1. Introduction
This Modern Slavery Statement is made pursuant to Section 54, Part
6 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that
ClarLabs has taken and is continuing to take to ensure that modern
slavery and human trafficking are not taking place within our
business or supply chains.
Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking,
and forced labor. ClarLabs has a zero-tolerance approach to any
form of modern slavery. We are committed to acting ethically and
with integrity and transparency in all business dealings and to
putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard
against any form of modern slavery taking place within the
business or our supply chains.
This statement covers the activities of ClarLabs for the financial
year ending March 31, 2025, and has been approved by the Board of
Directors.
2. Organizational Structure, Business & Supply Chains
Our Business
ClarLabs is a UK-based provider of security, compliance, and Azure
cloud management solutions. Established in 2018, we operate
primarily in the information technology and cybersecurity sectors,
offering services to organizations of all sizes across various
industries including financial services, healthcare, technology,
and the public sector.
Our headquarters are located in London, UK, with additional
offices in Manchester, UK and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We
currently employ approximately 85 full-time staff members across
these locations.
Our Supply Chains
As a provider of technology services, our supply chains are
relatively limited but include:
-
Technology providers: Cloud hosting services,
software licenses, and hardware suppliers
-
Professional services: Consultants, trainers,
and other specialist service providers
-
Operational suppliers: Office equipment,
facilities management, and other business services
-
Marketing and sales: Digital marketing
agencies, event organizers, and promotional materials suppliers
The majority of our suppliers are based in the UK, EU, and North
America, with some technology services sourced globally. We
recognize that no supply chain can be considered entirely free
from the risk of modern slavery, and we take our responsibility to
ensure ethical business practices seriously throughout our supply
network.
3. Policies on Modern Slavery
We have implemented the following policies that describe our
approach to the identification of modern slavery risks and steps
to be taken to prevent slavery and human trafficking in our
operations:
Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy
Our dedicated policy outlines our zero-tolerance approach to
modern slavery, our commitment to acting ethically, and the
expectations we have of our employees and suppliers. This policy:
- Defines what modern slavery encompasses
- States our commitments to preventing modern slavery
-
Outlines responsibilities for implementation and compliance
- Provides guidance on reporting concerns
- Details the consequences of policy violations
Supplier Code of Conduct
This code sets out the minimum standards we expect from all
suppliers regarding labor practices, human rights, environmental
standards, and business ethics. The code:
-
Explicitly prohibits the use of forced, bonded, or child labor
-
Requires compliance with local labor laws and international
standards
-
Mandates fair working conditions, including reasonable working
hours and fair wages
-
Requires suppliers to assess and address modern slavery risks in
their own supply chains
Whistleblowing Policy
Our whistleblowing policy encourages all employees, customers, and
other business partners to report any concerns related to our
direct activities or our supply chains. This includes any
circumstances that may give rise to an enhanced risk of slavery or
human trafficking. Our whistleblowing procedure is designed to
make it easy for workers to make disclosures without fear of
retaliation.
Ethics and Compliance Policy
This policy outlines our broader commitment to ethical business
practices, including our stance on modern slavery. It provides a
framework for ethical decision-making that all employees are
expected to follow.
Recruitment Policy
We operate a robust recruitment policy, including conducting
eligibility to work checks for all employees to safeguard against
human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against
their will. This policy ensures that we only work with reputable
employment agencies and conduct appropriate due diligence on any
new agency we engage with.
