct due diligence on new and existing suppliers. This may include requesting information on their labour practices, policies, and training, as well as evidence of their own modern slavery procedures. We reserve the right to conduct audits or request independent assessments of supplier sites and practices, particularly where we identify a heightened risk or where concerns have been raised.

If a supplier is unable or unwilling to demonstrate adequate safeguards against modern slavery, we will seek to work with them to address any gaps within a reasonable timeframe. Persistent non-compliance, or evidence of serious abuses, may lead to the suspension or termination of the business relationship.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

Man With a Van Blackfriars encourages all employees, agency workers, contractors, suppliers, and any other stakeholders to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains. Concerns may be reported to line managers, senior management, or through any established internal reporting mechanisms.

We are committed to ensuring that anyone who raises a genuine concern in good faith will not suffer any form of retaliation or detrimental treatment. All reports will be treated seriously, handled sensitively, and investigated promptly. Where appropriate, we will work with relevant authorities and partner organisations to address and remediate any identified issues.

Training and Awareness

We recognise that raising awareness is vital in preventing modern slavery. We aim to provide suitable training and guidance to relevant staff, particularly those involved in procurement, supplier management, and recruitment, so they can identify potential indicators of exploitation and understand how to respond.

We also encourage our suppliers and business partners to train their own staff on modern slavery risks and to promote ethical labour practices throughout their operations.

Monitoring, Governance and Annual Review

Responsibility for overseeing our approach to modern slavery sits with the senior management of Man With a Van Blackfriars. They are responsible for reviewing our policies, assessing risk areas, and ensuring appropriate actions are taken to prevent and respond to any concerns.

We review this Modern Slavery Statement at least once every year to assess its effectiveness and to reflect any changes in legislation, guidance, our business structure, or best practice. As part of the annual review, we evaluate our risk assessments, due diligence processes, supplier performance, and any incidents or reports received, and we use these insights to improve our controls and approach.

By continually reviewing and strengthening our measures, Man With a Van Blackfriars seeks to play a responsible role in combating modern slavery and human trafficking and to uphold the rights and dignity of all individuals connected with our business and supply chains.