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Modern Slavery Policy update 2023

19th September 2023

Western Building Consultants Ltd & Subsidiary Group

MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
STATEMENT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2023

INTRODUCTION
This statement is made on behalf of Western Building Consultants Ltd pursuant to the section 54(1) of
the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and comprises our slavery and human trafficking
statement.

This is Western Building Consultants third annual statement issued under the Modern Slavery Act 2015
and builds upon the statement from 2022. It outlines the steps we have taken as a
business to identify and prevent slavery and human trafficking in our own operations
and supply chains. We understand our responsibilities and are committed to
improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking.

OUR BUSINESS
We are a multidisciplinary practice of surveyors, technologists architects and engineers, We currently employ around 30 members off staff in the SW of England and Wales.

We manage the Services through four  business units:
1. Architecture

2. Surveying

3. Building Control

4. Engineering

 

OUR SUPPLY CHAINS
The Group has direct relationships with a number of UK based subcontractors offering a small range of professional services to the Group and also for the benefit of our
customers (such as quantity surveying services). Our supply chains also includes
outplacement of IT services and certain other routine administrative tasks that are
commoditised in nature. Outplacement is to a onshore providers ONLY.

OUR POLICIES ON SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
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. Our Anti-Slavery and Human
Trafficking Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all
our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and
controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our
business and in our supply chains. Our Whistleblowing Policy
which provides a system for our employees to escalate slavery and human trafficking
issues and breaches of our Business policies. Both policies are reviewed annually. There
have been no breaches or suspected breaches of our Anti-Slavery and Human
Trafficking Policy reported in 2022/2023

DUE DILIGENCE PROCESSES FOR SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

We operate in a professional services environment entirely on shore which mitigates some of the known risks with human trafficking and modern slavery.

We however remain diligent and aware of the current issues surrounding these areas.

As part of our initiative to identify, monitor and mitigate against risk we nominate
senior representatives of the business units and functions, who in turn report to the
managing Director.

We have in place policies and systems across our business; our trading partners; and
our supply chains to:-
• Identify inappropriate employment practices;
• Identify, assess and monitor other potential risk areas;
• Mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring;
• Protect whistleblowers; and
• Investigate reports of Modern Slavery.

SUPPLIER ADHERENCE TO OUR VALUES AND ETHICS
We have zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. To ensure all those in our
supply chain and contractors comply with our values we operate in line with
principles of responsible sourcing, including paying employees at the prevailing
minimum wage applicable within their relevant country of operations.

We also have a Supplier Code of Conduct which outlines our expectations. The
Supplier Code of Conduct lists the Countrywide Mandatory Policies and we expect
Suppliers to adhere to these standards or higher. The relevant account managers will
monitor and enforce compliance of the Supplier Code of Conduct.

TRAINING
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human
trafficking in our business, in our supply chains and in our business partners, we
provide relevant in-house training to our colleagues.

NEXT STEPS
• Raise awareness of the Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy and Supplier
Code of Conduct with our employees and suppliers.
• Additional training for employees as necessary.

STATEMENT
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015
and constitutes our companies slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial
year ending 31st April 2023 and was approved by the Board of Directors  on 9 June 2023.

Agreed by James Dean Managing Director

Western Building Consultants Ltd

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