4. Due Diligence Processes
ClarLabs has established due diligence processes to identify,
assess, and mitigate the risk of modern slavery and human
trafficking in our operations and supply chains. These processes
include:
Supplier Due Diligence
Before engaging with new suppliers, we:
-
Require completion of a supplier questionnaire that includes
specific questions about labor practices and modern slavery
prevention
-
Conduct risk assessments based on geography, industry, and the
nature of goods or services provided
-
Validate the supplier's own modern slavery statements and
policies where applicable
-
Review public information and third-party reports for any
evidence of modern slavery concerns
-
Incorporate modern slavery clauses into our supplier contracts
Ongoing Monitoring
For existing suppliers, we:
- Conduct periodic reassessments based on risk levels
-
Monitor media and public sources for concerns related to our
suppliers
-
Perform site visits for higher-risk suppliers where feasible
-
Maintain open lines of communication with suppliers about modern
slavery issues
Internal Due Diligence
Within our own operations, we:
-
Conduct regular reviews of our recruitment and employment
practices
-
Ensure all staff have proper documentation and work permits
where applicable
-
Monitor working conditions and pay practices across all our
locations
-
Maintain robust grievance mechanisms accessible to all employees
Collaboration and External Resources
We enhance our due diligence by:
-
Engaging with industry groups focused on ethical supply chains
- Utilizing third-party screening and monitoring services
-
Staying informed about emerging best practices and guidance from
governmental and non-governmental organizations
5. Risk Assessment and Management
Risk Assessment Process
Our approach to risk assessment involves a systematic analysis of
our business operations and supply chains to identify potential
modern slavery risks. We consider multiple risk factors,
including:
-
Geographical risks: Operations or suppliers in
countries with weak labor protections or high prevalence of
modern slavery
-
Sector risks: Industries known to have higher
prevalence of labor violations
-
Transaction risks: Business models or spending
patterns that could incentivize labor exploitation
-
Business partnership risks: Relationships with
entities that may have inadequate due diligence processes
Current Risk Profile
Based on our most recent risk assessment, we have identified the
following areas as presenting a higher potential risk for modern
slavery issues:
-
Technology hardware suppliers with manufacturing processes in
regions with lower labor standards
-
Facilities management services, particularly cleaning and
maintenance services
-
Marketing merchandise and promotional materials supplied through
extended global supply chains
Risk Mitigation Strategies
To address the identified risks, we have implemented the following
mitigation strategies:
-
Enhanced due diligence requirements for suppliers in high-risk
categories
-
Development of specific contractual safeguards for higher-risk
supply relationships
-
Preference for suppliers with strong demonstrated commitments to
ethical labor practices
-
Engagement with suppliers to improve transparency through their
own supply chains
- Targeted audits and assessments for higher-risk suppliers
Continuous Risk Management
We maintain an ongoing risk management process that includes:
- Regular review and updating of our risk assessments
-
Monitoring of external developments that may affect risk
profiles
-
Integration of modern slavery risk considerations into broader
business decision-making
- Clear escalation paths for identified issues or concerns
6. Effectiveness in Preventing Modern Slavery
We understand the importance of measuring the effectiveness of our
efforts to prevent modern slavery. To assess our progress and
impact, we have established the following key performance
indicators (KPIs) and review mechanisms:
Key Performance Indicators
-
Percentage of staff who have completed modern slavery awareness
training (target: 100%)
-
Percentage of suppliers who have acknowledged our Supplier Code
of Conduct (target: 100% of new suppliers, 90% of existing
suppliers)
-
Number of supplier due diligence assessments completed (target:
100% of new high-risk suppliers, 25% of existing supplier base
annually)
-
Response time to address reported concerns or incidents related
to modern slavery (target: initial response within 24 hours,
investigation initiated within 72 hours)
-
Completion rate of planned supplier audits or assessments
(target: 90% completion of planned assessments)
Review Mechanisms
To ensure ongoing effectiveness of our approach, we have
implemented the following review mechanisms:
-
Quarterly review of modern slavery KPIs by our Ethics Committee
-
Annual review of policies and procedures relating to modern
slavery
-
Regular internal audits of our modern slavery controls and
processes
-
Engagement with external specialists to benchmark our approach
against industry best practices
-
Feedback mechanisms to gather insights from employees and
suppliers on the effectiveness of our approach
Reporting and Transparency
We are committed to transparency regarding our efforts to address
modern slavery risks. We:
-
Document and report internally on all concerns raised and
actions taken
-
Include modern slavery prevention metrics in our annual
