Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement

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 in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. The Empowering Tech Group of companies is absolutely committed to a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking and we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our own business.

We are also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking throughout our supply chains. We expect the same high standards from all of 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, and we expect our suppliers will hold their suppliers to the same high standards.

This policy applies to all persons working for us or acting 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.

The Chief Operating Officer holds responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with legal and ethical obligations, and that all those under our control comply with it.

Management at all levels are responsible for ensuring those reporting to them understand and comply with this policy and are given adequate and regular training on it and the issue of modern slavery in supply chains. Comments, suggestions and queries about ways to improve this policy are encouraged.

The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control. Employees are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy and must notify senior management and/or HR as soon as possible if you believe or suspect that a conflict with this policy has occurred, or may occur in the future.

Employees and any other interested parties are encouraged to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any parts of our business or supply chains of any supplier tier at the earliest possible stage.

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 as a result 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.

This policy is included in our Employee Handbook and our employees are positively encouraged to promote our zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery.

Any employee seen to be breaching this policy will face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal.