SLAVERY & HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT

 

Modern Slavery Statement – April 2024 to March 2025

 

Introduction 

The Modern slavery Act 2015 (the “Act”) requires us to state the actions we have taken during the financial year to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in our operations and supply chain.

This statement refers to the financial year ending 31 March 2025 and sets out the steps taken by Vohkus Limited (“Vohkus”) to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking.

 

Our Commitment 

• Responsibility principles underpin Vohkus’ culture and ethical policies and values. Our core values are:
• Responsibility – We take responsibility for our customers, each other, our community and environment
• Passion – We are passionate about what we do and how we do it. We encourage ideas and inspire excellence and innovation
• Customer First – Our customers come first. We make decisions, and measure of outcomes, based on providing exceptional customer service. We work hard to establish long-term trusted partnerships
• Agility – We think outside the box, act swiftly and thrive on innovation and change. We are agile and responsive to the needs of our customers and our business
• One Team: Our business is built on our staff and their entrepreneurial flair, family values and team ethos. We are inclusive, transparent, honest and supportive at all times. Our staff are our best asset and together we are stronger.
  
  

In line with the above values, we are committed to delivering our business in a responsible and ethical manner that respects the human rights of all people and treats everyone with dignity and respect. We acknowledge our responsibilities in line with the Act and we do not tolerate any conduct that contributes to, encourages, or facilitates human trafficking, child labour, forced or compulsory labour, or any other human rights abuses.

As a SME organisation, we are keen supporters of the development of our teams and engaging talented team players, as well as recognising our responsibilities to environmental and sustainable initiatives. We are looking to build on our charitable initiatives with smaller local charities, which will support our local communities as well as benefit our staff as we seek closer engagements in a more hands on manner.

 

Our Structure 

Vohkus are operating as an independent legal entity, but a key part of the Rigby Group (RG) PLC. To find out more about Vohkus please visit our website @ www.vohkus.com.

Vohkus’ supply chain is extensive given the diversity of our operations. Within our supply chain, key areas are labour (including subcontract labour), materials, goods and equipment.

To provide IT services and resell products, we directly and indirectly procure products and services from a number of third-party global manufacturers and suppliers, but primarily from established technology brands and reputable authorised UK based distribution channels.

We actively encourage all our suppliers to operate in such a way that respects human rights and the dignity of all people.

 

Business Steps to Prevent Modern Slavery 

Looking at our own business operations and service providers; we work to identify potential risks of modern slavery and work to ensure that we support with any remediation needed where cases have been identified.

Vohkus has been proactive in identifying steps that can be taken to ensure that we are open and transparent about the way in which we operate our business, ensuring that our transactions and relationships are compliant with our responsibilities under the Act.

These steps are categorised as: policies and procedures, risk assessment and due diligence.

 

Our Policies and Procedures 

Vohkus has policies and procedures in place on ethics and business conduct, bribery and corruption, health and safety, whistleblowing, anti-facilitation of tax evasion and anti-slavery and human trafficking. Vohkus reviews it policies and procedures on an annual basis, or in line with changes within the business of the relevant legislation changes.

These policies are recognised as being important tools for documenting how we conduct ourselves as a business and individually in a way which is appropriate, transparent, and respectful of others.

We recognise that, for our policies and procedures to be effective, there needs to be an easily accessible reporting channel to ensure that our teams can raise concerns about malpractice or wrongdoing in confidence, including in respect of slavery and human trafficking.

 

Risk Assessment

We assess the potential human rights risks of our supply chain by considering the origin of our suppliers and by understanding and monitoring their approval to modern slavery as part of our supplier onboarding process.

We continue to work with our contractors, suppliers and business partners to ensure that they are open and transparent in their activities and are compliant with the Act.

Where Vohkus identifies any evidence or risk of non-compliance with anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking legislation, Vohkus will introduce measures to reduce and eradicate such risk or actual non-compliance.

 

Due Diligence 

We undertake the following specific checks when onboarding new suppliers and / or review our existing suppliers:

Require evidence of our supplier’s modern slavery policies and review them to establish each supplier’s commitment to monitoring and reducing the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring within their supply chain

Use approved recruitment agencies or FCSA accredited umbrella companies when engaging / recruiting temporary labour for resourcing requirements

We will continue to maintain transparent partnerships with our suppliers to ensure that they are regularly considering the impact of the Act. Where appropriate, we will continue to look at streamlining the number of suppliers we have to mitigate risk associated with having multiple suppliers and to create deeper partnerships so as to align our values more closely.

Over the coming 12 months we will continue to conduct audits of our supplier onboarding processes and a sample of suppliers to assess the effectiveness of supplier chain risk assessment and treatment, and where appropriate identify opportunities for improvement.

 

Future Steps to Prevent Modern Slavery in our Supply Chain 

We understand that the risks related to modern slavery are dynamic and are open to change quickly.

We will continue to encourage an open and transparent “speak up” culture that reiterates to all staff our core values and ensures our staff, at any level, feel able to openly and confidentially address any concerns they may have regarding modern slavery, human trafficking or indeed any other key issues in the knowledge that such matters will be taken seriously and without retaliation.

We intend to train all employees in areas such as modern slavery, bribery and ethics and business conduct on an annual basis. Our obligations and expectations are flowed down to our supply chain through our Supplier Code of Conduct which encompasses our ESG commitments.

This statement has been reviewed and approved by:

Ian Hounsome – Chief Operating Officer
Vohkus Limited