This statement is made as part of 1st CompanyUK’s commitment to eliminating the exploitation of people under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It summarises how 1st Company operates, the policies and processes in place to minimise the possibility of any problems, any risks we have identified and how we monitor them, and how we train our staff.

This statement is published in accordance with section 54 of the Act and relates to the financial year April 2023 to April 2024.

It was approved by the board of directors on 01 of April 2023
Lerato Mohlala
Chief Executive Officer

1 Our Business

1st Company is a limited company operating in the recruitment sector. We provide introduction services, supply temporary workers, act as a neutral vendor and act as a master vendor in the Recruitment and Employment and Services Sector. [1st CompanyUK Limited is an independent business.

1.1 Who we work with

All of the hirers that we work with, and all of the work-seekers we provide, are known to and identified by our staff. All of the temporary workers we supply are identified by our staff. Some of these work-seekers operate through their own limited companies. We do not supply work-seekers to hiring companies through any intermediaries. Some of our work-seekers are supplied via other businesses, who facilitate providing them to the eventual hiring company.

As a “neutral vendor”, we work with other businesses to supply workers to hiring companies. All of the workers we supply are hired directly by other businesses, and we facilitate supplying them to the hiring companies. Some of these workers operate through their own limited companies.

As a “master vendor”, we work with other businesses to supply workers to hiring companies. We hire some of the workers directly, who are directly recruited by our staff. Other workers are hired directly by other businesses. Some of these workers operate through their own limited companies. We facilitate supplying a mix of these workers to the hiring companies.

The hiring companies that we work with are located in the United Kingdom, Mainly London and surrounding Counties, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Wrexham, Wales, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea amongst others. The work-seekers / workers we supply live Nationally across the United Kingdom

1.2 Other relationships

As part of our business, we also work with the following organisations:

• Anti-Slavery International
• RRT Responsible Recruitment Tool Organisation
• Stronger Together
• the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (www.rec.uk.com)

2 Our Policies

1st CompanyUK has a modern slavery policy available at www.1stcompany.co.uk.
In addition, 1st Company has the following policies which incorporate ethical standards for our staff and our supplier.

• REC Member Code of Professional Practice
• Due Deligence
• Recruitment, selection and vetting Policy
• Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy
• Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy
• Data Protection Policy
• Complaints Policy Procedure
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Customer Service

2.1 Policy development and review

1st Company’s policies are established by our Directors, partners, senior leadership team and Key stakeholders, based on advice from HR professionals, industry best practices, legal advice, and in consultation with employees as well as clients We review our policies annually to adapt to changes.

3 Our Processes for Managing Risk

In order to assess the risk of modern slavery, we use the following processes with our suppliers:

• When engaging with suppliers, we ask for evidence of their processes and policies, including commitments around modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, human rights, and whistle-blowing.
• We conduct audits before entering into a commercial relationship with any business where there is the potential for risk. These audited businesses form the basis of our preferred supplier list.
• We review the potential for risk at regular intervals, including the possibility of re-auditing a supplier or conducting spot checks.

After due consideration, we have not identified any significant risks of modern slavery, forced labour, or human trafficking in our supply chain. However, we continue to be alert to the potential for problems.
We have identified the following potential risks in our supply chain:

• country/region-specific risks
• sector-specific risks

Additionally, we have taken the following steps to minimise the possibility of any problems:

• We reserve the right to conduct spot-checks of the businesses who supply us, in order to investigate any complaints.
• We require the businesses we work with to abide by our code of supplier conduct , address modern slavery concerns in their policies publish a modern slavery statement
• We collaborate with our suppliers in order to improve standards and transparency across our supply chain.
• Only senior members of staff who have undergone appropriate training for assessing modern slavery risks in the supply chain are authorised to sign contracts and establish commercial relationships in any area where we have identified the potential for risk.
• We ensure that all of our suppliers are members of appropriate industry bodies and working groups.
• We work with RRT, Stronger together, the REC and Anti-slavery international in order to combat the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking.

Our staff are encouraged to bring any concerns they have to the attention of management.

4 Our Performance

As part of monitoring the performance of 1st CompanyUK we track the following general key performance indicators:

• The level of training amongst our staff,
• The speed with which we investigate related complaints, and the effectiveness of any whistle-blowing procedures, and
• The level of compliance and transparency we have established in our supply chain

Based on the potential risks we have identified, we have also established the following key performance indicators, which are regularly assessed by our board of directors, the partners senior leadership team and key stake holders:
The indicators established, such as the following:

• the percentage of suppliers who sign up to an appropriate code / provide their own modern slavery statements.
• the percentage of workers and/or candidates supplied from audited businesses / our preferred supplier list
• the effectiveness of enforcement against suppliers who breach policies
• the amount of time spent on audits, re-audits, spot checks, and related due diligence
• the level of modern slavery training and awareness amongst our staff

We carefully consider our indicators, in order to ensure that we do not put undue pressure on our suppliers that might increase the risk potential.

5 Our Training

All of our staff receive training and support that is appropriate to their role. In particular:

• Our leadership team and senior supply chain managers receive detailed training in identifying and resolving concerns around modern slavery and human trafficking.
• Our recruiters, HR personnel, and staff involved in our procurement and supply chains undertake training courses that include guidance around modern slavery and human trafficking, as well as other wider human rights issues.
• All of our staff receive awareness-raising information around issues involving modern slavery and human trafficking, so that they can bring any concerns they have to the attention of management.

As part of this, our staff are encouraged to discuss any concerns that they have.
Training is refreshed annually, online via pre-recorded training. Our Recruitment Office provides documents and regularly send emails to raise awareness.