Timberlink Modern Slavery Statement Policy
Organisation
This statement is made on behalf of the Directors of Timberlink in respect of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This Act requires us to publicly declare what efforts have been made within our own business and that of our supply chain, to eradicate slavery and human trafficking.
Structure
Timberlink Ltd was founded in 1983 by Hugh Baily and was first located in the Maer Hills woods, near Blackbrook, before moving to Market Drayton. Timberlink has been trading on the present site since 1994 and has continued to expand the business year upon year.
Timberlink operates one of the largest custom timber treatment centres in the UK with blue chip customers and carries the largest range of treated timber in the UK. It also has the largest drive thru timber yard in the UK
At Timberlink we believe in long term relationships with our employees, customers and suppliers - a number of whom have been employed as well as traded with us since the company was conceived in 1983.
Commitment
Timberlink acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions within the forementioned act. Timberlink understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.
Timberlink 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.
All at Timberlink have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implement and enforce effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or our supply chain.
We are committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chain. We expect the same high standards from all of 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 and we expect that our suppliers will hold their own suppliers to the same standards.
Definitions
Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person's liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.
Timberlink considers that modern slavery encompasses:
· Slavery and servitude
· human trafficking
· forced and compulsory 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.
Potential Exposure
Timberlink has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.
In general, Timberlink 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.
Our Policies
Timberlink has an Employee Handbook which contains policy and practice on Ethical working, Equal Opportunities, Whistleblowing, Corporate Social Responsibility and Modern Slavery, along with a Disciplinary policy all of which can be used to address any concerns of slavery and / or human trafficking within our own business.
Our recruitment policy is robust, with all permanent employees being recruited directly by us, reducing the risk of abuse by a labour provider. Identification and right to work checks are conducted at induction and verified for all employees to ensure they are not in possession of fraudulent documents and that they have their original identification. This also confirms that the employee is over the age of 18, avoiding any risk of child labour.
Training & Communication
Our HR consultant has attended Ethical training and workshops along with regularly attending employment law updates, in addition to any GLAA, ALP or other training or awareness events. Information and support from these activities are communicated and trained out to the wider Timberlink team where appropriate to the needs of the business.
Signed and authorised by:
Kirsty Metcalfe
Operations Director
Timberlink Limited.