Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

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Modern Slavery Act 2015

Modern slavery and human trafficking statement

 

Introduction & Purpose of the Statement

  1. This statement is made pursuant to section 54 (Part 6) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and is intended to inform university staff, students and the general public of the steps taken by the University of Strathclyde during the financial year ending 31st July 2020 in relation to its obligations to mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking in any of its business activities.

  2. Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person's liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.

  3. The University of Strathclyde recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking. This statement sets out the University’s actions and commitment to understanding potential Modern Slavery risks related to its activities and to minimise the risk of slavery and human trafficking in its supply chains.

The University of Strathclyde

  1. The University of Strathclyde is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC015263. The University was established by Royal Charter in 1964, with a history dating back to 1796 and the founding of Anderson's Institute as ‘the place of useful learning’.  The University’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025 confirms our vision as a leading international technological university inspired by our founding mission as ‘the place of useful learning’, making the world better educated, prosperous, healthy, fair and secure. We continue to live by our socially progressive values today, putting sustainability at the heart of our strategy through our commitment to deliver against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  

  2. The University’s values capture our ethos: who we are, what we believe in and what we stand for. Our values set out how we conduct ourselves, how we expect to be treated as part of Strathclyde and how we engage with our partners. In delivering our Strategic Plan, and how we act and make decisions guided by these values:

People-oriented

Committed to our staff and students, providing opportunities and investing in their development.

Bold

Confident and challenging about what we do, and supportive of appropriate and managed risk in our decision-making.

Innovative

Focused on discovering and applying knowledge with impact, and encouraging creative thinking and new ideas.

Collaborative

Working together, internally and externally, with integrity and in an open, respectful way.

Ambitious

For our institution, staff and students as well as supporting the ambitions of our partners.

     3. The University has a zero tolerance policy in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking. We are committed to conducting all business dealings and relationships in an ethical and transparent manner, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and checks to ensure the University is not contributing to modern slavery in any way.

Statement and Commitment

  1. The University is committed to ensuring that modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any part of its operation within the University and its supply chain. We are committed to protecting and respecting human rights across the University’s activities, and will take reasonable and appropriate steps to influence others to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place, where it is possible to do so.

  2. Our People Strategy underpins our commitment to workplace rights for employees and these are supported by our Human Resources Policies. We promote our Dignity and Respect Policy to create an environment that does not condone unacceptable behaviours. The University Induction checklist directs new staff members to our modern slavery statement to raise awareness of our commitment and a Whistleblowing policy is in place to enable staff to report improper conduct or unethical behaviour.

  3. The University is accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, which certifies that all staff are paid the real living wage. Non University contracted workers that regularly work onsite at the University are expected to be paid the UK living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, and the University evaluates suppliers’ approach to Fair Work Practices including the Living Wage, in line with the Scottish Government’s statutory guidance.

  4. The University’s Procurement Strategy outlines our principles and approach to ensuring ethical procurement, such as the University’s Sustainable Procurement Strategy, fairly and ethically produced products and fair working practices including promoting payment of the Scottish real Living Wage.

Supply Chain Expenditure

      1. The University has a non-pay annual expenditure of approximately £130m across Goods, Services and Works. Our supply chains fall under the following main                        categories:

  • Estates, Buildings and Facilities Management
  • Laboratory Equipment
  • Professional Services
  • Computer Supplies and Services
  • Audio Visual Equipment
  • Utilities

Procurement Support for the Modern Slavery Act 2015

  1. We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Measures included within the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 are embedded in all of our procurement activities and relevant Scottish Procurement Policy Notes (SPPN 3/2020) are circulated to relevant staff and implemented where required.

  2. In light of the obligation to report on measures to ensure that all parts of our business and supply chain are slavery free, we have embedded our obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in the University’s Supplier Code of Conduct, which underpins all tendering activity. The Code of Conduct demonstrates our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking taking place in our supply chains.

  3. Where relevant, suppliers are asked to sign up to the APUC supply chain code of conduct, which specifies that suppliers shall not use forced, involuntary or underage labour. Suppliers are encouraged to utilise the APUC database SUSTAIN where they can provide details of measures they take in relation to modern slavery in their supply chain.

Identifying and Mitigating Potential Risk in Our Supply Chains

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  1. The risk of Modern Slavery in the University’s direct and local activities is considered low. However, we recognise the potential risks linked to the supply chain of goods and services we buy across the world. A large portion of these goods are bought through collaborative contracts, and we work with the relevant bodies to ensure anti-corruption activities are addressed during their procurement processes as well as in our own.

  2. The University is a member of the Advanced Procurement of Universities and Colleges (APUC) consortium, and therefore endorses the APUC Supply Chain Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct details the consortium members’ and suppliers’ duties in corporate social responsibility and sustainable areas across the supply chain.

  3. The University is a member of Electronics Watch, an independent monitoring organisation working to achieve respect for labour rights in the global electronics industry through socially responsible public purchasing in Europe.

  4. The University uses the Scottish Government’s Sustainable procurement tools and guidance where appropriate at strategy stage of our procurements.

  5. Every regulated procurement process conducted by the University requires tenderers to disclose whether the bidder or any member of their organisation with decision-making powers has been convicted in the last five years of any offence under Part 1 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015, or under any provision referred to in the Schedule to that Act. Tenderers that confirm such a conviction will be excluded from the process unless they can successfully demonstrate that they have self-cleansed.

  6. The University includes a clause within its General Terms and Conditions in relation to Modern Slavery. This outlines the obligations of the supplier in contracting with the University. It extends to due diligence procedures being in place for sub-contractors to that supplier. It references the requirement for suppliers to comply with all applicable anti-slavery and human trafficking laws, statutes, regulations and codes (including the Modern Slavery Act 2015). The University reserves the right to terminate and seek recompense for any contract where the supplier is found to be in breach of the anti-slavery policy.

Responsible Investment

  1. The University has a considered responsible investment strategy in line with the University’s strategy and values. As a socially progressive institution, the responsible investment strategy considers a range of environmental, social and governance issues and informs any changes to the University’s investment portfolio.

Research and Knowledge Exchange 

  1. We endeavour to ensure that all Strathclyde contracts for research and knowledge exchange projects contain robust provisions to guard against modern slavery and human trafficking, including a requirement that the parties to the relevant project will comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 when carrying out their obligations.

  2. All staff in our Grants and Contracts Team are aware of and have been briefed on modern slavery.

Alumni and Development

  1. We undertake a robust due diligence process to capture a variety of identified possible risks and illegal activities for single gifts and cumulative gifts reaching £25k or above. These come from companies, trusts, foundations and individuals and are checked to ensure compliance with the gift acceptance policy, which verifies that gifts are not donated through illegal activities or associated with oppressive regimes. We will not accept gifts from the proceeds of crime or unethical sources.

Training and Awareness

  1. Awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking is a subject matter that the university’s security staff are cognisant of. They can identify evidence of activity and can take measures to escalate where necessary. Expansion of training in this area is scheduled for 2021 to keep abreast of emerging trends.

  2. The University’s Procurement function continues to commit to undertaking all relevant training and awareness sessions, including the Sustainable Procurement training by APUC.

  3. The Head of Procurement has previously engaged with the Police Scotland Detect and Deter section within the Safer Communities Unit to work with the University to deliver awareness sessions on identifying unusual and potentially criminal behaviour and prevention of Serious and Organised Crime. Activity like this has been on hold due to divergence of resource to support the COVID pandemic and will be considered again for the next period.

 

Dr Veena O’Halloran

University Secretary and Compliance Officer

February 2021

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