Certica Privacy Policy

POLICY DECLARATION AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY

Modern slavery is a grave criminal offense and an infringement of essential human rights. It manifests in numerous forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labor, and human trafficking. These forms are unified by the coercion of an individual’s freedom by another to exploit them for personal or business profit.

Certica Ltd adopts an absolute zero-tolerance stance on modern slavery. We pledge to conduct our business dealings and relationships with the utmost ethical standards and integrity. Our commitment extends to the establishment and enforcement of effective systems and controls to prevent modern slavery within our own operations and across our supply chains.

We strive for transparency in our business practices and in our efforts to combat modern slavery in our supply chains, upholding our reporting duties as mandated by the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

We demand equivalent high standards from all contractors, suppliers, and business partners. In our future contracting processes this year, we will integrate explicit clauses forbidding the employment of forced, compulsory, or trafficked labor, as well as the enslavement or servitude of any individuals, including children. We anticipate that our suppliers will impose these same stringent standards upon their own suppliers.

This policy is applicable to every individual working for or on behalf of Certica Ltd in any role, such as employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency staff, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives, and business partners.

This policy is not a component of any employee’s work contract and is subject to alteration by us at any time.

POLICY RESPONSIBILITY

Certica Ltd bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring this policy meets our legal and moral responsibilities, and for its adherence by everyone under our governance.

Certica Ltd is tasked with the daily implementation of this policy, its usage and effectiveness monitoring, addressing inquiries regarding it, and auditing our internal controls and procedures to confirm their efficacy in combating modern slavery.

Leadership at all levels is accountable for ensuring their teams understand this policy and comply with it through adequate and ongoing training on modern slavery issues within supply chains.

We welcome feedback on this policy and suggestions for its improvement. We encourage comments, recommendations, and inquiries to be directed to the Managing Director.

POLICY COMPLIANCE

You are obliged to familiarize yourself with this policy and adhere to it.

The obligation to prevent, detect, and report any instances of modern slavery in our operations or supply chains falls on everyone associated with Certica Ltd. You must refrain from any actions that could result in a breach of this policy. Should you suspect or become aware of a potential future conflict with this policy, report it immediately to your immediate supervisor or a company Director.

We urge you to voice concerns about potential modern slavery practices within any part of our business or supply chains at the earliest opportunity. If you suspect a breach of this policy has occurred or may occur, you should report it through the proper channels as outlined in our Whistleblowing Policy without delay.

If you have doubts regarding what constitutes modern slavery within our supply chains, consult your line manager or company Director.

Our goal is to foster an environment of transparency and we will support anyone who raises legitimate concerns under this policy in good faith, even if those concerns prove unfounded. We are dedicated to ensuring no one faces negative repercussions for reporting suspicions that modern slavery is taking place within our business or supply chains.

Such detrimental treatment includes dismissal, disciplinary action, threats, or other adverse reactions associated with raising a concern.

If you experience such treatment, you are advised to report it immediately to your line manager. Should the issue remain unresolved and you are an employee, follow up formally using our Grievance Procedure as detailed in the current employee handbook.

This Modern (Anti) Slavery Policy and Statement applies globally, with particular relevance to the United Kingdom.

POLICY COMMUNICATION & AWARENESS

Training on this policy and the risks of modern slavery in our supply chains is included in the induction for all new recruits. Ongoing updates will be communicated through established channels. Our zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery will be clearly conveyed to all suppliers, contractors, and business partners from the start of our relationship with them and reinforced as necessary thereafter.

POLICY VIOLATIONS

Employees who violate this policy may face disciplinary measures up to dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct. Relationships with other individuals and organizations representing us may be terminated should they contravene this policy.

Signed:
Tim Chorlton, 2023