Modern Slavery Policy

1.0 Scope

1.1 This statement is made in reference to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd incorporating Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd has taken and is continuing to take to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain.

1.2 Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd, Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd respectively, at the point of the publication of this statement, have turnover less than the amount prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State of £36 million to require an antislavery policy but feel the creation of an antislavery policy demonstrates our commitment to understanding modern slavery risks and ensuring that there is no modern slavery in our own business and supply chains.

1.3 Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd, Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery.

1.4 We are committed to acting ethically, with integrity and transparency in all business dealings and to putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place within the business or our supply chain.

1.5 This policy applies to all persons working for Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd, Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd or on our behalf in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, office staff, shop floor workers, contractors, third-party representatives, and business partners.

2.0 Responsibilities

2.1 The board of directors have overall responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations, and that all those under our control comply with it.

2.2 The Group Operations Manager has primary and day-to-day responsibility for implementing this policy, monitoring its use and effectiveness, dealing with any queries about it, and auditing internal control systems and procedures to ensure they are effective in countering modern slavery.

3.0 Our Business

3.1 Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd, Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd operate on the Dalton Industrial Estate site only.

3.2 Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd, Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd, manufacture & distribute predominantly to the UK market.

3.3 Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd, Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd import products, raw materials & packaging from worldwide suppliers.

4.0 Our Policies

4.1 We operate a number of internal policies to ensure that we are conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner. These include:

4.1.1 Anti-slavery & Human Trafficking General Policy Statement. This Statement sets out the organisation’s stance on modern slavery.
4.1.2 Recruitment policy. We operate a robust recruitment policy, including conducting eligibility to work in the UK checks.
4.1.3 Anti-corruption and bribery Policy. This code explains the manner in which we conduct all of our business in an honest and ethical manner.
4.1.4 National minimum wage & living wage. We operate in adherence to the government’s wage rates.

5.0 Our Suppliers

5.1 We expect our suppliers and other companies we engage with to ensure their goods, materials and labour-related supply chains are:

5.1.1 Fully compliant with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
5.1.2 Transparent, accountable and auditable.
5.1.3 Free from ethical ambiguities.

5.2 Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd, Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd operates a supplier policy and maintains a preferred supplier list which is reviewed periodically.

5.3 We conduct due diligence on all suppliers before allowing them to become a preferred supplier.

5.4 This due diligence includes an online search to ensure that a particular organisation have never been convicted of offences relating to modern slavery.

5.5 Our anti-slavery policy forms part of our contract with all suppliers and they are required to confirm that no part of their business operations contradicts this policy.

5.6 In addition to the above, as part of our contract with suppliers, we require that they confirm to us that:

5.6.1 They have taken steps to eradicate modern slavery within their business.
5.6.2 They hold their own suppliers to account over modern slavery.
5.6.3 Wetherby Group of Companies Ltd, Wetherby Stone Products Ltd, Wetherby Building Products Ltd & Laroc Building Solutions Ltd will identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains.

6.0 Training

6.1 We periodically conduct training for our procurement/buying teams so that they understand the signs of modern slavery and what to do if they suspect that it is taking place within our supply chain.

7.0 Our Initiatives

7.1 Requiring staff to complete training on modern slavery.

7.2 Developing a system for supply chain verification.

7.3 Reviewing existing supply chains.

8.0 Our Performance Indicators

8.1 We 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:

8.1.1 No reports are received from employees, the public, or law enforcement agencies to indicate that modern slavery practices have been identified.

9.0 Approval for this statement

9.1 This statement was approved by the board of directors on 20th July 2021.