Modern Slavery Statement
Introduction
This statement is made pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It constitutes Status International (UK) Ltd. modern slavery statement for the financial year ending 31st July 2023
Our Organisation
Status International is an importer, distributor and brand owner of consumer products. We are a family owned business and were formed in 1990. We supply products to many of the UK’s largest retailers. The organisation has offices and distribution centres in the UK and representation in Europe. The core of our suppliers are located in the Far East and our external logistic partners operate internationally.
Our Supply Chain
We recognise that there are potential risks of modern slavery with our suppliers and supply chain partners. We are committed to ensuring we fully understand these and shall work with our partners to mitigate them on a continued basis. We will not tolerate any form of modern slavery nor knowingly work with any suppliers or logistic partners that are involved in any form of slavery, human trafficking or exploitation.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the business would travel to the Far East in search of the newest products and innovations, as well as assessing factory’s technical and social compliance. However, with extensive restrictions on travel, in many cases we’ve had to adapt and change our ways of working by attending virtual product selections and increasing the number of 3rd party audits. Now that travel restrictions have gone, we plan to resume our visits to the Far East in Q4 2023/Q1 2024. We hold factory level information for all our products and continue to encourage improvements in factory ethical standards. Should we encounter factories with poor standards, we encourage change. Where this is not possible, we will not hesitate in moving products to a new facility.
Our warehousing is company owned and is based locally.
Our Policies
We’re committed to ensuring that as a business we adopt high ethical standards. We also expect all suppliers and partners, wherever they are in the world, to do the same. We recognise it is our responsibility to ensure our suppliers are observing and adhering to our working practices, so we review and improve our polices regularly.
Status company policies directly related to identification and control of modern slavery include:
Due Diligence & Risk Assessment
When we first contact a supplier, we request that all prospective suppliers complete a factory profile form. We perform a risk assessment on the supplier based on the information provided within the factory profile form.
As part of our due diligence, we expect new suppliers and partners to provide us with the appropriate audit reports upon request. If none exist, we request that these are carried out. If the request is declined, then the relationship will go no further. We also ensure that we meet the requirements of our customers, the majority of whom request that audits are carried out on manufacturing sites that manufacture their goods. The audits are carried out by independent third parties.
Status International is a member of the SEDEX ethical collaboration platform and we actively encourage suppliers to become members of SEDEX or comparable platforms such as BSCI.
Measuring Effectiveness
We will continue to refine our risk assessments for our suppliers for compliance with Modern Slavery requirements. Audits will continue and importantly any non-conformances that form part of a corrective action plan will be closed out. Audits are commissioned by ourselves and many of our customers.
Training
We are currently reviewing the training and resources that need to be made available on Modern Slavery for our employees. The appropriate members of the business are collaborating on reviewing resources to be used in induction and training for employees.
Looking Ahead
Internally the business is committed to continual improvement of internal procedures and systems to ensure our methods remain current and continue to minimise any risks of modern slavery. With the return of visits to the Far East in the near future, this will enable the business to re-connect with it’s supply chain partners at source.
Approval
This statement has been formally approved by the board members of Status International (UK) Ltd. and signed on their behalf.
Peter McVeigh
Chairman
2nd August 2024