Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement

We are committed to fighting modern slavery & human trafficking.

Introduction

Blade Recruitment will work hard, with all other organisations, this is a serious issue & we aim to do what we can to reduce and eliminate this threat in the UK. Integrity is one of our core values. We have strict policies and procedures in place to ensure the consistent monitoring of our workforce for the signs of human trafficking and labour exploitation.

Blade Recruitment recognises that all businesses have an obligation to prevent slavery and human trafficking and will do everything in its power to prevent slavery and human trafficking within its business and within our supply chains.

Modern slavery can take many forms including the trafficking of people, forced labour, servitude and slavery. As a top recruiter in the industry, we take our responsibility for supplying staff extremely seriously and are aware of the potential for being targeted by traffickers and unlicensed gangmasters. Our own processes around candidate engagement ensure our staff are trained to recognise the signs of exploitation, so that we may take the necessary action promptly and effectively should it be identified. We understand and recognise that the Sectors that we work in could be affected.

This statement focuses specifically on Blade Recruitment’s compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act) and highlights the steps we take to ensure there is no slavery or human trafficking occurring within the organisation or its supply chains. We value our reputation for integrity and fairness. Maintaining this reputation within our market is paramount to our continued success.

Our Supply Chains

Our supply chains include, but are not limited to, sourcing candidates for clients. This may involve the introduction by external agencies to Blade Recruitment of candidates for onward supply to our clients. We expect our suppliers and potential suppliers to aim for high ethical standards and to operate in an ethical, legally-compliant and professional manner. We also expect our suppliers to promote similar standards in their own supply chain.

Our Policies including on Slavery & Human Trafficking

We expect our suppliers to have in place a policy recognising, respecting and protecting the human rights of their employees, those of their suppliers and business partners and the communities affected by the suppliers’ operations.

Employees should be free to choose to work for their employer and to leave the company upon reasonable notice.

All employees must be provided with a clear contract of employment, which complies with local legislation.

All employees must be treated in a fair and equal manner and with dignity and respect.

Any form of discrimination, victimisation or harassment on the grounds of marital or civil partnership status, sex (including gender reassignment), race (including colour, ethnic and national origin, nationality), disability, sexual orientation, having or not having dependents, religious belief or political opinion, age, trade union activity and offending background should be prohibited.

All applicable laws and industry standards on employee wages, benefits, working hours and minimum age should be adhered to in all countries of operation, without any unauthorised deductions. Suppliers should observe the provisions of the International Labour Organization such that any young persons under the age of 18 should not be employed to work at night or for any hazardous work and their employment should not harm the young person’s education, health or physical, mental, moral or social development. No young persons may be employed below the age of 16.

All slavery and human trafficking laws must be complied with including, but not limited to, the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. Suppliers must ensure their business operations are free from slavery and human trafficking practices whether in the UK or elsewhere, both internally and within their supply chains and other external business relationships. 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.

Due Diligence Process for Slavery & Human Trafficking

Blade Recruitment ensures strict compliance checks are carried for all candidates it supplies. We verify the identity of each worker and their right to work before supply commences.

As part of our commitment to identify and eradicate slavery and human trafficking, we have in place a process to undertake due diligence on our supply chain network to ensure compliance with legislative obligations; such compliance forms part of our contractual relationship with suppliers.

All Blade Recruitment employees have access to dedicated channels through which they may voice concerns. Blade Recruitment is committed to protecting employees when disclosing malpractice and will ensure that all disclosures made in good faith will be treated confidentially and without fear of retaliation.

Training

All staff within Blade Recruitment are expected to comply with all laws and act in accordance with local guidelines and regulations and act with integrity and honesty. We have undertaken to review our policies and procedures to ensure our colleagues have access to any additional information and support they may require with regard to human trafficking, forced labour, servitude and slavery.

We continue to work hard at this & hope, that our efforts will contribute to eradicating this in time, but we will continue to be vigilant, always keeping our staff up to date with any new developments, and constantly strive to monitor the effectiveness of our processes and policies.

For and on behalf of Blade Industries Limited trading as Blade Recruitment.