Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
Brownlow Utilities is an independent energy, water and sustainability consultancy based in the North West of England. The Company provides services to private and public sector organisations and recognises the importance of maintaining transparent, ethical and compliant business practices when delivering services to clients and engaging with suppliers.
In preparing this statement, Brownlow Utilities has considered the nature of its operations as an SME energy consultancy, the sectors in which it operates, the types of suppliers it engages, and the controls it maintains to mitigate the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Modern slavery is a crime resulting in an abhorrent abuse of the human rights of vulnerable workers. It can take various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking.
The Company has a zero tolerance approach to modern slavery and is committed to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all of its business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not taking place anywhere within either its own business or in any of its supply chains, consistent with its obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Company also expects the same high standards from all of its suppliers, contractors and other business partners and, as part of its contracting processes, it includes specific prohibitions against the use of modern slavery, and expects that its suppliers will in turn hold their own suppliers to the same standards.
Identifying potential victims of modern slavery can be a challenge because the crime can manifest itself in many different ways. There is a spectrum of abuse and it is not always clear at what point, for example, poor working practices and lack of health and safety awareness have become instances of human trafficking, slavery or forced labour in a work environment. In addition, some suppliers may go to great lengths to hide the fact that they are using slave labour.
However, the Company accepts that it has a responsibility through its due diligence processes to ensure that workers are not being exploited, that they are safe and that relevant employment, health and safety and human rights laws and standards are being adhered to, including freedom of movement and communications.
This policy applies to all individuals working for the Company or on the Company’s behalf in any capacity, including employees, directors, officers, agency workers, volunteers, agents, contractors, consultants and business partners.
Our Commitment
Brownlow Utilities is committed to upholding the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and recognises its responsibility to prevent modern slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of forced, bonded, or involuntary labour within its operations and throughout its supply chain.
We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to such practices and are dedicated to conducting business ethically, responsibly, and with integrity at all times.
We ensure slavery and human trafficking is incorporated into, and actively addressed through, our approach to corporate social responsibility.
We conduct regular audits to confirm that all employees are paid at least the National Minimum Wage and have the legal right to work in the UK
We require all commercial agreements to include obligations for suppliers to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and to ensure that their own suppliers and sub-contractors operate in accordance with the Act
We are committed to being transparent in our practices and expect the same high standards from all of our suppliers, contractors, and business partners. Our supply chain includes national and multinational providers of goods and services, including professional services, IT, office operations, and energy-related products and infrastructure.
Responsibility for the policy
The board of directors has overall responsibility for ensuring that this policy complies with the Company’s legal and ethical obligations.
Amanda Byrne, Director of HR & Marketing, has day-to-day responsibility for implementing this policy, monitoring its use and effectiveness and auditing internal control systems and policies and procedures to ensure they are effective in preventing or remediating the risk of modern slavery. They are also responsible for investigating allegations of modern slavery in the Company’s business or supply chains.
Line managers are responsible for ensuring that those reporting to them understand and comply with this policy.
Compliance
The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of the Company’s business or supply chains, whether in the UK or abroad, is the responsibility of all those working for the Company or under the Company’s control. You are required to avoid any activity that might lead to a breach of this policy.
If you believe or suspect a breach of or conflict with this policy has occurred or may occur, you must notify your line manager or report it in accordance with the Company’s whistleblowing policy. You are encouraged to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any part of the Company’s business or supply chains as soon as possible. If you are unsure about whether a particular act, the treatment of workers or their working conditions within any of the Company’s supply chains constitutes any of the various forms of modern slavery, please raise it with your line manager.
The Company aims 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. The Company is committed to ensuring no one suffers any detrimental treatment or victimisation as a result of reporting in good faith their suspicion that modern slavery is or may be taking place in any part of its business or in any of its supply chains.
Training and communication
Regular training on this policy, and on the risk that the business faces from modern slavery in its supply chains, will be provided to staff as necessary, so that they know how to identify exploitation and modern slavery and how to report suspected cases.
The Company’s zero tolerance approach to modern slavery must be communicated to all suppliers, contractors and other business partners when entering into new or renewed contracts with them. Any concerns about slavery or human trafficking can be raised through our whistleblowing procedure.
Breaches of this policy
Sanctions for breach of the policy should be clearly set out and should include either:
Disciplinary action or dismissal if the breach is by a member of staff. Any employee who breaches this policy will face disciplinary action, up to and including summary dismissal for gross misconduct.
Termination of the contract if the breach is by a supplier, contractor or other business partner. The Company may terminate its commercial relationship with suppliers, contractors and other business partners if they breach this policy and/or are found to have been involved in modern slavery.
This statement has been approved by the Board of Directors and will be reviewed annually.