Modern Slavery Statement

A) ORGANISATION

 

This statement applies to all NexGen Group companies (referred to in this statement as ‘the Group”). The information included in the statement refers to the financial year 2023/2024

 

B) ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Nexgen Group has a Head Office based in West Byfleet, which is used by the Senior Leadership Team and all support functions, as well as housing the storage facility. The larger proportion of the employee population are operational colleagues out in the field. These colleagues are predominantly based in Central, Southern and East England.

The Group’s activities are all within the facilities services arena with cleaning and grounds maintenance services forming a large proportion of the overall offering.

Demand for this service is consistent.

 

C) DEFINITIONS

The Group considers that modern slavery encompasses:

 

  • Human trafficking;
  • Forced 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.

 

D) COMMITMENT

The Group acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Organisation understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains. The health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues is a priority for us and critical to our success.

 

The Group 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.

No labour provided to the Organisation in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. The Group strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the UK and in many cases exceeds those minimums in relation to its employees.

 

E) SUPPLY CHAINS

In order to fulfil its activities, the Group’s main supply chains consist of cleaning consumables, cleaning equipment, PPE, colleague uniform and chemicals (all of which are sourced in the UK and have places of origin either in Europe or Asia) and grounds maintenance equipment and tools which largely originate from the UK.

 

F) POTENTIAL EXPOSURE

In general, the Group 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.

 

G) STEPS

The Group carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its organisation or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.

 

The Group has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.

 

In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Group has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:

  • We require our suppliers to complete a sub-contractor / contractor questionnaire and a sub-contractor/ contractor agreement as part of our procurement process.
  • The Senior Leadership Team meets monthly to agree any new policies or changes made to current policies, including the risks involved in our supply chain regarding modern slavery. They also agree the most effective method by which to communicate these policies out to all colleagues.
  • Senior members of the HR team lead any investigations relating to reports of known or suspected instances of modern slavery
  • We communicate the existence of our Whistleblowing Policy to every new colleague alongside training in safeguarding in induction.

 

J) TRAINING

The Group provides the following induction and refresher training to staff to effectively implement its stance on modern slavery.

We educate our teams on the signs that an individual may be at risk including the following indicators:-

  • General behaviour – showing high levels of anxiety or fear, scavenging for food, poor levels of personal hygiene and appearance
  • Physical appearance – regularly shows indications of injury or attack
  • Accommodation – may be unclear of where they live or indicate residence is occupied by large numbers of fellow workers
  • Financial – lack of access to money, salary is paid into bank account held in a third parties name or multiple employees sharing a single account
  • Restricted movement – not in possession of personal documentation such as a passport, only able to travel to and from work with a certain individual

 

K) SLAVERY COMPLIANCE OFFICER

The Group has a Slavery Compliance Officer, to whom all concerns regarding modern slavery should be addressed, and who will then undertake relevant action with regard to the Group’s obligations in this regard.

 

This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and will be reviewed for each financial year.