Modern Slavery Statement
Elephant and Castle Cleaners Modern Slavery Statement
This Modern Slavery Statement is made by Elephant and Castle Cleaners in relation to our financial year ending 31 December. It sets out the steps we are taking to identify, prevent, and address modern slavery and human trafficking within our operations and supply chains. We are committed to conducting business ethically, with respect for the dignity and rights of every individual whose work contributes to our services.
Our Commitment and Zero-Tolerance Policy
Elephant and Castle Cleaners has a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery, including forced labour, bonded labour, child labour, servitude, and human trafficking. We do not accept, condone, or ignore any practices that exploit people or abuse their rights, whether within our own operations or in the activities of our suppliers and business partners.
We expect the same high standards from everyone we work with. All managers, employees, contractors, and suppliers are required to act in accordance with this policy and with applicable labour, employment, and human rights laws. Non-compliance is treated as a serious breach of our ethical requirements and may result in disciplinary action or termination of contracts.
Our Business and Supply Chains
Elephant and Castle Cleaners provides professional cleaning services to residential, commercial, and public sector clients. Our workforce consists of directly engaged employees and vetted contractors. Our supply chains include providers of cleaning products, equipment, uniforms, facilities, and outsourced support services.
We recognise that some parts of the cleaning and facilities management sector can be particularly vulnerable to labour exploitation. This awareness informs our risk assessment, due diligence, and monitoring processes so that we focus on the areas where the risk of modern slavery may be higher.
Due Diligence and Supplier Audits
We undertake due diligence on new suppliers and periodically review existing suppliers to assess their compliance with our modern slavery and ethical labour standards. As part of this process, we may request information on working practices, recruitment methods, right-to-work checks, subcontracting arrangements, and wage payment systems.
Supplier audits are used to verify compliance with our expectations. These audits may include document reviews, discussions with management, and where appropriate, confidential conversations with workers. Any areas of concern identified through audits or reviews will lead to a clear improvement plan with defined timescales, or to the suspension or termination of the business relationship if adequate remediation cannot be achieved.
Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing
We encourage anyone who has concerns about possible modern slavery or human trafficking associated with Elephant and Castle Cleaners or our supply chains to raise them without fear of retaliation. Concerns may be reported through internal management channels or via our whistleblowing arrangements, which allow issues to be raised in confidence.
All reports will be treated seriously and handled sensitively. We will investigate credible allegations promptly and take appropriate action, which may include engaging with the affected individuals, working with suppliers on corrective measures, reporting to relevant authorities, or ending business relationships where necessary. We will never penalise any person for raising a concern in good faith.
Training, Awareness, and Continuous Improvement
We provide relevant staff, particularly those involved in recruitment, procurement, and supplier management, with training on recognising indicators of modern slavery and on our reporting and escalation procedures. We also work to build awareness among our wider workforce so that everyone understands their role in identifying and preventing exploitation.
Feedback from employees, workers, and suppliers is welcomed and used to strengthen our approach. We aim to improve our processes over time, reflecting emerging good practice, legal developments, and lessons learned from audits, investigations, and stakeholder engagement.
Monitoring and Annual Review
This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed at least annually by our senior management team. The review considers the effectiveness of our actions, outcomes of supplier audits, reports received through our channels, and any identified areas for improvement.
Following each review, we update our policies, procedures, and training as necessary and set objectives for the coming year. By maintaining this cycle of monitoring and improvement, Elephant and Castle Cleaners seeks to ensure that our zero-tolerance stance is fully reflected in our day-to-day practices and in the standards we expect from everyone in our supply chains.
