Modern Slavery Statement

Organisation

In this document, all references to Blakebrook refer to Blakebrook Limited and its subsidiaries; Phixos Limited, Symbiotics Limited and Real-Time Consultants Limited, and to include its trading division RT Consulting.

The information included in the statement refers to the Financial Year 2024.

Organisational Structure

Definitions

Blakebrook considers that modern slavery encompasses:

• Human trafficking;
• Forced work, through mental or physical threat;
• Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse of the threat of abuse;
• Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property;
• Being physically constrained or to have restriction placed on freedom of movement.

Commitment

Blakebrook acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Blakebrook understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.

Blakebrook does not enter into business with any other organisation, in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
No labour provided to Blakebrook in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. Blakebrook strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the United Kingdom, and in many cases exceeds those minimums in relation to its employees.

Potential Exposure

In general, Blakebrook considers its exposure to slavery/human trafficking to be relatively limited. Nonetheless, it has taken steps to ensure that such practices do not take place in its business nor the business of any organisation that supplies goods and/or services to it.

Steps

Blakebrook carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its organisation or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.

Blakebrook has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.

In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, Blakebrook has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:

• Ensuring that slavery and human trafficking is considered and addressed in our approach to corporate social responsibility.
• Ensuring that any concerns about slavery or human trafficking can be raised through our whistleblowing procedure.
• Carrying out regular audits to ensure that all our employees are paid at least the National Minimum Wage and have the right to work in the UK.
• Ensuring that all commercial agreements include an obligation on our suppliers to operate in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and to ensure that any of their suppliers and sub-contractors also operate in accordance with the Act.
• Identifying and addressing any areas of high risk in our supply chain.
• Providing training for all employees who are involved in the supply chain on issues relating to slavery and human trafficking.

Training

Blakebrook provides training to staff to effectively implement its stance on modern slavery during the induction process and through the modern slavery policy.

Slavery Compliance Officer

Blakebrook has a Slavery Compliance Officer, to whom all concerns regarding modern slavery should be addressed, and who will then undertake relevant action with regard to Blakebrook's obligations in this regard.

This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and will be reviewed for each financial year.

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