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This statement sets out Peoples 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 or its supply chains. This statement relates to
actions and activities during the financial year.
As part of the Automotive Industry, Peoples
recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery
and human trafficking. Peoples is absolutely committed to preventing slavery
and human trafficking in its corporate activities, and to ensuring that its
supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.
Peoples are Motor Dealers who provide all motor
related services from six locations in the UK.
They have been trading
since 1983.
Peoples deal exclusively in
the United Kingdom and have circa 400 employees.
The Group retails Ford Cars, Ford Commercial
vehicles and non-Ford cars. Peoples have a strong relationship with Ford Motor
Company who are a US Company with the highest standards.
The functions within our dealerships
include:
·
The sale of new and used vehicles, including commercial vehicles
·
Arrangement of finance to enable customers to buy vehicles
·
Providing vehicle aftercare including the servicing and repair of
vehicles for both businesses and the general public.
·
The sale and distribution of parts
We understand that the supply chains of
companies in the Automotive Industry can be complex. Peoples consider its key
suppliers to be those with whom it has a direct contractual relationship. This
will therefore include, but not be limited to, vehicle manufacturers, cleaning contractors
and marketing agencies.
Peoples is committed to ensuring all of our
contractors, suppliers and other business partners are aware of and comply with
the Act and will seek to encourage these suppliers to monitor compliance with
the Act within their own supply chains.
Peoples prohibit all areas of its business
and supply chains from using slavery and human trafficking of any kind. To
protect against slavery, Peoples ensure all business activity complies with
minimum wage legislation. Peoples also ensure that every employee has the right
to work in the UK. Peoples have a robust recruitment process and only use
reputable employment agencies. All agreements with employment agency suppliers
require them to ensure that all prospective employees have the right to work in
the UK before their introduction to Peoples.
As part of our policy requirements, Peoples ensure suppliers comply with
ethical recruitment principles. This includes prohibiting the use of misleading
or fraudulent practices while offering employment, the use of recruitment fees,
and the confiscating, destroying, concealing, and/or denying access to employee
identity documents. Peoples promote the importance of the Modern Slavery Act to
our suppliers and where there are instances of non-compliance, Peoples will
investigate these as a priority and take action where required. Any
non-compliance will be escalated to the board of Directors and dealt with as a
priority.
Peoples have a number of avenues and policies
which support compliance with the Act and allow employees to register complaints
or concerns related to human rights and human trafficking. These include:
·
Whistleblowing policy: Peoples
encourage all its workers, 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. Peoples whistleblowing procedure is designed to
make it easy for workers to make disclosures, without fear of retaliation.
·
Grievance policy: Peoples encourage all employees to raise any
complaints or grievances that they may have in relation to the company or
associated suppliers or service providers. A robust and impartial process will
be followed to deal with any grievance raised.
·
A dedicated email inbox and company hotline is available for all
employees to use anonymously should they have any concerns.
·
Employee code of conduct: Peoples code makes clear to employees the
actions and behaviour expected of them when representing the organisation. Peoples
strive to maintain the highest standards of employee conduct and ethical
behaviour when operating and managing its supply chain.
·
Recruitment Policy: Peoples have a Recruitment Policy which outlines the
processes to follow when recruiting, including conducting Right to Work checks.
Modern slavery
is complex and Peoples believe strongly that working together with others
including our suppliers, service providers and our employees to identify risks
and best practice will be the most effective way to bring change in this area. Peoples
allow all employees the access and freedom to report any act that they feel may
be an indication to Modern Slavery or Human Trafficking. These reports will
always be investigated at an internal level and escalated to external parties
should we find evidence to support this.
During the COVID-19 pandemic Peoples
recognised there was an increased risk of Modern Slavery. A number of measures
were undertaken to ensure safety and wellbeing during this time including:
individual risk assessments for those most vulnerable, full site risk
assessments, social distancing measures, increased Personal Protective
equipment and to ensure our people were communicated to regarding our policies
and wellbeing initiatives.
Peoples are at low risk of modern slavery
due to the rigorous recruitment process and limited use of agency workers.
However we recognise that our supply chain could have some high-risk areas.
Therefore to address this, we collated a list of all our current suppliers and
issued each with a letter which clearly outlined our standards and expectations
in relation to the Modern Slavery Act. The contact details of our HR Manager
were provided to all suppliers to encourage contact if they had any questions
or concerns. To date no supplier concerns have been raised.
Peoples is committed to not knowingly
supporting or doing business with any supplier involved in slavery or human
trafficking and expects all of its suppliers to impose obligations on their own
suppliers, in order to ensure compliance with the Act. Peoples will continue to
review the effectiveness of the steps we have taken to ensure that there is no
slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains and is committed to improving
our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking.
Peoples will
know the effectiveness of the steps that we are taking to ensure that slavery
and/or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply
chain if:
·
No reports are received from employees, the public, or law enforcement
agencies to indicate that modern slavery practices have been identified.
This statement is made pursuant to section
54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and has been approved by Peoples board of
directors. This statement will be reviewed and updated annually. This statement
covers the period during Peoples financial year ending 31
st July
2020. This statement covers the following entities; Peoples Limited SC080359;
Peoples Ecosse SC176576; and Peoples Liverpool SC112752.
Stewart Ramsay
Group Financial Director
Last reviewed 9th October 2020
