Introduction

This statement sets out Forde May Consulting’s actions to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to its business and to put in place steps that are aimed at ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking in its own business and its supply chains. This statement relates to actions and activities during the financial year ending 31 March 2018.

As a leading executive search and consulting firm, the organisation recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking. The organisation is absolutely committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its corporate activities, and to ensure that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.

Organisational structure and supply chains

Forde May Consulting (FMC), established in 1996 is NI’s first privately owned executive search and selection consultancy. We manage a range of assignments to appoint CEOs, Directors, Boards, and Senior Managers across all sectors and functions.

The organisation currently operates in the following countries:

Northern Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Great Britain

Responsibility

Responsibility for the organisation’s anti-slavery initiatives is as follows:

Training

FMC’s own business is the provision of professional advice, which is regarded as a low risk sector. To provide its services to clients, FMC has a stable, well-educated workforce, all of whom hold professional qualifications. FMC is also a member of professional bodies such as IoD, CBI and NI Chamber of Commerce. All employees are engaged on written terms which comply with UK law, have a right to terminate their contract of employment and are paid at least the National Living Wage as well as receiving other fixed and flexible benefits. FMC is satisfied that the risk of slavery or human trafficking occurring in its own business is extremely low.

Relevant policies

The organisation operates the following policies that describe its approach to the identification of modern slavery risks and steps to be taken to prevent slavery and human trafficking in its operations.

Whistleblowing policy

The organisation encourages all its workers, customers and other business partners to report any concerns related to the direct activities, or the supply chains of, the organisation. This includes any circumstances that may give rise to an enhanced risk of slavery or human trafficking. The organisation’s whistleblowing procedure is designed to make it easy for workers to make disclosures, without fear of retaliation.

Employee code of conduct

The organisation’s code makes clear to employees the actions and behaviour expected of them when representing the organisation. The organisation strives to maintain the highest standards of employee conduct and ethical behaviour when operating abroad and managing its supply chain.

FMC code of conduct

The organisation is committed to ensuring that its suppliers adhere to the highest standards of ethics. Suppliers are required to demonstrate that they provide safe working conditions where necessary, treat workers with dignity & respect, act ethically and within the law in their use of labour. The organisation works with suppliers to ensure that they meet the standards of the code and improve their worker’s working conditions. However, serious violations of the organisation’s supplier code of conduct will lead to the termination of the business relationship

FMC uses only specified, reputable sources to source labour and always verifies the practices of any new agency it is using before accepting workers from that agency.

Due diligence

The organisation undertakes due diligence when considering taking on new suppliers, and regularly reviews its existing suppliers. The organisation’s due diligence and reviews include:

• mapping the supply chain broadly to assess particular product or geographical risks of modern slavery and human trafficking;
• evaluating the modern slavery and human trafficking risks of each new supplier;
• taking steps to improve substandard suppliers’ practices, including providing advice to suppliers and requiring them to implement action plans;
• invoking sanctions against suppliers that fail to improve their performance in line with an action plan or seriously violate our supplier code of conduct, including the termination of the business relationship.
• requiring all employees to have completed training on modern slavery.

The organisation’s modern slavery training covers:

• how to assess the risk of slavery and human trafficking in relation to various aspects of the business, including resources and support available;
• how to identify the signs of slavery and human trafficking;
• what initial steps should be taken if slavery or human trafficking is suspected;
• how to escalate potential slavery or human trafficking issues to the relevant parties within the organisation;
• what external help is available, for example through the Modern Slavery Helpline, Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and “Stronger together” initiative;
• what steps the organisation should take if suppliers or contractors do not implement anti-slavery policies in high-risk scenarios, including their removal from the organisation’s supply chains.

Looking Ahead

Over the course of the next financial year we will continue to enhance our procedures to help us identify, prevent and mitigate any risks of modern slavery or human trafficking in relation to new and existing suppliers.