Modern Slavery Statement
Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires certain organisations to develop a slavery and human trafficking statement each year. The slavery and human trafficking statement should set out what steps organisations have taken to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in their business or supply chains.
INTRODUCTION
STATEMENT
Under the provision of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the ‘Act’) Suffolk Meadow Ice Cream must state the necessary actions taken during the financial year to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in their operations and supply chains.
Modern slavery is ‘a hidden crime that encompasses slavery, servitude, forced labour and human trafficking’. We take a zero tolerance approach to this and are strongly committed to playing a part in eradicating it. We understand the importance of transparency within our supply chain in driving collaborative action and the potential impact of the Act on reducing risks and incidence of slavery.
OUR BUSINESS AND SUPPLY CHAINS
Suffolk Meadow Ice Cream supply manufactured ice cream and frozen desserts into UK retail and trade specialising into the ice cream markets. Our products are manufactured and packaged within our Food Standards approved facilities within Suffolk and procured from business for trade throughout the UK. We currently have 1 manufacturing site and a small distribution service.
We currently employ 5 personnel to serve our manufacturing facilities and deliver to our consumer requirements. Our company and managers reflect this commitment and, as a business, will assist where practically possible, with the eradication of modern slavery.
Suffolk meadow Ice Cream is fully committed to working in partnership with our suppliers, service providers and colleagues to address these challenges and ensure remediation for any victims.
POLICIES IN RELATION TO MODERN SLAVERY
Suffolk Meadow Ice Cream recognises the need to respect human rights as well as remedying any areas where abuse is identified or suspected. Our approach to modern slavery sits within our Human Rights Policy and is applicable to all of Suffolk Meadow Ice Cream and sets out our obligation to colleagues, customers and those within our supply chain. Our Ethical Trading Policy sets out specific commitments and obligations to the supply chain in compliance with the ETI base code.
We take any allegations extremely seriously and provide independent contact (Whistleblowing lines) that enable our colleagues, suppliers and their staff to raise concerns.
We are willing to work collaboratively with others to address issues that we are unable to do or act on alone. As part of this we support the following three principles:
Every worker should have freedom of movement.
No worker should pay for a job.
No worker should be indebted or coerced to work.
As part of our recruitment practices and where possible we will recruit internally, via the web or word of mouth. External resources such as recruitment agencies are used where necessary however where needed, our policies ensure that we actively recruit from within the UK i.e. unless agreed by senior site management helping to reduce human trafficking. Our recruitment practices prohibit charging workers’ fees for work and therefore eliminating debt bondage. We do not offer accommodation.
Temporary employees are guaranteed a minimum working week by prior agreement and where possible have ability to become a permanent employee should a position arise. We offer fair wages to our labour providers based on No. hours worked and national living wage.