Modern Slavery Statement

Introduction

Franklin Fitch Limited recognises that all companies have a responsibility to prevent Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking within their businesses.

Organisation

This statement applies to Franklin Fitch (referred to in this statement as ‘the Organisation’). The information included in the statement refers to the financial year 2020/2021.

Organisational Structure

Franklin Fitch is an award winning, IT infrastructure recruitment specialist agency, with international reach and expert knowledge. The Organisation recruits IT consultants across multiple verticals. These cover Commerce & Industry, Banking & Financial Services, Professional Services and Public Sector markets.

We have around 50 employees, most of whom are located at the London office, but we also have offices in Cardiff, Frankfurt, Germany and Austin, Texas. All our staff are directly employed and are not in any category which is generally seen to be vulnerable to modern slavery in this country, so our focus is to ensure that there are policies and procedures in place for our clients, contractors and suppliers.

Commitment and Policy

Anti-slavery policy

The Organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and is committed to ensuring that it takes all reasonable measures to prevent Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking within the business. The Organisation believes in acting with integrity and ensuring that its systems are effective in identifying any potential risks. The Organisation also places significant importance on working with clients who recognise their responsibilities towards eliminating this issue.

The Organisation does not enter into business with any other organisation, in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
 

No labour provided to the Organisation in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. The Organisation strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and in many cases exceeds those minimums in relation to its employees.

Supply Chains

As a service provider, the Organisation’s supply chains are limited to those individuals and organisations which provide it with the goods and services needed to operate the business, such as IT hardware, software and telecommunications; vehicles; office furniture, equipment and supplies; utilities; travel services; and training services. There is, therefore, limited scope for slavery and human trafficking to take place in the Organisation’s business or supply chains.

Risk assessment & Potential exposure

The Organisation considers its exposure to slavery and/or human trafficking to be relatively limited.  Nonetheless, in accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Organisation has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:

• The Organisation offers a confidential whistleblowing process and recognises its duty to act on any employee concerns by reporting any issues that may be raised.
• The Organisation checks that staff can demonstrate their eligibility to work in the relevant country.

Anti-Slavery Compliance Officer

The Organisation has an Anti-Slavery Compliance Officer, to whom all concerns regarding modern slavery should be addressed, and who will then undertake relevant action regarding the Organisation’s obligations.

Training

All employees working at The Organisation are educated on the issues relating to Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking and identifying the potential signs of this. All staff who are responsible for recruitment receive additional information in relation to our recruitment principles and are required to comply with the code of practice.

This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Franklin Fitch Limited’s Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement for the financial year 2020/21.

It will be reviewed for each financial year.

Date of approval: 1 January 2020

David Annable
CEO