Modern Slavery Statement

Introduction

This statement sets out Stef & Philips Ltd commitment to recognising and preventing slavery and human trafficking in all its business activities. It outlines the steps we have taken to ensure compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and minimise the risks of any association with practices which undermine the principles of safety and dignity for our customers and staff, particularly with respect to people from vulnerable groups.

This Statement covers our current position on modern slavery and activities undertaken during the financial year 2022/23. The Statement applies to the whole of Stef & Philips Ltd, and all parts of the organisation are expected to minimise the risks of slavery and human trafficking in their business and supply chains.

Organisational Structure and Business

Stef & Philips Ltd is a family-run business, controlled by a board of directors. The head office is in North London, with a satellite office in Essex and multiple sites across the United Kingdom. It forms the holding entity of a group which includes the following subsidiaries:

a) Stef & Philips Ltd
b) Stef & Philips London Ltd
c) Stef & Philips Corporate Ltd

The main activity carried out by Stef & Philips Ltd is a leading provider of accommodation services for local authorities, housing associations, and charities. In doing so, we participate in some partnering arrangements with suppliers and contractors.

Through this Statement we encourage our partners, suppliers, and others within our frameworks with whom we engage to read and apply, as appropriate, the requirements of The Modern Slavery Act 2015, and to confirm to us their approach to compliance.

Our Supply Chains

We expect our partners, organisations within our frameworks and other suppliers we engage with to ensure their goods, materials, and labour-related supply chains to:

a) Fully comply with the Act
b) Be transparent, accountable, and auditable
c) Be free from ethical ambiguities.

Our Employment Practices

Our policy is to pay all our employees at least the London Living Wage and our recruitment processes are designed to ensure that all new employees have the right to work in the UK.

Stef & Philips ensure the relevant requirements are adhered to, in terms of checking eligibility to work in the UK and carrying out necessary checks such as DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service).

Safeguarding

Stef & Philips Safeguarding Policy (covering Adults and Children) includes reference to modern slavery as a type or pattern of behaviour which constitutes abuse of a person at risk. Safeguarding incidents are reported to the heads of services. No modern slavery related incidents or concerns relating to service delivery have been reported since the 2015 Act was enacted.

Training

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our procurement and supply chains within our business, we continue to provide training to relevant members of staff.

Due Diligence

We continue to take the appropriate steps to ensure that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking within our business and supply chains.

As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk we have in place systems 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; and
• protect whistle blowers via our whistleblowing policy.

Commitment

We are committed to ensuring that our business and supply chains remain slavery and human trafficking free. During the year we will:

• Ensure there is continuous monitoring of our business and its supply chains to ensure we are free from slavery and human trafficking.
• Monitoring that our contractors and supply chains act in accordance with
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 when dealing with us; and • Undertake a review of our safeguarding policy and ensure it complies with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Responsibility for compliance of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 rests at the highest level with the directors of Stef & Philips, with responsibility for the Statement assigned to the Chief Executive Officer. Specific responsibilities have been assigned to the heads of services which are identified as key risk areas:

• Supply chain
• Vulnerable clients

This statement is made in accordance with Section 54 of the 2015 Act. It will be updated annually in line with the Modern Slavery’s Act’s reporting requirements.

Chris Philippou

Chief Executive Officer

On behalf of Stef & Philips

Date: June 2023