Modern Slavery Statement

Home / Modern Slavery Statement

Financial Year Ending: 31st March 2024

Published: 1st April 2024

Introduction

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps Parkside Events Surrey Ltd has taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our supply chains or in any part of our business.

Although we fall below the £36 million turnover threshold that mandates publication of a modern slavery statement, we voluntarily publish this statement to demonstrate our commitment to ethical business practices and human rights.

Our Business

Parkside Events Surrey Ltd is an event management company specialising in outdoor events across Surrey, UK. We:

  • Organise community festivals, family fun days, and corporate events
  • Employ 12 permanent staff members
  • Work with approximately 200 suppliers including food vendors, entertainers, equipment hire companies, and contractors
  • Engage seasonal and casual workers during peak event periods

Our Commitment

Parkside Events Surrey Ltd is committed to:

  • Acting ethically and with integrity in all business dealings
  • Implementing and enforcing effective systems to ensure modern slavery does not exist in our supply chains
  • Ensuring transparency within our organisation and with suppliers
  • Respecting human rights and the dignity of all workers

Our Supply Chains

Our supply chains include:

  • Food and beverage vendors: Local caterers, food trucks, and beverage suppliers
  • Entertainment: Musicians, performers, DJs, and activity providers
  • Equipment: Marquee hire, staging, lighting, and sound equipment
  • Services: Security, cleaning, waste management, and first aid providers
  • Materials: Promotional materials, signage, and decorations

The majority of our suppliers are UK-based small and medium enterprises. We recognise that certain sectors, particularly those involving seasonal labour, may present higher risks of labour exploitation.

Policies

We maintain the following policies relevant to preventing modern slavery:

  • Ethical Procurement Policy: Sets standards for supplier selection and ongoing management
  • Whistleblowing Policy: Encourages reporting of concerns about unethical conduct
  • Employee Code of Conduct: Outlines expected behaviours and values
  • Recruitment Policy: Ensures fair and legal employment practices
  • Supplier Code of Conduct: Communicates our expectations to all suppliers

Due Diligence

We undertake the following due diligence processes:

  1. Supplier vetting: New suppliers complete a questionnaire including questions about labour practices
  2. Contract terms: Our supplier contracts include clauses requiring compliance with the Modern Slavery Act
  3. Right to work checks: All employees and casual workers undergo right to work verification
  4. Payment practices: We ensure all workers are paid at least the National Living Wage
  5. Site monitoring: Our team monitors working conditions at events

Risk Assessment

We have assessed the following areas as potentially higher risk:

  • Seasonal casual labour engaged during peak periods
  • Cleaning and security services subcontracted through agencies
  • Food vendors using temporary staff

We mitigate these risks by prioritising established suppliers with clear employment practices and conducting periodic reviews.

Training

We provide training to relevant staff members on:

  • Understanding modern slavery and human trafficking
  • Recognising warning signs of exploitation
  • Reporting procedures for concerns
  • Ethical procurement practices

Key Performance Indicators

We measure our effectiveness against the following KPIs:

  • 100% of new suppliers completing our ethical questionnaire
  • 100% of employees completing modern slavery awareness training
  • Zero incidents of modern slavery identified in our operations or supply chain
  • Annual review of supplier practices

Progress During 2023/24

During the financial year, we:

  • Introduced a formal Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Conducted modern slavery awareness training for all permanent staff
  • Reviewed and updated our employment contracts
  • Enhanced our supplier vetting questionnaire
  • Joined the Surrey Business Ethics Network

Future Plans

In the coming year, we plan to:

  • Extend training to regular casual workers and key suppliers
  • Conduct on-site supplier audits for higher-risk categories
  • Develop a supplier rating system incorporating ethical practices
  • Increase engagement with industry initiatives on ethical labour practices

Reporting Concerns

Anyone who suspects modern slavery in our operations or supply chain can report concerns:

  • Email: ethics@parksideevents.co.uk
  • Phone: 01234 567 890
  • Modern Slavery Helpline: 08000 121 700

All reports will be investigated and treated confidentially.

Approval

This statement has been approved by the Board of Directors of Parkside Events Surrey Ltd.

James Harrison
Managing Director
Parkside Events Surrey Ltd
Date: 1st April 2024