Modern Slavery Statement

Introduction

Our responsibility to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our business and supply chain is something we take extremely seriously.

We are committed to taking all reasonable steps to combat modern slavery and human trafficking through the implementation and development of best business practices.

We aim to reach our commercial goals whilst conducting our business operations in a reputable, responsible manner.

This statement sets out the steps we have taken and plan to take in 2024/2025 to identify, understand and minimise potential risks relating to modern slavery and human trafficking within our business structure and supply chain.

Our Structure and Business 

Beechfield Brands, referred to as the Company, not only employs individuals directly, but also maintains relationships with many different organisations in its supply chain and customer base.

We operate four leading textile accessory brands, supplied to the rebranding, personalisation and promotional industry. The brands are distributed through a network of distribution partners operating throughout Europe. We have 60 permanent employees.

Our global annual turnover is approximately £60 million.

Our Supply Chains

Our supply chains include our factory base, covering raw materials and manufacturing, logistics suppliers, as well as ‘not for resale’ goods and service providers to cover fixtures and fittings used in our offices, IT equipment, utilities, waste services, marketing, advertising, accounting, legal, professional services, recruitment and training.

Our suppliers vary in size, expertise and industry and many are themselves reliant on their own supply chain in order to be able to supply goods or services to us. 

The factories we work with manufacture the products we sell to our customers. Our factory base predominately consists of suppliers based in China, India, and Pakistan and more recently Vietnam.  We have a good working relationship with our factories, many of which we have worked with for a significant number of years.

Our Policies and Due Diligence Processes on Slavery and Human Trafficking

We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to ensuring that there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

We recognise that our supply chain predominately operates in countries where the risk of modern slavery, child labour and human trafficking occurring is higher than it is in most other countries. We have therefore implemented and enforce a number of effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business, or in any of our supply chains. 

We expect the same high standards from all our contractors, suppliers, and other business partners. 

As part of our contracting processes, we include specific prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children, and we require that our suppliers hold their own suppliers to the same high standards.

The Company’s recruitment is done through our human resources department and department managers with the support of recruitment agencies where necessary. All screening, interviewing, and assessing is conducted in house. The process includes conducting thorough ‘Right to Work’ checks for all employees to safeguard them against human trafficking, or being forced to work against their will.

The Company operates an open door policy across the business which encourages all of our employees to report any concerns that they may have on matters which involve the business or supply chains in connection with modern slavery or human trafficking. 

In order to further prevent modern slavery in our business and supply chain, we continuously review our systems and procedures to:

• Identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains.
• Mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains.
• Monitor potential risk areas in our supply chains.
• Protect whistle blowers through our Whistleblowing Policy. 

Training

Training on this policy, and on the risk our business faces from modern slavery in its supply chains, forms part of staff coaching and development as necessary.

Our Effectiveness in Combating Slavery and Human Trafficking

We will monitor the effectiveness of our practices to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our business or supply chains. 

Managing Director's signature: