Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
This statement is made on behalf of British Lookup Services (“BLS”) pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It outlines the steps we have taken and continue to take to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not occurring within our business or supply chains.
Introduction
British Lookup Services recognises that modern slavery and human trafficking are grave violations of fundamental human rights. These heinous practices can manifest in various forms, including forced labor, bonded labor, child labor, and human trafficking. We are steadfast in our commitment to combating these issues and ensuring that our business operations and supply chains are free from such exploitation.
Organisational Structure and Business
BLS is a leading provider of comprehensive internet solutions in the UK. We operate as an Internet service provider, offering a wide range of services to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Our business model is divided into two main segments: the Access segment and the Applications segment.
- Access Segment: This segment provides landline and mobile Internet access products, along with related applications such as home networks, online storage, telephony, video-on-demand, data network solutions, and infrastructure services. This segment is primarily focused on serving customers within the UK.
- Applications Segment: This segment offers a variety of applications including web hosting, domain registration, server management, e-commerce solutions, group collaboration tools, online storage, office software applications, and personal information management tools such as email, to-do lists, appointments, and address books.
Our Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking
To reflect our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships, minimising the risk of modern slavery, we have implemented the following policies:
- Anti-Bribery Policy: This policy ensures that all business dealings are conducted transparently and ethically, preventing any form of corruption that could facilitate modern slavery.
- Whistleblowing Policy: This policy provides a safe and confidential platform for employees to report any concerns regarding unethical practices, including modern slavery and human trafficking.
We are dedicated to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place within our business or supply chains.
Employment Practices
We rigorously verify that all our employees have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom and are compensated at or above the National Living Wage. Our employment practices are designed to protect the rights and well-being of our employees. In addition to the employment rights and benefits provided to employees, our Contracts of Employment and Company Policies clearly outline the expected actions and behaviours of our staff. We provide annual training on our Code of Conduct policy to ensure that all employees understand and adhere to our ethical standards.
Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking
As part of our responsibility to identify and mitigate risks associated with modern slavery and human trafficking, we have established comprehensive due diligence processes:
- Supplier Review: Before engaging with any new supplier, we conduct a thorough review of their business practices, including their supply chain, as far as is reasonably practicable. This review helps us assess the risk of modern slavery and ensure that our suppliers share our commitment to ethical practices.
- Ongoing Monitoring: We carry out regular inspections and audits of our own operations and those of our business partners and suppliers. These processes help us ensure that standards are being adhered to throughout our business and supply chains.
- Compliance with Legislation: We ensure that all our operations comply with local legislation and regulations. This includes adhering to laws related to labor rights, working conditions, and human rights.
- Supplier Relationships: Where applicable, we build long-standing relationships with suppliers, clearly communicating our expectations regarding ethical behaviour and compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
- Dedicated Compliance Team: We have a dedicated team responsible for ensuring compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This team works closely with the Board of Directors to ensure that our policies and practices are operating effectively within the company.
Reporting Concerns Regarding Slavery or Human Trafficking
We foster a culture where our employees are encouraged to raise concerns about unlawful, unacceptable practices or misconduct and can do so safely without fear of reprisal. We offer our full support to those who raise a concern in good faith. Individuals can confidentially and anonymously report a concern using our Whistleblowing platform.
Our Whistleblowing Policy ensures our people know how to raise concerns about any unethical practices within our business or supply chain without fear of recrimination.
Measuring Effectiveness
To ensure the effectiveness of our efforts to combat modern slavery and human trafficking, we have established robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Over the next financial year, we will continue to conduct more detailed risk assessments of suppliers within BLS. These assessments will help us identify any potential risks and take appropriate actions to mitigate them.
We will also review and update our policies and practices regularly to ensure they remain effective and aligned with best practices. Our dedicated compliance team will work closely with the Board of Directors to monitor the implementation of our policies and ensure that any issues are addressed promptly.
Conclusion
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our Modern Slavery Statement for the current financial year. It reflects our commitment to combating modern slavery and human trafficking and ensuring that our business operations and supply chains are free from such exploitation.
On the 12th July 2024, our Board of Directors approved this statement.
Updated: 12 July 2024
Financial year end: 31 December 2024.