Battersea Carpet Cleaners Modern Slavery Statement
This Modern Slavery Statement is made by Battersea Carpet Cleaners in recognition of the responsibility we share in preventing modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and exploitation in all forms. We are committed to operating ethically and transparently, and to ensuring that the principles of dignity, respect, and fairness are upheld across our operations and supply chains.
Our Commitment and Zero-Tolerance Policy
Battersea Carpet Cleaners maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery and human trafficking. We do not tolerate any form of forced, bonded, or involuntary labour, or any exploitation of vulnerable individuals, within our own business or in the activities of our suppliers and contractors. This commitment is integral to our values and underpins our decision-making in relation to who we work with and how we work.
All employees, workers, and contractors are expected to act with integrity and to support our stance against modern slavery. Any breach of this policy is treated as a serious matter and may result in disciplinary action or termination of business relationships where appropriate.
Our Business and Supply Chain
Battersea Carpet Cleaners provides professional carpet, upholstery, and related cleaning services. Our supply chain includes providers of cleaning products, machinery and equipment, uniforms, and ancillary services such as maintenance and office supplies. While we consider the overall risk of modern slavery within our sector to be relatively low, we recognise that risk can exist at any stage of a supply chain and we remain vigilant at all times.
We expect all suppliers, subcontractors, and other business partners to share our commitment to preventing modern slavery and to be able to demonstrate that their own operations are free from exploitation.
Supplier Due Diligence and Audits
We carry out proportionate due diligence on new and existing suppliers to assess the risk of modern slavery. This may include evaluating the geographical location of their operations, the type of work performed, the nature of their workforce, and their own ethical policies and procedures. We prioritise working with reputable suppliers who can evidence sound labour practices.
Where we identify higher-risk areas, we may undertake additional checks, request further information about labour standards, and require written confirmation of compliance with applicable modern slavery and human rights legislation. We reserve the right to conduct audits of suppliers where appropriate. These audits may involve reviewing documentation, speaking with management about labour practices, and, where feasible, visiting sites to observe working conditions.
If a supplier is found to be in breach of our standards or modern slavery legislation, we will seek to work with them to address and remedy the issue within a reasonable timeframe. Where adequate remediation is not possible, or where a supplier is unwilling to improve, we will consider suspending or terminating the relationship.
Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing
Battersea Carpet Cleaners encourages anyone who has concerns about modern slavery or unethical labour practices connected to our business to raise them as soon as possible. Concerns may relate to our own operations, a supplier, or any third party linked to our services.
Employees are encouraged to report concerns to their line manager or a senior member of the management team. We also support whistleblowing through our internal reporting routes, which allow individuals to raise issues in confidence and without fear of retaliation. All reports are taken seriously and investigated promptly, with appropriate action taken where necessary.
We are committed to protecting anyone who raises a concern in good faith, and we will not tolerate any form of victimisation or detrimental treatment against whistleblowers.
Training, Awareness, and Continuous Improvement
We aim to build awareness of modern slavery issues among our staff by providing information and guidance relevant to their roles. This helps employees recognise potential warning signs such as signs of coercion, restriction of movement, or unusual work or living conditions relating to individuals they encounter in the course of our business.
Modern slavery considerations are integrated into our ongoing review of policies and procedures, particularly those relating to procurement, recruitment, and the management of contractors. We continually seek opportunities to enhance our approach and strengthen our controls as best practice and legislation evolve.
Annual Review of This Statement
This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed annually by the management of Battersea Carpet Cleaners to ensure it remains accurate, effective, and reflective of our current operations and risk profile. The review considers any changes in legislation, emerging risks in our sector or supply chains, and lessons learned from audits, investigations, or reported concerns.
Following each review, we will update this statement and our internal procedures as necessary to ensure that our zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery is consistently applied. Our aim is to foster an ethical and transparent culture in which exploitation is actively prevented and challenged wherever it is found.
