Modern Slavery Statement for Man With a Van Brentford

This Modern Slavery Statement is made by Man With a Van Brentford in respect of the financial year ending 31 December and sets out the steps we are taking to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chains. As a local transport and removals business, we recognise our responsibility to act ethically and transparently and to protect the rights and dignity of all people involved in providing our services.

Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking. We are committed to ensuring that these practices have no place within our business or any of our supply chains, regardless of location or size.

Our Business and Supply Chains

Man With a Van Brentford provides man and van, removals, and light transport services to domestic and commercial customers. Our workforce consists of directly engaged staff and self-employed contractors. Our supply chains include vehicle leasing and maintenance providers, fuel suppliers, equipment and packaging suppliers, cleaning and maintenance contractors, and occasional use of labour agencies for seasonal or specialist support.

We recognise that certain sectors and types of roles, including low-skilled, temporary, or subcontracted work, can be at higher risk of labour exploitation. We therefore pay particular attention to suppliers and partners operating in these areas.

Zero-Tolerance Policy on Modern Slavery

We operate a clear zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking. This means we will not knowingly engage with or support any organisation that is involved in, benefits from, or turns a blind eye to forced labour, human trafficking, or any other form of modern slavery.

All employees, contractors and suppliers are expected to act with integrity and to uphold our commitment to fair treatment, lawful working conditions and respect for human rights. Any breach of our zero-tolerance policy may result in termination of contracts or working arrangements and, where appropriate, reporting to relevant authorities.

Supplier Due Diligence and Audits

We aim to build long-term, transparent relationships with suppliers that share our values. To support this, we are implementing proportionate due diligence and audit processes designed to identify and address modern slavery risks.

Our approach includes assessing new suppliers on their labour practices, working conditions and approach to modern slavery before engagement where the risk is considered material. We reserve the right to request evidence of policies, procedures and training relating to modern slavery and ethical employment.

We may conduct periodic reviews or audits of higher-risk suppliers, either remotely or on site, focusing on recruitment practices, working hours, pay records, use of subcontractors and accommodation arrangements where applicable. Where concerns are identified, we will seek corrective action within a defined timeframe and may suspend or terminate the relationship if satisfactory remediation is not achieved.

Reporting Channels and Protection

We encourage all staff, contractors, suppliers and any other stakeholders to speak up if they have concerns or suspicions about modern slavery or unethical labour practices connected to our business. Concerns can be raised verbally or in writing to line managers, senior management or other appropriate internal contacts.

All reports will be taken seriously, treated sensitively and investigated promptly where appropriate. We are committed to ensuring that no one suffers any form of retaliation, victimisation or disadvantage for raising a concern in good faith, even if it is not substantiated after investigation.

Where we identify credible indications of modern slavery, we will take immediate steps to safeguard any affected individuals, cooperate with relevant authorities, and work with suppliers or partners to address root causes and prevent recurrence.

Training and Awareness

We are working to raise awareness of modern slavery risks among our management team, operational staff and key contractors. This includes explaining what modern slavery is, recognising warning signs such as retention of identity documents, unexplained deductions from pay, excessive working hours or signs of coercion, and understanding how to report concerns safely.

As our business grows, we will continue to develop and refine our training so that those involved in procurement, supplier management and recruitment are better equipped to identify and manage modern slavery risks.

Monitoring, Annual Review and Continuous Improvement

Our approach to tackling modern slavery is subject to ongoing monitoring and improvement. We will review this statement and our associated processes at least once every year, or sooner if there are significant changes to our operations, supply chains or legal obligations.

The annual review will consider the effectiveness of our due diligence measures, any concerns or incidents raised, outcomes of supplier audits, and feedback from employees and partners. Where necessary, we will update our policies, training, contract terms and auditing practices to strengthen our controls and to reflect emerging best practice.

This Modern Slavery Statement has been approved by the management of Man With a Van Brentford, who accept overall responsibility for its implementation and for ensuring that the principles set out here are embedded throughout our business and supply chains.