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting
-
Publish this Modern Slavery Statement annually, updating it to
reflect our progress and emerging challenges
-
Share learnings and best practices with industry peers and
stakeholders
Current Performance
In the past financial year:
- 95% of staff completed modern slavery awareness training
-
87% of suppliers have acknowledged our Supplier Code of Conduct
-
Due diligence assessments were completed for 100% of new
suppliers and 23% of our existing supplier base
-
No incidents or concerns related to modern slavery were reported
- 85% of planned supplier assessments were completed
7. Training on Modern Slavery
We are committed to building and maintaining awareness of modern
slavery risks among our staff and key stakeholders. Our training
program includes:
Employee Training
All employees are required to complete training on modern slavery
awareness and prevention as part of our commitment to ethical
business practices. Our training program includes:
-
Onboarding training: All new employees receive
information about modern slavery as part of their induction,
including our policies and reporting procedures
-
Annual refresher training: All employees
complete an annual modern slavery awareness module, updated to
reflect current risks and best practices
-
Role-specific training: Enhanced training for
employees in roles with higher exposure to modern slavery risks,
such as procurement, HR, and senior management
Training Content
Our training covers:
- Definition and forms of modern slavery
-
Legal and regulatory framework, including the UK Modern Slavery
Act
-
Risk factors and warning signs that may indicate modern slavery
-
ClarLabs' policies and commitments regarding modern slavery
- Procedures for reporting concerns
-
Case studies and practical examples relevant to our industry
Specialized Training
In addition to general awareness training, we provide specialized
training for specific groups:
-
Procurement team: In-depth training on supplier
risk assessment, due diligence procedures, and ethical
procurement practices
-
Management team: Training on leadership
responsibilities, risk management, and handling reported
concerns
-
Supplier-facing staff: Guidance on engaging
with suppliers about modern slavery issues and monitoring
compliance
Training Effectiveness
We evaluate the effectiveness of our training through:
-
Pre and post-training assessments to measure knowledge
improvement
- Feedback surveys to gather participant insights
-
Tracking of reporting and inquiries related to modern slavery
following training sessions
-
Regular review and updating of training materials based on
emerging risks and feedback
8. Goals and Future Steps
While we have made progress in our efforts to combat modern
slavery, we recognize that this is an ongoing journey that
requires continuous improvement. Our goals and planned actions for
the coming year include:
Short-term Goals (Next 12 Months)
-
Achieve 100% completion rate for modern slavery training across
all staff
-
Increase the percentage of suppliers acknowledging our Supplier
Code of Conduct to 95%
-
Enhance our supplier risk assessment methodology to incorporate
more granular risk factors
-
Develop and implement supplier self-assessment questionnaires
for all medium and high-risk suppliers
-
Establish a formal supplier audit program focusing on
higher-risk categories
-
Create more detailed guidance for staff on identifying and
reporting modern slavery concerns
Medium-term Goals (2-3 Years)
-
Implement a technology solution to better track, monitor, and
report on supplier compliance with our modern slavery
requirements
-
Extend our modern slavery due diligence beyond tier 1 suppliers
to include key tier 2 suppliers in high-risk categories
-
Develop deeper relationships with expert organizations to
enhance our approach to modern slavery prevention
-
Create a supplier development program to assist smaller
suppliers in improving their modern slavery prevention measures
-
Explore opportunities for industry collaboration to address
common modern slavery risks
Continuous Improvement Initiatives
To support our goals, we will undertake the following continuous
improvement initiatives:
-
Regular review and enhancement of our policies and procedures
related to modern slavery
-
Ongoing benchmarking against industry best practices and peer
organizations
-
Engagement with relevant stakeholders, including employees,
suppliers, customers, and expert organizations
-
Monitoring of evolving legal requirements and expectations
related to modern slavery
-
Incorporation of lessons learned from our own experiences and
those of others in our industry
Performance Monitoring
We are committed to transparently monitoring and reporting on our
progress toward these goals through:
-
Regular updates to our Ethics Committee and Board of Directors
-
Inclusion of modern slavery prevention metrics in our internal
performance dashboards
-
Public reporting through our annual Modern Slavery Statement
-
Stakeholder communications on significant developments or
achievements
9. Approval
This Modern Slavery Statement was approved by the Board of
Directors of ClarLabs Ltd on March 15, 2025.
Signed,
Chris Russell
Director
ClarLabs Ltd
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern
Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes ClarLabs' slavery and human
trafficking statement for the financial year ending March 31,
2025.